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Owosso firefighters challenge findings of city's study
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Friday, December 16, 2005 10:45 AM EST
Everything's fine with the Owosso Public Safety Department, at least according to a study fielded by Owosso Public Safety Director Michael Compeau.
The 18 full-time Owosso firefighters beg to differ, however.
A report issued this week by Compeau claims the consolidation of the Owosso police and fire departments into one department has benefited the city. The city's firefighters, however, wrote in their response to the report that the change from separate fire and police departments into one entity has sacrificed the level of service each department provides.
The Owosso City Council will discuss Compeau's report at its Monday meeting.
Compeau conducted the investigation himself. The firefighters had requested an independent study but the city decided against that course of action.
Compeau's report details the findings of an investigation into the effectiveness of the city's public safety department. The study was required by an agreement between city officials and the Owosso firefighters union following allegations of misconduct by former deputy fire director Charlie Schaufele.
Compeau could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
The agreement, which was signed in July, moved Schaufele to the position of city fire marshal amid allegations he verbally abused firefighters.
Compeau states in the report that since the police and fire departments were combined to form the Owosso Department of Public Safety in June 2004, overtime has been reduced in the department, procedures have been standardized in both divisions and the sharing of resources, including equipment and the secretarial staff, has been encouraged between the two divisions.
Owosso City Manager Gregg Guetschow proposed the move to a public safety department when veteran fire chief John Kenney was preparing for retirement.
Under the department of public safety model, each division of the department - police and fire - is to be managed by a deputy director who reports to the director of public safety.
The position of deputy fire director, however, has been vacant since Schaufele was transferred to the position of fire marshal.
As part of Compeau's investigation, he interviewed representatives from the firefighters union.
“In examining the comments from the union representatives, it does not appear that they are disagreeing with the concept of public safety (unified management) but tend to question the authority to manage, understanding that management has a right to manage and the personalities in the positions of management,” Compeau writes.
In response, firefighters are emphatic in their disapproval of the change to a public safety department.
“All 18 Owosso firefighters will not rest until the city of Owosso abolishes the public safety department and returns to separate police and fire departments with proven leaders,” the firefighters wrote. “The reason we will not rest is that the city's firefighters and its residents are more at risk than ever from serious injury or death in an emergency under Mr. Compeau's direction.”
Compeau states in his report that he believes “no matter who took over the public safety department or fire division, they would have experienced controversy because of the need for the major changes” in the fire department.
Firefighters say they understood that changes would be made to the department when new leadership took over.
“This is not a union versus management issue, as Mr. Compeau would have you believe,” the firefighters' wrote. “The public safety concept that was the idea of the city manager has failed to do anything but make Owosso a more dangerous place to work, live and visit.”
Compeau also outlines future goals for the public safety department in his report.
“First and foremost is... it is important to prepare for the future by identifying employees who are leaders,” Compeau wrote. “These employees need to be trained, nurtured and prepared to take over leadership positions in the future to avoid gaps when key members of the public safety department retire.”
The firefighters say under Kenney's leadership, the most senior firefighter temporarily filled in for officers who were on vacation or sick time.
“This allowed firefighters to learn the next level of management in a controlled environment,” the firefighters wrote. “This practice was halted and now when a firefighter is promoted to captain or lieutenant, he is sometimes put there without any experience.”
