Center for Public Safety Management

08/28/2024

📖CPSM’s own Managing Partner, Leonard Matarese, M.P.A, is featured on the cover of this month’s edition of PM Magazine!

💡Leonard’s article, “Public Safety for Residents with Disabilities from My Perspective,” delves into the challenges and opportunities that local governments encounter in supporting community members with disabilities. From easing mobility issues to streamlining ADA coordination, Leonard shares his insights into how public safety can better serve everyone.

🔗Explore the August issue of PM Magazine here: issuu.com/icma-pm

07/29/2024

🛫Save the Date: Exciting connections and insightful discussions continue at the September 21-25 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh!

💬The CPSM team is looking forward to sparking new connections, reuniting with old friends, and sharing industry insights with our peers.

🤝 Come say hello at Booth 731. We’ll also be hosting two conference sessions chock-full of cutting-edge public safety insights.

🔗Learn more about ICMA’s upcoming annual conference and register at conference.icma.org

07/26/2024

CPSM is proud to announce several new projects that are currently underway!

📍 Bluffton, South Carolina: Police Comprehensive Analysis/Study
📍 Jackson County, Oregon: Ambulance Service Plan
📍 Peachtree Corners, Georgia: Police Analysis/Staffing Study
📍 Ottawa, Kansas: Chief Assistance Fire
📍 Ocean City, Maryland: Police Study

🌟All of our projects incorporate thorough data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and decades of industry insights to empower public safety organizations nationwide.

🔗Learn more about our work to shape the future of public safety at cpsm.us.

06/05/2024

🌴 CPSM is enjoying the ICMA - International City/County Management Association Palm Desert conference this week!

Join CPSM Director Tom Wieczorek for an educational session, ‘Can AI Help Answer the Call?’, on Friday, June 7 from 9 to 10 a.m.

As dispatch, police, fire, EMS, and emergency management are all challenged by lack of personnel, we'll look at how AI has been helping emergency services for decades (even though we didn't always call it that) and offer insights on how we can incorporate AI into strategic decisions for the future.

🌟Learn how you can maximize your local resources and stay ahead of the curve at cpsm.us

05/07/2024

🎤 Join CPSM, alongside National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), for an informative webinar, "Re(Designing) Your Emergency Medical System for Financial Sustainability" on May 9, 10:30 a.m. CT.

Local emergency medical services (EMS) systems and agencies are facing unprecedented challenges. Staffing shortages and funding gaps are creating an opportunity to effectively redesign EMS delivery models that are based on clinical evidence and economic realities. Attend this webinar to critically evaluate the economic value of EMS delivery and re-tool models for future sustainability.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3wx2TBC

04/05/2024

🎉Kalispell voters have spoken! On March 19, the Montana city passed a $4.6 million Emergency Responder Levy, investing in community safety and well-being.

🚑The Emergency Responder Levy was proposed in response to a CPSM report, which highlighted the current strain on city resources. Its success underscores Kalispell’s commitment to proactive solutions and a safer future for all.

🚒 Starting in fiscal year 2025, the city will hire 27 additional firefighter and medical staff positions and add a third fire station on Farm to Market Road. These staff will address increasing call volumes and response times within the Kalispell fire department.

🚔Additionally, 11 law enforcement staff will be added to the Kalispell Police Department, along with two detectives and a crime analyst to meet the rising demand for public safety services.

Head to cpsm.us to learn more about how your community can maximize its resources.

04/03/2024

🌟CPSM's very own Emergency Medical Services expert, Matt Zavadsky, was invited to provide testimony to the Congressional House Ways and Means Committee hearing on March 18, 2024.

🎙️During his presentation, Matt engaged in informative dialogue with committee members who shape federal legislation on crucial topics like Medicare reimbursement, balance billing, and Mobile Integrated Healthcare/Community Paramedicine (MIH/CP).

📈The Ways and Means Committee's insightful questions and commitment to transforming the EMS reimbursement model signal a bright future for patient care and community resources.

