Firefighters from Ventnor, Margate and Brigantine participate in a hybrid training program.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – The city’s fire and police chiefs Thursday, March 11 provide city commissioners with a wrap-up of activity in 2020, a year that proved to be challenging for public safety employees. Fire Chief Michael Cahill and Police Chief Douglas Biagi said their departments suffered under COVID-19 illnesses and protocols but were able to do the job expected by residents, nonetheless.
Cahill reported that two Downbeach towns and the City of Brigantine collaborated on a new program to train firefighters at a lower cost than sending them to a firefighter training academy.
The Ventnor City, Margate City and Brigantine fire departments participated in the seven week training program. The training program shaved two months off the time normally required to become a certified firefighter and resulted in a savings in short shift overtime, Cahill said.
Ventnor hired three new firefighters in February, and the in-house training they received was presented by Ventnor’s certified training officers.
The Fire Department saw the completion of Firehouse No. 2 and took delivery of a new ladder-pumper truck, which replaced an aging vehicle that was past its prime. Cahill said upgrading equipment and purchasing a new truck brought the city up to Level 2 ISO, which provides residents with discounts on their homeowners insurance policies.
“Level 2 is very, very impressive for a department and city our size,” he said.
The department equipped all first responder vehicles with defibrillators and upgraded defibrillators in public buildings.
The Ventnor Board of Commissioners and Chief Michael Cahill cut the ribbon on the new Firehouse No. 2 on Wellington Avenue.
The department also instituted a new program that provided two EMTs on the beach to back up lifeguards and deal with injuries using the proper COVID-19 protocols. Cahill said the department is likely to continue with at least one EMT on the beach this summer, depending upon the Beach Patrol’s budgeting constraints.
“I think it speeds up a lot and reduces the needs to take lifeguards away from looking at the water for minor things and taking fire apparatus and ambulances out of service. It’s a nice little stopgap between the two agencies,” he said.
Cahill also reported the department received two Barlinaro Memorial Foundation grants totaling $24,000 to purchase personal self-rescue equipment.
“If this type of system and training were available in 1972, it is possible that the line of duty death of Kenny Wayland could have been avoided,” he said.
The department also received a $15,000 grant from Wawa to provide fire safety education in the schools and community.
The department responded to a total of 3,105 calls, with 1,204 emergency medical calls, 570 fire alarm calls, and 881 other emergencies.
“The department has made great many strides forward this year, but none as important as our actions and conduct during this year of uncertainty,” Cahill said. “The VCFD has never faltered in our service, even at great personal risk to our health and potential issues to our families.”
Biagi reported on three departments, including the IT Department, which has provided additional security and infrastructure changes for the Police Department, including installation of security cameras in strategic areas.
The Office of Emergency Management responded to 25 emergencies, such as fire, gas leaks and storms. The department also oversaw 35 special events and put out 390 CodeRED notifications to keep the public informed during emergencies.
The department was notified of 362 COVID-19 positives.
“The first COVID notification we got made it real for everybody,” Biagi said. “Practically everyone was affected by this.”
The department dealt with an influx of summertime residents starting in March, which impacted public services, “but what we do in summer, we can do anytime,” he said. “Ventnor was a safe haven for not only its citizens but also its secondary homeowners who call Ventnor home as well.”
The city experienced two serious incidents, including an afterhours drowning and an officer involved shooting on Wellington Avenue, which took five officers off the streets and required the department to switch from 12-hour shifts to 8-hour shifts.
In December, the department experienced 12 COVID-19 diagnoses among officers within a 10-day period.
“Other officers stepped up to the plate without batting an eye,” he said. “As a leader, you can’t ask for more from your police, fire and Public Works.”
Biagi said the department responded to 17,605 calls for service, which is average for the city, but the city had a 29% decrease in crimes over 2019.
Car burglaries increased from 118 in 2019 to 128 in 2020.
“All of the vehicles that were broken into were unlocked,” he said.
Victims left valuables such as laptops, Passports and key fobs in their unlocked vehicles. Only five vehicles were stolen.
“These vehicles would not have been broken into had they been locked,” he said. “Crime prevention is real.”
There were 356 adult arrests, 29 juvenile arrests and 1,350 moving violations.
Biagi thanked residents for their donations during the pandemic and said the department is looking forward to a great summer.
“The restaurant operators who were not making a dime, still had time to feed us on certain occasions,” he said. “You have no idea how much it means to us emotionally to receive from merchants saying thanks, keep up the good work.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Kriebel said 2020 threw everything but the kitchen sink at public safety.
“It was a pile on of one thing after another and the quality the two chiefs brought to the city doesn’t happen by accident. It was because of your experience and it was a pleasure to watch,” he said.
Commissioner Lance Landgraf said 2020 was a year of all years.
“We have come through this pretty damn strong, and I think the officers in the Police and Fire departments were key to doing that,” he said.
Mayor Beth Holtzman said although there was staff out with the virus, service was not compromised.
“(The public) never saw a lack of public safety services. I tip my hat to your crew,” she said.
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