Public Safety Committee  — Charleston, WV
Date: 2024-03-04
Time: 17:30

CITY OF CHARLESTON
  10
 West Virginia
 Council Member – 10th WARD


Shawn Taylor Public Safety Committee, Chair
501 Virginia St. E Finance Committee
Charleston, WV 25301 Parking Committee
Telephone: 304-414-6019
E-mail: shawn@shawntaylor.com




TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Shawn Taylor, Chair
RE: Committee Meeting


 There will be a Committee meeting of Public Safety on March 4, 2024 at 5:30 PM
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 AV Room #308

 AGENDA

 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
 1. 7-17-2023

 PUBLIC SPEAKERS
 1. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics. Register with a representative from
 the Clerk's Office no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the meeting at the stated meeting location.
 Time limits may be set by the Committee.

 TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS
 1. Charleston Police Department

 2. Charleston Fire Department

 3. CARE Office

 4. Parking Department

 ADJOURN
 THE AGENDA WAS AMENDED ON 2-29-2024 TO CHANGE TIME


ST/ns

*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk

CITY OF CHARLESTON
  10
 West Virginia
 Council Member – 10th WARD


Shawn Taylor Public Safety Committee, Chair
501 Virginia St. E Finance Committee
Charleston, WV 25301 Parking Committee
Telephone: 304-414-6019
E-mail: shawn@shawntaylor.com




TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Shawn Taylor, Chair
RE: Committee Meeting


 There will be a Committee meeting of Public Safety on March 4, 2024 at 5:30 PM
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 AV Room #308

 AGENDA

 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
 1. 7-17-2023

 PUBLIC SPEAKERS
 1. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics. Register with a representative from
 the Clerk's Office no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the meeting at the stated meeting location.
 Time limits may be set by the Committee.

 TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS
 1. Charleston Police Department

 2. Charleston Fire Department

 3. CARE Office

 4. Parking Department

 ADJOURN
 THE AGENDA WAS AMENDED ON 2-29-2024 TO CHANGE TIME


ST/ns

*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk


 Page | 1 of
 MINUTES
 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

 6:00 P. M., JULY 17, 2023
 AV ROOM, CITY HALL


Shawn Taylor, Chair, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on
Public Safety to order at 6:00 p.m., July 17, 2023.

Present:
Shawn Taylor, Chair
Chuck Overstreet, Vice Chair
Caitlin Cook
Mary Beth Hoover
Bruce King
Beth Kerns

Absent:
Kathy Rubio



Other Councilmembers Present:
Chelsea Steelhammer
Frank Annie
Joe Solomon
Larry Moore




 1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES –
Councilmember Hoover moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 4-17-
2023. Councilmember Cook seconded the motion. There was no objection, and the
minutes were approved.

 1


 Page | 2 of
 2. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics.

None



 3. TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS -

Interim Police Chief Dempsey added there were no pressing issues at the moment.
Recruiting numbers were still trending down. This is a national trend. They are about to
have another test for recruits. He added that the feasibility study for the Public Safety
Building will likely be ready soon.

Councilmember Kerns added that it seemed like having all of the force in one place
would be more efficient. She asked what they could do as Councilmembers to help with
recruitment. Chief Dempsey replied that the best recruiting is word of mouth.

Councilmember King asked about the national trend concerning recruiting. Chief
Dempsey replied that the more populated areas are having trouble recruiting people.
The pandemic is likely part of the reason, but there is no solid explanation for it. Mayor
Goodwin added that this is frequently a discussion during Municipal League meetings,
adding that the trend is also true for most positions within City government. She
confirmed with Chief Dempsey that they go to high schools during career day events.

Chief Dempsey added that they are also about to start a new group of the Junior
Leadership Academy. From the audience, Councilmember Steelhammer confirmed with
Chief Dempsey that the ages will be approximately 12-14 years old.


Fire Chief Matthews stated that they currently have 161 firefighters (budgeted for 169),
adding that one is currently out for long-term injury. This number includes the recent 21
probationary firefighters sworn in last month. He added that they have all passed the
Academy. He credits his staff, who re-tooled the program based on feedback. The May
recruit class is now out of the probationary period. 18 of those are now entering
paramedic school, which brings the number of paramedics within the department to 82.
Since 2016, every person who joins the Fire Department is also required to be a
paramedic. The Chief added that they are trying to keep their training class size to 8-10
for various practical reasons. The new Safety Officer position went live on June 12, and
he has received a lot of positive feedback about it.

Chief Matthews added that they had 26 calls for service during the Regatta, 4 of which
were false alarms.

Councilmember Kerns confirmed with Chief Matthews that they currently had 3 female
firefighters.


 2


 Page | 3 of
Director of CARE, Taryn Wherry, stated that from January to June, the CARE Office
responded to 212 overdoses and sent 275 individuals for treatment. They added 4 staff
members in March. The team is out every day, and has been focused on housing
among other things. For the year so far, they have reunited 82 people with families.

Councilmember Kerns asked if they had observed anyone suffering from the smoke
pollution from the recent fires. Wherry replied that they had, and added that many
unhoused may not be aware of current events that would impact their environment and
health.

Chief of Staff, Matt Sutton, added that Senators Manchin and Capito had been very
supportive of the CARE program.




Councilmember Hoover motioned to adjourn. Councilmember Cook seconded. Meeting
adjourned.




 3


 Page | 4 of

MINUTES
 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

 5:30 P. M., MARCH 4, 2024
 AV ROOM, CITY HALL


Shawn Taylor, Chair, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on
Public Safety to order at 5:30 p.m., March 4, 2024.

Present:
Shawn Taylor, Chair
Chuck Overstreet, Vice Chair
Mary Beth Hoover
Beth Kerns

Absent:
Caitlin Cook
Kathy Rubio
Bruce King



Other Councilmembers Present:
Jeanine Faegre
Frank Annie
John Gianola
Emmett Pepper
Joseph Jenkins
Chelsea Steelhammer




 1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES –
Councilmember Hoover moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 7-17-
2023. Councilmember Kerns seconded the motion. There was no objection, and the
minutes were approved.

 1
 2. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics.

 1. Steve Nolan
 2. Victoria Casey
 3. Jeanine Faegre
 4. Frank Annie



 3. TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS -

 • Charleston Police Department

 • Charleston Fire Department

 • CARE Office

 • Parking Department




Meeting adjourned.




 2