💡Check out the video recording of the opening statements, the EMS-related testimony, and the Q&A session that unfolded over the 3-hour meeting: https://youtu.be/wZdSfYW8LTk

🔗Help advocate for positive change in patient care by staying informed and engaged with CPSM at cpsm.us

04/02/2024

🚒 We’re excited to share that CPSM has wrapped up a Standards of Cover (SOC) analysis in collaboration with the Celina Fire Department and EMS team.

📍Celina, Texas is one of the fastest growing cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, and this SOC analysis sought to examine the current level of basic service provided by Celina’s Fire and EMS agencies, pertinent risks they face, and the identification, implementation, and compliance monitoring of performance objectives.

"The organizational study conducted by CPSM proved to be a transformative experience for the Celina Fire Department,” said Assistant Fire Chief Eric Everson. “Through their meticulous analysis, comprehensive assessments, and insightful recommendations, CPSM helped us gain a deeper understanding of our organizational strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement."

📊 The CPSM team put forward twelve recommendations and performance goals, as well as a guide on how to measure the departments’ progress toward their targets.

“The findings and recommendations presented by CPSM were not only thorough and well-researched but also actionable and practical,” said Everson. “I wholeheartedly recommend CPSM to any organization seeking to improve its public safety practices and achieve excellence in its operations.”

🌐 For more details on this project and to learn how CPSM is elevating public safety practices, visit www.cpsm.us.

02/22/2024

The Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) completed a Fire and EMS operational analysis for the City of Cocoa Beach, Florida, providing recommendations for continued improvement to exceed
community expectations, and for the department to mitigate emergencies effectively and efficiently.

This analysis provides the city with a comprehensive and unbiased review of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department (CBFD) administrative capabilities, training and support programs, deployment effectiveness, current Fire and EMS operations, operational workload, response times, the emergency management program, strategic and succession planning and assessment of lifeguard services.

The analysis included a series of observations, planning objectives, and twenty-eight recommendations that are intended to assist the city and the fire department deliver services more efficiently and effectively.

Thank you to the CPSM team for their expertise on this project! Stay tuned for more updates and learn more about our work at www.cpsm.us.

02/21/2024

CPSM is proud to announce several new projects currently underway!

📍 Chatham County, Georgia: Fire-EMS Study
📍 Sterling Heights, Michigan: Community Risk Assessment, Standards of Cover Analysis
📍 Bonner Springs, Kansas: Police Study
📍 Walla Walla, Washington: Police Study

🌐Across all our endeavors, we leverage thorough data analysis, engage with stakeholders, and apply decades of industry expertise to provide insightful transformations that empower public safety organizations nationwide.

🔗Keep an eye out for further updates on CPSM's projects and join us in shaping the future of public safety! Discover the impact CPSM is making at www.cpsm.us.

02/20/2024

🚑Join us on February 22 at 1 pm EST for the upcoming ICMA webinar: "Asking Fire and EMS Chiefs the Right Questions" 🚒

During the event, CPSM’s own Tom Wieczorek will be sharing valuable insights to tackle staffing challenges in your fire and EMS departments alongside special guest presenter Matt Zavadsky, who will talk about recent events affecting EMS.

🔍Have you ever wondered how a workload and operation analysis can impact how you fund fire and EMS services, how your department compares to similar operations in other cities, or how you can best deploy your emergency staff?

This discussion is set to answer those questions and more, covering topics such as:
🎯Real workloads: Ensuring correct staff allocation
📊Determining the right number of firefighters and equipment
👨‍🚒Addressing low firefighter utilization
📈Goal-setting, performance management, and continuous improvement strategies

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and strategies for optimizing your fire department staffing!

🔗Learn more and register for the event today: https://bit.ly/42P0IFy

02/01/2024

CPSM has been enjoying the Michigan Municipal Executives Winter Institute Conference in Lansing, which began January 29 and wraps up today, February 1, 2024!

