Police chief, fire chief request equipment

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein and St. Joseph Fire Chief Jeff Taufen recently spoke about equipment requests their departments could use, at the October Y2K Lions meeting held at the Church of St. Joseph Parish Center.

Their requests included a defibrillator, batteries, extrication gloves and even an aerial drone.

Lions president Becky Staneart had asked both of them at a Local Heroes appreciation picnic, held at the St. Joseph Millstream Park in August, if they had any equipment-funding requests. Both said “yes” and she invited them to the meeting to discuss those requests.

Klein and Taufen thanked the organization for their support and for organizing the picnic.
Both spoke about what types of equipment their departments could use if funds were available.
Taufen said the department could use two additional secondary batteries for their thermal-imaging cameras. The batteries cost about $800 each.

He also said they could use 30 pairs of extrication gloves for members. Each pair costs about $50.
Taufen said the extrication gloves are different than fire gloves because they are more user-friendly when it comes to working with their extrication equipment. Fire gloves are made to protect the firefighters’ hands from the heat, which makes them a little more bulky and not the easiest to use when working with smaller tools.

Before Klein spoke of his requests, he joked about a quote he had recently read “God created cops so firefighters would have heroes.” He said he’s also seen it written as “God created firefighters so cops would have heroes.”

Klein spoke about how well the two departments get along and work together in St. Joseph. He said he appreciates how the fire department is always professional and ready to help out.

“I love coming to work in St. Joseph,” Klein said. “The people here have always been good to me.”

He said his department could use another automated external defibrillator for its fifth squad car, which does not have one now, as well as additional defibrillator pads. He has received some donations for it already, but more money is still needed.

Another idea that came to him as he was visiting with people at the Lions’ meeting, was the police and fire departments could use an aerial drone. He said it could be used as an important part of public safety to help locate people with dementia and more.

He added with new senior-living areas such as Country Manor and Fortitude Senior Living of St. Joseph being built there will be a greater need for this type of equipment.

“In our line of work, equipment can be expensive, but if we save one life it’s worth it,” Klein said. “What’s a life worth?”

Staneart also presented Klein and Taufen with “thank-you” signs with photos of pictures taken at the appreciation picnic. Both said they planned to display them for their departments to see.