Federspiel, Boucher awarded for bravery

At the year's first meeting of the Havre City Council Tuesday, Havre Police Department Animal Control Officer Pete Federspiel and Havreite Matt Boucher were presented the Lifesaving Award for saving a woman from a burning vehicle last year, and the council heard complaints about insufficient training on mental health issues for city police officers.

Havre Chief of Police Gabe Matosich presented Federspiel and Boucher the award for "their heroism and extraordinary courage, quick thinking and selfless actions."

Matosich said that in November of last year, Federspiel had stopped at the site of a car that had driven off the road into a ditch on Eighth Avenue and saw white smoke rising from the vehicle with a dazed and disoriented woman still inside.

He said Federspiel called the fire department but the vehicle caught fire while the woman was still heavily disoriented inside.

He said Federspiel attempted to get the woman out of the vehicle, but because it was still in gear the door was locked.

He tried to punch out the glass until Boucher, who was passing through the area, came to help him, Matosich said.

Eventually they got through the glass and managed to take the woman from the vehicle, seconds before fire spread to the cab of the vehicle.

The woman, who had suffered a medical event while driving, causing the crash, was treated on the scene before being taken to Northern Montana Hospital.

Matosich said Federspiel and Boucher disregarded their own safety for the sake of someone who was in trouble, and their actions deserve recognition.

Havre Mayor Doug Kaercher thanked them both for what they did and said he applauds their bravery.

During the meeting Kaecher also administered the oath of office to council member Chris Partin, who was elected last year, but was not there to take the oath with the other four incoming members at the last meeting.

Members of the council also elected Lindsey Ratliff to be the body's president.

Council member Dave Brewer nominated Wade Bitz, who joined the council in October of last year, but Bitz quickly asked that his name be removed from consideration for the position, as he didn't believe he was ready for something like that.

The council also heard briefly from Havre Public Works Director Trevor Mork who said he'd received a request from Montana Department of Transportation that the city consider regulating the operations of food trucks on First Street, part of U.S. Highway 2.

Kaercher said he would pass that request on to the council's Streets and Sidewalks Committee.

During public comments, Havre resident Cheryl Lynn Tatum said she's seen a number of interactions between the police department and people in her neighborhood over the past year that she feels indicate a need for better mental health training for officers.

Tatum gave council members copies of a list of incidents she observed and accompanying suggestions regarding how things at the department could be improved.

She said the way she's seen officers interact with people in crisis was unhelpful and demonstrated that they didn't know how to properly deal with situations like this, and they need to be better-equipped, especially for the sake of young people who are struggling with mental illness.

Council member Dave Brewer asked why the hospital wasn't contacted to deal with these incidents.

Tatum said when she sees an emergency she calls 911 and talks to the dispatcher and police show up.

Brewer said the hospital should have been contacted in these cases, not necessarily the police.

"Should I be the one screening the calls as a citizen?" Tatum said in response.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Havre President Crystal Laufer also spoke about the issue, saying the system being used to deal with people in crisis is insufficient on both the law enforcement and health care sides.

Laufer encouraged law enforcement to consider implementing better training within their own departments, or look into organizations like hers which can provide some insights into how mental illness works, and how to respond to people in crisis.

She said incidents like these aren't necessarily an indication of failure on the part of the officer, but of a lack of education on the subject of mental illness.

Tatum's list had other suggestions about improving police navigation software and addressing disparities between the service they provide in different neighborhoods.

Kaercher said they would take their advice under advisement.

After the meeting, Matosich said they would consider what was brought to them and how to address it.