If you haven't already said hello to Thomas Wieczorek, our resident expert in fire and emergency medical services operations, keep an eye out for him!

As the ICMA’s exclusive provider of public safety technical assistance, Center for Public Safety Management is proud to participate in municipal leadership professional development opportunities, learning from other members’ local challenges and providing education and long-lasting solutions.

12/15/2023

🚒 This year, CPSM collaborated with the City of Pelham, Alabama to conduct a Station Feasibility and Fire & EMS Operational Analysis. This project will shape the future of their fire services.

🔥The analysis evaluated the placement of fire facilities to maximize current and future growth, reimagined department staffing and deployment, and enhanced EMS ground transport delivery. CPSM’s signature approach to this project included comprehensive evaluations of community risk reduction, emergency management, facilities, fleet infrastructure, and department training.

🗺️Extensive GIS mapping of fire facility locations was used to ensure that our strategic plan was in compliance with industry standards. In total, CPSM presented 16 recommendations to enhance every facet of the Pelham Fire Department.

📆CPSM's formal presentation to the Pelham City Council on October 2, 2023, led to guidance at the November 6, 2023, City Council meeting. The Pelham City Council gave the green light for the implementation of EMS ground transport as a Pelham Fire Department function starting January 1, 2025, enacting a key CPSM recommendation.

🔗For more details on this groundbreaking analysis and to learn how CPSM is shaping the future of fire services, visit www.cpsm.us

12/14/2023

CPSM is across the nation! Some of our recent city partnerships include:

🔥Fire/EMS Study - Northville, MI
👮Police Organization Assessment - Chattanooga, TN
🚒Fire-EMS Study - Jupiter, FL
🚑Fire EMS Study - Minot, ND
🔍Fire-EMS Study - Mt. Pleasant, MI
🏢Fire Facility Location Feasibility Analysis - Hazelwood, MO
🚓Police Study - Olympia, WA
🔥Fire Risk Assessment - Rialto, CA
👮Police Study - Plymouth, MA
📊Fire/EMS Standards of Cover - Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
🚒Fire Study - St. Helena, CA

🌐Throughout all of our projects, we employ meticulous data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and our decades of industry expertise to deliver transformative insights that empower public safety organizations nationwide.

🔗Stay tuned for more updates on CPSM's impactful projects and work shaping the future of public safety! Explore how CPSM is making a difference at www.cpsm.us

11/27/2023

🌟The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, joined forces with CPSM for a transformative workforce assessment. This project examined relationships between members of the Unified Government administration, fire administration and line-level staff, including members of the fire union.🚒

🔍The CPSM methodology, including virtual and in-person meetings and a comprehensive staff survey, unveiled 12 key findings that pinpointed root causes for challenges within the KCKFD. Then, our team formulated 10 targeted recommendations to kickstart organizational reconstruction and pave the way for future success.

🗣️"CPSM far exceeded our expectations,” said Assistant County Administrator Brenda Cobbins. “The knowledge, experience and professionalism demonstrated by this company is a rare assemblage of true subject matter experts that understands the intricacies of public safety in municipalities."

🔗 Explore how CPSM is making a difference in communities like Wyandotte County. Visit www.cpsm.us for more success stories!

11/21/2023

🚑 Struggling with rising EMS costs in your community? Join CPSM EMS expert Tom Wieczorek for an insightful webinar on November 21 from 1:00 –– 2:30 p.m. ET! Discover how communities nationwide are tackling the challenges of soaring EMS expenses and staffing difficulties.

🔍This session, hosted by the International City Managers Association (ICMA), will dive into diverse EMS delivery models, a national overview of EMS challenges, multiple strategic funding sources and the pros and cons of “essential service designation.”

Don't miss this opportunity to proactively address EMS challenges! Visit the ICMA website to RSVP today:

Struggling with the rising costs of providing EMS to your community? Tune into this webinar to learn how other communities are coping with this challenge.

