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Civil Service Commission Minutes - 03/29/2019MINUTES OF THE FIRE FIGHTERs AND POLICE OFFICERS' CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MARCH 29,2019 Present: Jim fleiman § Laura Fidelie § John. Buckley § Christi Klyn, Civil Service Director § Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney § Manuel Rorrego, Police Chief' § Guy Gilmore, Deputy Chief § R. W. Smith, Deputy Chief § Donald Ilughes, Assistant Fire Chief § Brian Lester, I III. Supervisor § Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary § Lt. Kevin Folmar Sgt. Chris Foster Sgt, Jonathon Lindsey Sgt. Cary Venable Sgt. Rick Cullar Sgt. Joe Esteves Sgt. John Sprains Sgt. Mike Wheat Officer Paul Flardi Officer Brett Keith Officer Michael Poirot I. Call to Order Commission Members City Administration Wichita Falls Police Department Commissioner I leiman called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. John Buckley was sworn in as a Civil Service Commission member. 2. Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair Laura Fidelie moved -seconded by John Buckley, that Jim I-leiman be atainted as Chair of the Conunission. 'The motion carried 3-0. Mr. Buckley moved, seconded by Ms. Fidelie, that Laura Fidelie be appointed as Vice Chair ofthe Commission. The motion carried 3-0. 3. Approval of Minutes (12/7'/17) Ms, Fidelie moved for aroval of the minutes. Seconded by Mr. Buck,ley,the motion carried 3 -0. Civil Service (".onimission Minutes _—Marche 29, 2019 4. Review Appeals of the Lieutenant Exam Administered on March 7, 2019 a. Question 67 - Source section 14.9 E, pages 283-284, Answer Key B Specialty trained negotiators should keep in mind the following: Each Hostage taker or barricaded person is an individual with an individual makeup and individual thoughts. In dealing with such persons, it has been found to be helpful to try to create various profiles that indicate common, characteristics. Which of the following may enjoy being the center of all the attention, a position in which he rarely finds himself? A. The Terrorist B. The Emotionally Disturbed Person C. The Professional Criminal Who Has Had His Escaped Blocked. D. Al I of the above are correct answers. Sgt. Chris Foster appealed this question. Ile does not want his peers penalized, so he: requests that answer, A., The Terrorist, also be taken as correct. Otherwise, he requests that this, question be removed from the exam. He argued it uses permissive language. The author knows this is not an exact science. A terrorist is someone who may enjoy being the center of attention, but rarely is until they commit, a terrorist act. The test preparers must ensure the questions are not vague and poorly worded. Ms. Fidelie noted the question is verbatim from the source material. Chairman Heiman added that the source material does not describe terrorists, as those who enjoy being the center of attention. He leans toward sustaining the answer key. Ms. Fidelie agreed. Christi Klyn advised they ask if any others wished to address the Commission. There being none, Ms. Fidelie moved to sustain the answer key, Seconded by Mr. Buckley', the motion carried 3-0. b. Question 72 - Source section 17.4, pages 344-345, Answer Key C There are five major fundamental components included in ICS where law enforcement personnel may be asked to contribute their skills and abilities to a coordinated response effort. Which of the following is one of those five components? A. Safety B. Public Information C. Logistics D. Liaison Sgt. Cary Venable appealed this question, noting that all of the answers are possible. Within one page of the correct answer, the other components can also be found. The source notes that police supervisors and their subordinates can assume they will be in leadership or support positions as Public Information Oft"icer, Safety Officer, or Liaison Officer. The source material is not in compliance with today's teachings. The author admits his information could be out of date; the current teaching of ICSNIMS is not of five components but of only two major components: Command and General Staff. I le requests the Commission accept that all of the possible answers as correct. N:\_1ega1\Personne1\GvR Service Commsslon\Mnutes\2019\2019.3.29\CSC.Mnutes.2019.3.29.doc Civil Service Conimission Minutes March 29, 2019 3 Chainnan Heiman asked if the questions should be answered according to this text or any other source. Ms. Klyn said the questions, were taken from the source list which was provided to all who took the exarn.The test will state from which section each question is derived. Chairman Heiman concluded that the individuals are then tasked to answer the questions from the source material rather than from their training. Sgt. Venable stated that all four answers are provided within the source material. Sgt. Jonathan Lindsey believes the answer key should be sustained to maintain fairness. If answers based on individual experience and training are allowed, they would differ among all test -takers. Instead, they are given Source materials to study and they therefore know how to answer the questions based upon those materials. Sgt. Foster argued that while verbatirn has a place in this process, the Commission should also keep an open mind that the test -takers can also reason a different answer to a poorly -worded question. He hopes the