The Fire Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST) held its quarterly meeting this morning, May 23, 2018.  The meeting was held in the Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, Oregon.

To increase the public's trust, the Oregon legislature mandates the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training establish minimum standards that are required to be met and maintained by Oregon's providers of public safety, including police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, telecommunicators (9-1-1), emergency medical dispatchers, public safety instructors, and OLCC regulatory specialists.   Fire service standards for training and certification are voluntary with more than 80% of the fire departments and fire protection districts in Oregon participating in the state system.  The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is responsible for certifying public safety professionals who meet all of the Board-established standards, and for denying, suspending or revoking the certification of those who do not meet or fall below these standards. The Fire Policy Committee provides input and guidance to the Board on certification and training standards for more than 13,000 men and women who serve as career and volunteer firefighters around the state.

Professional Standards Cases Note: The below actions are recommendations that are being made to the BPSST. The BPSST has final authority to affirm or overturn any recommendation. All individuals have the will be afforded due process before any BPSST/DPSST action is final, which includes the ability to request a contested case hearing.

Agenda Items Included

Proposed Rule change OAR 259-009-0090 - Approved

Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-007-0010 & 259-009-0070  - Approved

Proposed Rule Change for OAR 259-009-0065 - Approved

Proposed Rule Change for OAR 259-009-0005, 250-009-0062 & 259-009-0080 (Wildland Interface Firefighter Update) - Approved

Fincher, David DPSST #19135 Not currently affiliated with a fire agency  - This was an informatonal item for the Fire Policy Committee.  The Committee did not need to take action as the incident is Measure 11 crime which will trigger the mandatory revocation process.

McEwen, Cheyenne DPSST #36822  Jefferson County RFPD  - The Fire Policy Committee is recommending that the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training deny the application for certification for two years.

Albright, Jeffrey DPSST #F33547 Hoodland RFPD – The Fire Policy Committee is recommending that the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training deny the application for certification for three years.

Klope, Andrew DPSST #F36968 Tri city RFPD No. 4 – The Fire Policy Committee is recommending that the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training to revoke certification for 39 months.

Harrison, Aron DPSST #22033 Lewis & Clark RFPD – The Fire Policy Committee is recommending that the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training deny the request for certification, and revoke current certifications, for 36 months.

Dodenhoff, Kyle A.  DPSST #26245 Rogue Valley International Airport Fire District – The Fire Policy Committee is recommending that the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training to deny the application request, and revoke current certifications, for 19 months.

Poore, James T. DPSST #16053 Klamath County Fire District # 1 – The Fire Policy Committee is recommending that the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training deny the application request, and revoke current certifications, for 24 months.

The next scheduled meeting of the Fire Policy Committee is August 22, 2018 at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.

# Background Information about the Board and Department #

The Board consists of 24 members representing city, county and state public safety professionals representing each of the disciplines (police, fire, 9-1-1, corrections, private security), and a private citizen appointed by the Governor. The current Board Chair is Sheriff Jason Myers of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The Board includes administrators as well as non-management representatives from statewide organizations. The Board represents more than 42,000 public and private safety professionals and establishes minimum standards for the training and certification of city, county and state police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers, OLCC regulatory specialists, criminal justice instructors and private security providers, private investigators and polygraph examiners. The Board is supported by five policy committees and a number of advisory and sub-committees representing the public and private safety disciplines. These bodies provide technical expertise and serve as vital links to public and private safety organizations. The Board operates in close partnership with the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).

The DPSST implements minimum standards established by the Board for training and certification of public and private safety providers. DPSST provides training to more than 20,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem and certifies qualified professionals at various levels from basic through executive. Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director of DPSST.