Joint city effort keeps Delphos residents safe

Published:  Tuesday, January 13, 2009 (1 year, 1 month ago)
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By STACY TAFF
The Delphos Herald

DELPHOS — Entering 2009, Police Chief David Wagner, Fire Chief David McNeal and Safety Service Director Gregory Berquist are making a joint effort to maintain a safe environment for the community, despite budget restrictions.
The police department is starting the new year with a full staff. Dispatcher Kim Rupert is new to the department, having just finished her 9-month probationary period.
Also new to the department’s K-9 unit is a tri-colored German Shepherd named Egus Demin Dvor. The K-9 officer is Ptl. Chad Haunhorst.
The Fire Department, having lost Firefighter Randy Carder to retirement, has hired Andy Berelsman as his replacement. The department has also had several other retirees, including two emergency medical technicians and four volunteer firefighters.
When it comes to equipment and training, the departments are mostly trying to keep everything at the current level.
“Equipment-wise, it really doesn’t look like we’ll be getting much this year. After salaries, there just isn’t enough money left over,” Wagner said.
“We won’t even be getting a new cruiser this year, which most likely means that we will have to get two either next year or the year after. As for training, CPT and firearm training is yearly for each officer.”
According to McNeal, the fire department isn’t getting much for the new year but what they are getting will be bought with federal grants.
“Through federal grants, we’re getting 13 sets of SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) and 16 sets of turnout gear. We’re also getting a new pumper/engine/tanker, also through federal grants. With regard to training, we’re trying to maintain the current level and, if at all possible, increase,” McNeal said.
In 2009, Berquist will work to put several safety plan changes into effect along with the police and fire departments. Due to the passage of time and the changes that go along with it, some things need to be updated.
“Along with the police and fire departments, we’ll be rewriting and updating all of our emergency plans, bringing them more up to date. Things have changed technology-wise and our relationships with other municipalities have changed and so certain things need to be changed accordingly,” said Berquist. “There are also other plans in the works; one of them is the widening of both Elida Road and Elida Avenue to three lanes. After that has happened, that intersection will be made into a ‘T’ intersection.”
Berquist also says they are working with the Regional Planning Commission to study accidents and to get traffic counts and surveys in an effort to determine which intersections are the worst. Those that need fixing or updating will be taken care of through federal funding.

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