Commission does not get caught up on sticking only to verbatim. Ms. Fidelie moved to sustain the answer key. Seconded by _Mr. Buckle the motion carried 3-0, C. Question 80 - Source chapter 4, page 67, Answer Key D A collaboration between the police and community problems is loosely defined as A. Intelligence -led policing B. Information sharing C. Problern-oriented policing D. Community Policing the community that identities and solves Sgt, Venable appealed this question, and would like for both C., Problern-oriented policing, and D., Community Policing, to be accepted as correct answers. fie believes this question is poorly phrased. The source material defines the correct answer as a term that defies definition, and problem -oriented policing is defined as inte&gal to the definition of community policing. He believes the way the question is phrased and the descriptions given for both possible answers in Intelligence Led Policing mean both answers should be accepted by the Commission as correct. In addition, Sgt, Venable noted that the question is not verbatim from the Source material, Sgt. Lindsey said he believes this question is nearly verbatim, and lie asked the Commission to sustain the answer key. The question requires the examinee to have a complete understanding of these two concepts; and how they are important to the development of intelligence led policing. Problem -oriented policing does, not require the community's involvement. It is acceptable, but not required, The clear answer is community policing. Sgt. Foster said this is a good example of the reasoning that he has been urging throughout this meeting. The question is not verbatim, but it seems straightforward. fie believes the answer key should be sustained. N:\jega1\PersonneJ\0vfl Service Commission\ M in utes\20 19\2019,3,29\CSC. Minutes. 2019. 3.29.doc Civil Service Commission Minutes March 29, 2019 Ms. Fidelie moved, seconded by Mr, Buckley, that the answer key be sustained. 'The motion carried 3-0. d. Question 88 - Source chapter 6, page 134, Answer Key D Confidential police informants are primarily used to A. Identify offenders or suspects. B. Collect background information on of and criminal organizations, C. Trace stolen property. D. All of the above are correct answers. Sgt. Foster appealed this question,, and asks that the Commission accept both D., All of the above are correct answers, and A., Identify offenders or suspects. Ile believes that although this test question is verbatim from the source material, it is poorly worded. The word "primarily" indicates order of importance. Answer A., "Identify offenders or suspects," was the first topic to which the author referred in the text. it is primary for a reason. In defining intelligence led policing, the author includes the phrase, "both strategic management and effective enforcement strategies that target prolific and serious offenders." Police have to identify suspects and offenders in order to target them. Sgt. Lindsey asked that the Commission sustain the answer key. The question is verbatim from the source material. I I he author spoke about the use of confidential informants in a list fashion, All are listed as a primary use; all are important things for which a confidential informant can be used, and all answers are correct. Sgt. Foster said that if a confidential informant has not identified a suspect, then nothing else matters. Ghosts cannot be charged with offenses, It would have been better to have replaced the word "primarily" with "common] y That would have made it an all-inclusive list.. Primarily asked for order of importance. Sgt. Lindsey said Sgt. Foster's point has to do with Intelligence Led Policing. This question is about confidential informants. Ms. Fidelie moved to Sustain the answer key. Seconded by Mr. Buckic A,the motion carried 3-0, C. Question 91 - Source chapter 7, page 158, Answer Key C The key to successftil information sharing is that the information is A. Consistent B. Structured C. Usable D, All of the above are correct answers Sgt. Foster withdrew his appeal, Ms. Fidelie moved to sustain the answer key,. Secondedby Mr. Buckley, the motion carried 3-0, W\_1egam\Personn0\0vii Service Commission\Minutes\2019\2019,3,29\CSC.MiTiu!te.s.2019.3,29,doc Civil Service Corninission Minutes March 29,,2019 5 4. Report from Police Chief Chief BoiTego said two officers are retiring at the end of this month, making, the Department short 19 officers, There is currently a Police Academy of 16 recruits that began February 4. "I'hey will graduate in July -August, go into, the FTO program, and not be on their own until November. It is a long process, but they will be well trained, 5. Report from Fire Cbief Chief Irlughes said he is currently serving as Acting Chief. Chief Reese is retiring effective April 1. The Department is 12 members short; an Academy is currently underway at Vernon College. There are eight people on the eligibility list in the Academy. They will graduate at the end ofJune, and the Department will be 15 people short by that time. There are plans for testing in June to get another process underway. 6. Adjourn Mr. Buckley moved, seconded _bys. Fidelie, for adjournment. The motion carried 3-0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 a.m. - 41 Jiy6 Peter Heiman, Chairman k\_1ega9\Personne1\0vif Service Commssion\Minutes\201.9\2019.3,29\CSC.Mnutes.2019.3.29,doc