11/06/2023

🚓 CPSM is gearing up for the CALEA Conference in Bellevue, happening from Nov 8-10!

Join us for a compelling session, “Accreditation and Data for your Manager and Mayor,” presented by CPSM Director Tom Wieczorek on both Thursday and Friday mornings during the event.

📌 In an era of evolving demands and innovative ideas, discover how police agencies can meet the heightened expectations of their communities. Tom will delve into the strategic use of accreditation and best practices to navigate these challenges effectively.

This session is a must-attend for law enforcement leaders. Save the dates and stay tuned for more conference updates! Learn more about CPSM, our upcoming events, and training opportunities at cpsm.us/ 👮‍♂️

10/26/2023

🚑CPSM’s EMS experts recently concluded an analysis of Darien Fire Department Fire and Emergency Services.

The report concluded that the Town of Darien, Connecticut’s three volunteer fire departments (Darien, Noroton, Noroton Heights), the Fire Marshal’s Office, Emergency Management department, and 911-dispatch services provide outstanding services—but even the best departments have room to improve. Our in-depth evaluation led to 18 targeted recommendations, aimed at helping the Town deliver services more efficiently and effectively.

CPSM's mission is to empower communities like Darien with top-notch emergency services that ensure safety for all residents and effectively allocate of public agency resources. Learn more about CPSM’s work at cpsm.us.

10/24/2023

🚒 This year, the Biddeford Fire Department partnered with CPSM to create a comprehensive Fire Organization and Performance Analysis report. The challenges faced by this quality fire department are varied and demanding—from EMS first response to wildland fires and everything in between.

An in-depth organizational analysis comprises a significant portion of the report, delving into labor-management dynamics, organizational structure, communication, strategic planning and the allocation of personnel. In analyzing these factors, CPSM created a roadmap to enhance the department's organizational efficiency and the sustainability of its dedicated personnel.

The report also sheds light on the risk profile of the community, considering influencing factors. This is crucial for determining the staffing and deployment of fire and EMS assets.

For more details on this report, and to explore how CPSM is helping communities like Biddeford, visit www.cpsm.us.

10/17/2023

🌟Our CPSM team marked another successful year in the books at the annual conference!

🤝Throughout the event, we reconnected with old friends and met new industry partners. Whether you stopped by our booth or attended our session, “Mental Health of First Responders: Is it Okay to NOT Be Okay?,” hosted by Director Tom Wieczorek, we encourage you to stay in touch.

🚑🚒🚓Mental health resources for first responders and expert insight into public safety management can be found at cpsm.us. Reach out to learn how we can help maximize your department resources!

10/11/2023

Kalispell, Montana, one of the fastest-growing micropolitan areas in the US, is making strides in public safety! 🌟 CPSM was honored to partner with Kalispell's dedicated public safety teams for comprehensive evaluations of their Fire, EMS, and Police Departments. 🚓🚑🔥

Our experts were impressed by the quality services and outstanding staff in Kalispell. However, we also identified a critical issue: understaffing across all departments.

In response, CPSM outlined observations, planning objectives, and a list of recommendations to help the City deliver services more efficiently and effectively—including a multi-year plan to enhance operations within each department, ensuring Kalispell's public safety keeps pace with its flourishing community. 📈

Kalispell Fire Chief Dan Pearce commended the Fire/EMS report and CPSM's presentation to council, sharing: "The feedback from council members and other department heads in attendance was so positive—this was a comprehensive study that highlighted areas for growth while also recognizing our strengths. It's a transparent document for officials and our citizens." 👏👨‍🚒

At CPSM, we're passionate about helping communities like Kalispell adapt to change across all public safety services. Discover more about our work at www.cpsm.us.

10/04/2023

🚔The CPSM team, under the leadership of Senior Associate Wayne Hiltz, conducted a thorough evaluation of the operations of the Cocoa Beach, Florida Police Department (CBPD).

