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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10221996 - C72 SEL Contra -- Costa TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS County FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson OST---COiltlf� DATE: October 22, 1996 SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF A FIREFIGHTER EXPLORER/CADET PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: (1) Refer to the Contra Costa Fire District Administration to coordinate the development of a Firefighter Explorer/Cadet Program for young men and women to assist and gain important and valuable skills in fire service area. In developing this program, the fire district staff should solicit input from school districts, the county Superintendent of Schools and representatives from the Contra Costa Community College District and adult education programs. (2) Refer such a proposal for a "Fire Service Explorer/Cadet Program" to the Finance Committee for analysis of costs and financial impacts as well as identify potential funding sources. (3) Direct the County Administrator and the Fire Chief of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District to include in discussions with the City of Pittsburg regarding Fire Station No. 87 the matter of establishing the first firefighter explorer/cadet program at Station 87. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: A firefighter "explorer/cadet program" would fit well with our goals to assist "at risk" youth. Our men and women firefighters are excellent role models. Their willingness to serve as mentors, to teach some of their extensive training and knowledge of life saving techniques, to share in the fitness routine and discipline that are part of a firefighter's lifestyle would all be a tremendous benefit to our youth. At a time when increased numbers of youth are turning to gangs to find their identity, when more and more are falling prey to the drug dealers and to peer pressure to use alcohol and drugs, such a program would provide another important helping hand. This program could be patterned after the Police Youth Academy which provides middle and high school students with an opportunity to become familiar with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. (Please reference attached article on Police Youth Academics which appeared in the Juvenile Justice Newsletter.) CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON October 22, 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED: X OTHER: X Please see Addendum (Attached) for a list of speakers and further Board action. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ---------------- ) AYES: NOES: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: cc: Supervisor Torlakson ATTESTED October 22, 1996 County Administrator 11f HELOR,CLERK OF BOA OF Contra Costa Fire Administration ORSANDCOUN AD INI TOR BY "-�7e��� DEPUTY Firefighter Explorer/Cadet Program October 22, 1996 Page TWO In discussions with several firefighters and other interested parties great enthusiasm exists for the concept of a firefighter explorer/cadet program. The Chief Coordinator of the Police Training Program at Los Medanos College has also indicated a keen interest in the possibilities and wants to explore the opportunities for accrediting such a program so the learning experiences could be rewarded with credits. Besides the immediate value of the mentoring and the work experience, such a program offers an entry to numerous emergency medical and health care vocational opportunities. Finally, the cadets could accomplish valuable work for the district in station and equipment maintenance and possibly in fire prevention education efforts. TT:g ro . 7P Police -Youth.Academies•—Providing an Insider's Look at Law Enforcement for.Alameda and Con- tra Costa County Youth With aneye to improving relations Ment provides; "people think law between the youth and the law enforcement and they just.think enforcement officers of their corn- arrest, but we're also responsible.for munities; the Contra Costa County getting thee-defendants into the Sheriff's.Department and the,police courtroom, and we also investigate departments of Richmond, San crimes. W ILget a public defender Pablo,.tl Cerrito, Hercules,.Union:_ to meet with (the youth,'as well as City,.Fremont;Hayward, Newark, the DA).:. so they.can see:.both Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley and: sides_of the.process.' UC Berkeley, and the:Sheriff's.. Department of Alameda County, Have been awarded grants from the East Bay_Public Safety:Corridor- InSty'uC-n n'F6rensZcs, Partnership for.ho"sting Youth:_1'olice EuidMce C011edi6h, and Academies during the summer.of'. EtyJZCS PZG,YLCt1d.G�t2S SunZYl22r 1996. ,. _ Courses Though many of-the programs plan on hosting instructiowon sequential Saturdaysahrougl out the summer The R.chmorid, El':Cerrito,-.and,San months;the,Contra Costa°Sheriff :Pablo Youth.Academies will use plans to.host a-201 h6drtodrise.that ` consecutive Saturdays to expose' will Nast one week: As marry as 40 ' youth:tb 30.h6urs�of law- enforce- girls and boys will participate in the <-merit related ii st"ction in`a"para=. course, whichJs aimed at middle.. =military. atmosphere Students:will.. school and'hrgh_school students wear:uniforms and=be.expected to who.desire an up-close.and take notes during'theclassroom. ersonal:o rttini to.become: lectures.