IPSD Releases 2009 Annual Report

IRONWOOD, MI - Sunday, January 31, 2010 - Robert J. Erspamer, Director of the Ironwood Public Safety Department recently released the 2009 Annual Report of the Ironwood Public Safety Department.

"The purpose of this letter," wrote Erspamer at the beginning of the report,"Is to report on the department's activities for the calendar year 2009. The Ironwood Public Safety Department had another busy year as we continually strive to provide excellent service to the community."

The report mentions that the department's personnel declined once again in the previous year. Officer Jake Edwards resigned to accept a position in Green Bay, Wisconsin. According to the report, the consists of twelve full-time, fully cross-trained (police and fire) officers and one part-time administrative assistant.

PERSONNEL - The department's staff (as pictured above) consists of: Front row from right to left - PSO Officer Adam Clemens; PSO Officer John Colassaco; Detective Rod Passuello;  PSO Matthew Sterbenz; PSO Sheryl Saippa; Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Sweeney; and Sergeant Ron Carpenedo. Back row from right to left - PSO Jamie Chiapuzio; IPSD Director Robert Erspamer;  PSO Andrew DiGiorgio; PSO Michael Rimkus; PSO Brandon Snyder; and PSO/Fire Officer Andrew Leiphart.

FIRE ACTIVITIES - The Ironwood Public Safety Department is a full-time fire protection agency. IPSD is responsible for fire protection to the City of Ironwood, Erwin Township, Wal-Mart store and the first responder for the Gogebic Community College. All IPSD members are on-call 24 hours a day. The IPSD is supplemented by the Ironwood Volunteer Fire Department.

According to the report, fires slightly decreased in 2009. The IPSD responded to 50 fire calls in 2009 compared to 62 in 2008 and 64 in 2007. For the first time in three years, the City did not suffer a fire fatality. The average response time was 5.8 minutes compared to 4.6 minutes in 2008 and 4.5 minutes in 2007.

Fire training in 2009 included CPR/AED's, fire truck driving, HAZMAT training, SCBA's (self-contained breathing apparatus), ladders, hose lines, rescue and ventilation. In 2009, the IPSD and the IVFD began joint fire training once a month. Officer Snyder attended a Fire Investigation Level I school in lower Michigan.

The department's newest addition is the 1982 100 foot platform ladder truck, which was purchased from the City of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Again in 2009, the department gave several tours of the fire hall to local school children. The department also conducted commercial fire inspections.

TRAINING - Training is a high priority for the department. IPSD is a member of the Upper Peninsula Law Enforcement Training Consortium, which provides law enforcement training at a minimal cost. This past year, some of the training has included: Legal Update; Reid Interview/Interrogation; Active Duty Firearms; Precision Driving; Evidence Technician Updates; Basic Radar; and Domestic Violence. Also, Officers Clemens and Sterbenz attended a weeklong Clandestine Labratory training in Virginia. The federal government paid for the training.

MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL TEAMS - The IPSD continues to work closely with the local law enforcement agencies. The IPSD has two officers that are on the Gogebic-Iron County Tactical Response Team or SWAT. The team is made up of members from the Iron County, WI Sheriff's Department, the Hurley Police Department, and the Gogebic County Sheriff's Department.

Also, two officers of the IPSD are members of the GIANT (Gogebic-Iron County Anti-Narcotics Team). Similar to the SWAT team, members of the GIANT team are from the above agencies with the addition of the Lac Vieux Tribal Police Department.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS - The memebers of the department donated their time by participating in many community events in 2009. Some of these include the IPSD Bicycle Safety Program; Shop With a Cop; Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl-a-thon; and the Victim's Services Hockey game.

GRANTS/DONATIONS - In 2009, the department was once again awarded a USDA grant for the purchase of a patrol vehicle. The grant covers 55% of the cost of the vehicle. Also, Enbridge gave a grant of $1000 to the IPSD for the purchase of fire equipment. The State of Michigan awarded UP agencies a grant for MDT's (mobile data terminals). MDT's are computers, which allow officers to type reports and run driver's information from their patrol vehicle.

BUILDING & VEHICLE MAINTENANCE - Officer Leiphart is responsible for the repair and maintenance of IPSD vehicles and the building and grounds. He is also responsible for the testing and maintenance of all fire equipment and apparatus. Leiphart conducts all maintenance and testing while on his normal duty shift at IPSD.

The four patrol vehicles are in overall good condition. The vehicle mileages are: 2006 Ford Explorer 4x4 (62,000); 2007 Ford Crown Victoria (67,000); 2010 Ford Explorer 4x4 (3,055); and 2008 Crown Victoria (43,227).

Fire vehicles include the following: 1999 Pierce Fire Truck; 1987 Seagrave Fire Truck; 1982 Pierce 100 foot Platform Ladder Truck; and 1976 Ford 4x4 Mini-Pumper.

STATISTICS - The department responded to 4,649 calls for service and patrolled 99,003 miles. To view all 2009 IPSD Statistics [CLICK HERE].