Board approves uniform contract and accepts departmental reports; EMS and fire officials highlight life-saving response and new equipment
August 07, 2025 | Torrington, Northwest Hills County, Connecticut
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At its Aug. 6 meeting the Torrington Board of Public Safety approved a contract extension for police uniforms, accepted multiple departmental activity reports and heard a presentation from Trinity Emergency Medical Services about a complex cardiac arrest where responders restored circulation.
The board approved an extension of bid PDU023082322 with Fairfield Uniform Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for police department uniforms for fiscal year 2025-26 in an amount not to exceed $55,000. The item was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; funding was reported as available in the police uniform allowance line of the FY 2025-26 budget and the city council had previously approved the motion.
The board also voted to accept Police Chief Baldwin's reports for April, May and June 2025; Interim Fire Chief Tripp's reports for the same months; and the EMS provider activity report for AprilJune 2025. Commissioners raised questions about unpaid parking fines in the police report and about elevated overtime in the fire reports.
On parking fines, Chief Baldwin said many outstanding fines date back nearly 20 years and the department is consulting with corporation counsel about options, noting some accounts are likely uncollectible and that the city recently amended downtown parking fines. "We're going to talk with corporation counsel," Baldwin said, adding the department is working with clerical staff and the traffic division to pursue collection and that a budgeted program (T2) may help hold debtors accountable.
Interim Fire Chief Tripp described higher overtime in AprilJune as the result of several extended absences (workers' compensation, military leave and an injured battalion chief) and training commitments such as a hazmat refresher. Tripp reported the department is down on staffing but recruiting; the new engine arrived and is being outfitted and used for driver training. Tripp said the department is coordinating with volunteer companies including Drakeville and Toringford to improve response capacity.
Trinity EMS described a July cardiac-arrest response that involved multiple arrhythmias, nine defibrillations, a period of return of spontaneous circulation, external pacing and hospital transport to Saint Mary's Hospital. The patient was discharged Aug. 3 against medical advice and, according to Trinity, left the hospital with no neurological deficits. Trinity also reported purchases of six Power Pro 2 powered stretchers (noted cost: about $30,000 each) and procurement of additional video laryngoscopes for all paramedic units.
Board members praised the departments for community events. Commissioners and staff reported on National Night Out and other outreach; the volunteer fire department reported recruitment of six new firefighters and continued training. The board heard procedural motions to accept multiple sets of minutes from earlier meetings and table a policy-subcommittee item; these were approved on voice votes or recorded as abstentions where noted in the minutes.
Votes at a glance
- Extension of bid PDU023082322 (Fairfield Uniform Company) for police uniforms, <= $55,000: approved (voice vote). Funding: FY 2025-26 police uniform allowance. City council previously approved the item.
- Acceptance of police chief reports (AprilJune 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Acceptance of interim fire chief reports (AprilJune 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Acceptance of EMS provider activity report (AprilJune 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Acceptance of Officer Nicole Mueller as regular member after probation (effective 08/05/2025): approved (see separate personnel article).
- Multiple sets of meeting minutes and procedural motions (see minutes for full roll calls): approved; several commissioners recorded abstentions on specific minutes as noted in meeting record.
The board adjourned after brief member remarks and invited commissioners and the public to view the new engine parked outside.
The board approved an extension of bid PDU023082322 with Fairfield Uniform Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for police department uniforms for fiscal year 2025-26 in an amount not to exceed $55,000. The item was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; funding was reported as available in the police uniform allowance line of the FY 2025-26 budget and the city council had previously approved the motion.
The board also voted to accept Police Chief Baldwin's reports for April, May and June 2025; Interim Fire Chief Tripp's reports for the same months; and the EMS provider activity report for AprilJune 2025. Commissioners raised questions about unpaid parking fines in the police report and about elevated overtime in the fire reports.
On parking fines, Chief Baldwin said many outstanding fines date back nearly 20 years and the department is consulting with corporation counsel about options, noting some accounts are likely uncollectible and that the city recently amended downtown parking fines. "We're going to talk with corporation counsel," Baldwin said, adding the department is working with clerical staff and the traffic division to pursue collection and that a budgeted program (T2) may help hold debtors accountable.
Interim Fire Chief Tripp described higher overtime in AprilJune as the result of several extended absences (workers' compensation, military leave and an injured battalion chief) and training commitments such as a hazmat refresher. Tripp reported the department is down on staffing but recruiting; the new engine arrived and is being outfitted and used for driver training. Tripp said the department is coordinating with volunteer companies including Drakeville and Toringford to improve response capacity.
Trinity EMS described a July cardiac-arrest response that involved multiple arrhythmias, nine defibrillations, a period of return of spontaneous circulation, external pacing and hospital transport to Saint Mary's Hospital. The patient was discharged Aug. 3 against medical advice and, according to Trinity, left the hospital with no neurological deficits. Trinity also reported purchases of six Power Pro 2 powered stretchers (noted cost: about $30,000 each) and procurement of additional video laryngoscopes for all paramedic units.
Board members praised the departments for community events. Commissioners and staff reported on National Night Out and other outreach; the volunteer fire department reported recruitment of six new firefighters and continued training. The board heard procedural motions to accept multiple sets of minutes from earlier meetings and table a policy-subcommittee item; these were approved on voice votes or recorded as abstentions where noted in the minutes.
Votes at a glance
- Extension of bid PDU023082322 (Fairfield Uniform Company) for police uniforms, <= $55,000: approved (voice vote). Funding: FY 2025-26 police uniform allowance. City council previously approved the item.
- Acceptance of police chief reports (AprilJune 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Acceptance of interim fire chief reports (AprilJune 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Acceptance of EMS provider activity report (AprilJune 2025): approved (voice vote).
- Acceptance of Officer Nicole Mueller as regular member after probation (effective 08/05/2025): approved (see separate personnel article).
- Multiple sets of meeting minutes and procedural motions (see minutes for full roll calls): approved; several commissioners recorded abstentions on specific minutes as noted in meeting record.
The board adjourned after brief member remarks and invited commissioners and the public to view the new engine parked outside.
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