The study included data collection, interviews with key operational and administrative personnel, focus groups with staff, on-site observations of the job environment, data analysis, and comparative analysis, to inform 109 department recommendations to improve the department’s operations. These suggestions span recruitment, internal affairs, records management, and more.

Cocoa Beach City Manager Robin R. Hayes expressed her satisfaction with the evaluation: “CPSM's report consists of not only charts but great commentary on best practices and suggestions as compared to what we are currently doing. I am happy to accept the report and continue to review policies, procedures, and assist in making positive departmental changes going forward.”

CPSM is dedicated to helping communities like Cocoa Beach make the most of their public safety resources. Learn more about CPSM’s work at cpsm.us.

09/30/2023

🌟 The ICMA - International City/County Management Association Annual Conference kicks off today, and we are excited to welcome you to Austin! Join us throughout the conference to explore the latest trends, insights, and innovations in public safety management.

Find us at our:
🚨 Educational Session: Address the critical issue of suicide risk for your local first responders in our session "Mental Health of First Responders: Is it Okay to NOT Be Okay?" with Director Tom Wieczorek on October 3rd at 2:45pm in Room 18AB.
📍 Booth #529: Stop by CPSM's booth to discover cutting-edge solutions and expertise in public safety management, and a chance to win a classic pedal car!

Let's connect, collaborate, and create a brighter future for public safety and community well-being!

09/26/2023

📢 Get ready to dive into the future of public safety management with CPSM, ICMA - International City/County Management Association's exclusive public safety technical assistance partner at the ICMA Annual Conference!

💡 We bring together research, consulting, and a proven track record managing over 400 public safety agencies. Our subject matter experts, many of them currently serving or recently retired public safety leaders, offer real-time insights into the dynamic world of public safety.

Don't miss our session, "Mental Health of First Responders: Is it Okay to NOT Be Okay?" on October 3, 2:45pm to 3:45pm, Room 18AB. And be sure to visit CPSM at exhibitor booth #529, where innovation meets public safety excellence!

09/22/2023

🚨ICMA - International City/County Management Association Conference Attendees! Explore a critical issue affecting our first responders and city teams at CPSM's session with Director Tom Wieczorek: "Mental Health of First Responders: Is it Okay to NOT Be Okay?" 🚑🚒🚓

In a world filled with challenges like pandemics, social unrest, financial crises, isolation, and extreme weather conditions, our first responders face tremendous pressure. The alarming rise in suicide rates among police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel demands our attention. Last year alone, law enforcement saw a 54% increase in suicide risk compared to civilians.

Together, we can make a difference. Join us on October 3, from 2:45pm to 3:45pm at the Austin Convention Center, Room 18AB to explore:
1️⃣ The magnitude of this crisis.
2️⃣ Early warning signs and what to look out for.
3️⃣ The resources and support available, even in remote areas.

Don't miss this opportunity to empower your city team and support your first responders. See you there! 🤝

09/18/2023

Tune into this webinar to learn the best practices for one of the most crucial elements of disaster preparedness.

08/31/2023

The CPSM team will be at the ICMA - International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) annual conference in Austin, Texas!

We’re excited to connect with fellow local government management professionals to build stronger and safer communities across the country. We’ll be at Booth #529—come say hello!

Our approach has helped over 400 public safety agencies optimize their operations, reduce staff workload and improve overall service to the community. Learn more at cpsm.us and connect with Joe Pozzo, CPSM’s Senior Manager of Fire & EMS at the conference.

08/30/2023

🚒CPSM’s Fire and EMS experts recently collaborated with iParametrics to complete a comprehensive analysis of fire and emergency services in Brownsville, TX.

The 57 data-backed recommendations in the analysis are aimed at helping the City continue to provide excellent services while minimizing risk and resource misallocation.

CPSM is dedicated to helping cities like Brownsville to maximize their public resources. Learn more about CPSM’s work at cpsm.us.