9.15.2026 City Council Public Safety

The Fall River City Council Committee on Public Safety met on September 15, 2026, chaired by Councilor Christopher M. Peckham, Sr., with Councilors Andrew J. Raposo and Michael G. Canuel present. The committee first addressed a resolution regarding the installation and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in city-owned parks. Parks Director Darren Medeiros presented options ranging from outdoor heated, monitored Save Station kiosks costing several thousand dollars to providing units inside facilities used by active athletic leagues. Following discussions on liability, capital funding, and grant eligibility, the committee approved a motion requesting an inventory of active sports leagues from the Parks Director and a legal opinion from Corporation Counsel regarding municipal liability before tabling the matter.

The committee then reviewed the city's strategic Emergency Response Plan and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) protocols with public safety leadership, reflecting on operational lessons learned during a recent major blizzard. Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Rick Aguiar presented a completed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual and Emergency Response Plan addendum for the EOC. Key discussion points included communication redundancies, hardline phone needs, utilizing mobile command trailers, and establishing clear thresholds and mandates for department heads reporting to the EOC during declared states of emergency.

Finally, the committee received quarterly operational updates from the police, fire, and emergency medical services departments. Acting Police Chief J.T. Hoar reported on "Operation Restore the Row" in the Corky Row neighborhood, which resulted in 40 arrests, the ongoing hiring of 26 to 27 officers, and plans to strengthen enforcement of the city's nuisance property ordinance. Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon detailed 10 upcoming recruit hires, the delivery and impending in-service ceremony of Engine 9, supply chain delays on Ladder 4 from Spartan Fire Apparatus, new state sprinkler regulations resulting from the Gabriel House fire investigation, and the transition to PFAS-free turnout gear. EMS leadership also noted heavy summer event coverage and fleet challenges after three ambulances were damaged in collisions.

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