Grover Beach Fire and Police Updates
City Councilmember, Bill Nicolls, introduced the speakers, Michael Hubert, Director of Building and Fire, Fire Chief and Jim Copsey, Police Chief.
Hubert expressed his appreciation to the Rotary Club and for all they do for the community. He discussed the on going consolidation of fire services for the cities of Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande and the Oceano CSD. They are working towards a joint power authority including a proposed budget that will be presented for review with the idea that a plan will go forward to the governing bodies of each entity in the near future.
There are many issues and steps that must be resolved; but, the outcome will mean better, more efficient and cost effective fire services. They are also studying the consolidation of fire and police dispatch services which is being encouraged by the GB City Manager, Bob Perrault. It has become a popular issue with other cities in the county who are offering input and hoping for an outcome that will benefit all city communications efforts. He also discussed a recent successful multi fire agency drill, Wild land/Urban Interface Training, hosted by the AG Fire Department; designed to improve and coordinate fire and emergency functions in SLO County.
Copsey stated how proud he is of the City's Police Officers, especially as service calls are on the rise. He said that officers have to have multiple training/skills and function as quasi family counselors, drug experts, medical professionals, child psychologists, communicators and be community involved. Sometimes they are even called to herd cattle. We now have a modern police force as compared to what was there not too many years ago. Service calls continue to rise in the community. Four years ago 18,000 police service calls were answered and last year there were over 21,000. Through April of this year, service calls are already 38% more than last year at this time. He believes the increase, to some extent, reflects the frustration and problems related to the economic situation. The good news is that auto accidents have not increased over the last several years; in fact, have decreased. In 1983, the city recorded 283 accidents, last year there were only 228. A combination of better traffic enforcement, driver training and better equipment. He expressed that Grover Beach is a dynamite city, there's a lot of team effort happening and he's glad he's a part of the action.