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NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk's emergency response time was on the mind of Norwalk's newest police chief just minutes after he was sworn in.
Chief Thomas Kulhawik said he had lunch with Fire Chief Denis McCarthy, Deputy Police Chief David Wrinn and Assistant Fire Chief Lawrence Reilly after his promotion ceremony to "establish a regular channel of communication to work more closely together."
One of the first results was a Wednesday morning meeting of Norwalk fire and police administrators, where Fire Capt. Al Basset discussed hazmat operations. Sgt. Art Weisgerber, head of the crime scene identification unit, mentioned the destruction of evidence in a raging fire and the resultant cascade of water, offering to help fire marshals investigating arson.
"You guys are usually pretty good about handling your flammable evidence; you've put them in containers and stored them," he said. "What we can do sometimes in support of that is, if we have a structure that still has some integrity to it we can see if there's a point of entry (the arsonist used)."
The departments should consider doing tabletop exercises to reduce the risks to responders, McCarthy said.
Each of the administrators explained their roles and responsibilities, and the units that work together regularly were discussed.
There is more to come, Kulhawik said. "It was the first in what we hope to be a regular schedule of meetings perhaps quarterly in which we can work together and discuss operational issues as well as plan joint training and tabletop exercise to improve the service delivery to the citizens," he said in an email. "It also will help establish open lines of communication at all levels of our organizations so that we have a better understanding of each other's needs at incident scenes.
"The improved relationship will allow for a more seamless delivery of services, a safer environment for all first responders and perhaps prevent duplication of services."
Comments (4)
Outstanding initiative (though long overdue apparently) - proactive, productive and constructive. Norwalk needs WAY more of these civil, cooperative dialogues. Good job guys and gals!
Its about time this issue came up seems like there has always been a large line between the two departments.
The fire department needs to realize racing to water emergencies first takes a call to the Marine division of the Norwalk police department letting them know there is even a call out there on the water.Police have three boats they are faster than most in the water along the coast and have saved countless lives.All summer long they (fire) have acted like kids to see who gets there first as an after thought does the police department gets called.Not a very good way of responding together boys.Yes there is plenty of documentation but lets say water over the dam.
Maybe the police can help the fire in retaining and not losing evidence in arson fires for a better arrest rate would be a suggestion for Tom certainly our detetctives can be some help in preserving documentation.That fire up on Westport ave clearly said evidence was lost,and others seem to have gone the same way.
Maybe the police department can show the fire department what hazardous waste is and when its released from Lajoies into the oyster beds and show them how to use the phone to call the Coast Gaurd in Bridgeport before waiting a month so the CG can come and look at the situation
In defense of the fire dept having the police do traffic control at fires needs to be improved.
No surprise with all the other problems a meeting took place a larger surprise will be if anything changes.
The cops in he pic do not look awake.
Excellent!
What's surprising to me is that this wasn't implemented 50 years ago!