-The.:3-hour lectures.are: R . Plan. - ay . familiar,with laW enforcement aiid designed notonlvto expose you the criminal: ustice stem" For._- to-the Various functions of the 1 �'. their parfieipation,:youthwill :criminal justice system, but to,also receive:.a certificate of completion, recruit young adults-interested. n and perhaps an idea about whethe the Explorer Post: Each segment:of\. . they would.like to°someday pursue instructio�imilar in content_to.the A career fn law enforcement. ' ' Sheriff's Department topics) will-be followed by a period of;round.table At Sheriffs Department, course discussion, allowin outh to focus topics will include-Ethics and:. - $ Y on issues a Officer Relations,`the Search..and tht.most,interest them. .:This academy;wilI also utilize role- Rescue team; a tour and group - - la in m olice%citizen.contact discussion with the District Attor- p y g P - ney, and instruction in firearms scenarios Of.special.importance.to / those.interested in forensics, the: safety. Sergeant jerry:.Devaulf, who Youth-Citizens:Academy will also oyill:head the Sheriffs Academy, host asegment on crime scene was assigned to- Adie O- ffice of the investigation: specifically,.evidence District Attorney for 2.years.and collection.and:preservation proce- recognizes that it is important to. help.citizens.understand the con- :dures will be.explored, along with : tinuum of services that law enforce continued on Page 4 August 1996 juvenile-justice Newsletter 7 Page 3 Police Youth Academies Continued froin Pine 3 the effect these can have on a case. and maybe motivate there to have a In addition, the Detective Division clean record and not get into i Staff plans a presentation on investi- trouble," especially if the}' have an gation, regarding how cases are interest in pursuing a career in law solved and how they are made enforcement. Chief Lansdowne j I prosecutable. Most unique to the El explains that this is in opportunity Cerrito-San Pablo-Richmond Police for local police departments to ! Departments' curriculum is a class ( build trust with local youth. "Some ! on the Barricaded Subject Hostage times we have trouble getting youths Negotiation Team, which will to come forward and help when include a demonstration of the there is a crime they could help equipment used in such a situation. solve...this program will help build The penultimate session of the trust ... and hopefully they will Youth Citizens Academy will be become advocates in the school designed to heighten drug and ('� system for law enforcement." alcohol awareness among youth. Together, students will examine common street drugs, and their immediate and long-term effects a potential for Opening will he discussed. By providing this some door community information to youth, the police door.—to better relations departments hope to enable them between young adults and to make an educated choice about drug use in their own lives. law enforcement officers. " Academy activities will also include weekend night ride-alongs, possibly Neither department has ever hosted i in the new red Camaro that Rich- a Youth Academy in the past, but mond Police recently acquired. "It's officers are hopeful that the initial fully equipped with (patrol) lights, grant may lead to on ongoing and they'll just love it,' says Rich- program. Sergeant-Devaull charac- morid Police Chief William terizes the Academy as "a potential Lansdowne. for opening some doors—commu- Each agency has received $2000 to nity doors—to better relations fund their Youth Citizen Academies. between young adults and law At least one but up to two series of enforcement officers. We're real courses will he completed at the enthusiastic about this program and end of the summer. The Police and we're getting a lot of good re- Sheriffs Departments plan to sponses from within the depart- continue the academies in the ment—we're really looking forward summer of 1997. to doing this. Hopefully this will be one of many that we do." Chief Lansdowne hopes that the exposure to the law-enforcement process will "spark their interest i Page 4 Contra Costa County – California { C.72 ADDENDUM Item C.72 October 22,1996 The Board members expressed support for the development of a Firefighter Explorer/Cadet Program and then the Chair invited public comment on the matter. The following persons addressed the Board on the issue: Bill Prather, Retiree of the Fire Service, 292 Violet Road, Hercules; and Manly Moulton, Richmond Firefighter, 817 Bodega Way, Rodeo. All persons desiring to speak having been heard, the Chair ended public comment on the matter and the Board took the following action: IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the recommendations, as presented, are APPROVED to provide for the development of a Firefighter Explorer/Cadet Program; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Contra Costa Fire District Administration is REQUESTED to solicit the services of Bill Prather, a retiree of the Fire Service, and Manly Moulton, a Richmond Firefighter, for their expertise in' the development of the type of program proposed.