BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The dedication of Bay Minette employees has paid off for the city, dropping the total of workman's compensation claims from $59,000 in 2007 to $9,000 in 2008, Mayor Jamie Tillery said.

"I think it's due to the dedication these department heads have, and the cooperation between departments," Tillery said of the dramatic decrease. "The employees realize the importance of safety. That's why we do this research on equipment and keep sending them to these schools."

Tillery said the decrease in claims was due to an increase in safety, primarily because of training, from the police and fire departments to the grounds and sanitation workers.

"Primarily, what comes to citizens minds regarding safety is police and fire,” Tillery said. “But, our grounds crews attend training on spraying chemicals. Even our crews on the sanitation trucks attend training because of the materials they might come in contact with. It all comes down to when you send your children outside, they are safe."

Police chief Michael Rowland said his department is one of the more noticeable departments during safety inspections due to its size and the nature of its business.

"We have more officers and therefore more opportunity for something to happen," Rowland said, noting that 2008 had been a safe year for his officers and staff as well. "I think it has to do with the level of training we're giving these guys."

Rowland said he makes sure his department is not only up to standards when it comes to safety and training, but exceeds those standards.

"We go beyond what the state requires," he said. "A police officer is required to get a minimum of 12 hours training per year. In Bay Minette, we give our officers much more. We might give them driver training every year, which is twice what the state requires. There's 24 hours right there."

He said the driver training is one of the more important training classes an officer can receive. He said his officers may log more than 200,000 miles on the road, and for 2008, the department only had a couple of "minor, minor accidents."

But, the training does not stop there.

"We have what we call the 12 high-risk tasks of a police officer — operating a motor vehicle, domestic violence, officer safety as far as handcuffing techniques, arrest techniques, dealing with a mentally ill person and things like that,” he said. ‘We train them on all of these. That is the best tactic for reducing our risk liability."

And, the department has apparently done very well, because a recent evaluation done by the municipal insurance agent revealed a glowing report.

"He said it was the best evaluation he had ever done, and that's statewide," Rowland said.

The benefit of that training was evidenced just last week when Chuck Stevens held his Turkey Giveaway, an event that was advertised on TV.

"We had people coming from cities and counties all over the place," Rowland said. "The traffic was backed up on 31 North as far back as Faulkner (State Community College) and over the overpass as far back as the high school."

Rowland said a couple of officers had been requested,but said he realized after topping the hill and seeing the traffic that it was going to take a shift of people to keep the traffic under control.

He said officers had to be pulled in short notice, outfitted, given assignments and put to work.

"But with all that, there was not one single traffic accident," he said. "That's because of the training these guys get."

Fire chief Phil Bryars agreed that training is the key to safety, as well as equipment.

"We've made a commitment to having the latest and greatest in equipment," Bryars said. "We recently received an accountability grant that will allow us to put GPS in our trucks and on our fire fighters so we can watch our fire fighters inside and know where they are and if one is down or moving."

He said he has several men going to a Rapid Intervention Training to learn how to assist a firefighter who is down inside a burning structure.

"That's at a minimum cost to the city  because most of these things are paid for by grants," he said. He said the return is even better though, because of the decrease in insurance rates and injury related claims.

"The return is you have more rapid response, because they're more confident," Tillery said of the firefighters who are trained.

"And as you become safer, your equipment lasts longer," she added.

Bryars agreed. "A firetruck now costs about $400,000 to $500,000. One of our trucks is a 1991, and I trust it as much as one of the newer trucks," he said. "It is definitely more cost effective to pay for training than to go out and buy a fire truck every year."

Both chiefs pointed out that while Bay Minette boasts a population of 8,000, on any given day the city is teaming with close to 35,000 people.

"All those people are our responsibility," they said. Additionally, during special events, such as Christmas Fest or Mardi Gras, the number more than doubles.

"During Mardi Gras we can expect to see 80,000 people just for that one parade," Rowland said. "We are responsible for the safety of all those people."

The men agreed at the end of the day, safety was the key concern for all departments.

"I think the chief (of police) agrees, if I don't do anything else, at the end of the day if I don't have to make that phone call or go to someone's house and tell them that their spouse or loved one is dead or seriously injured, it's been a good day," Bryars said.

Tillery said she hopes the city will carry the trend of safe work into 2009.

"We will continue to build on the greatness we already have. Change for the better is where we're going. Everything we do everyday in this office is having a positive outcome."