Newly hired Ocean Shores Fire Chief David Bathke on Monday night was introduced to the City Council and the public, and he promptly was asked to wade into one of the city’s most emotional debates — whether it can fund and maintain a more comprehensive surf rescue response or staff a surf rescue team.

The issue has been magnified by four recent water emergencies, two of them fatal, and the fact the city disbanded its former surf rescue team in 2013 because of budget cutbacks, lack of funding and other issues such as liability protection.

Bathke, with 40 years of experience in Wisconsin and Arizona, said he understands the dilemma.

“There are a lot of alternatives and things we can use. Rest assured of one thing: any program we start within the Fire Department, we are either going to be all in, or we are not going to do it,” Bathke said when first asked to address the council during the end of Monday’s four-hour regular meeting. “I won’t subject the city to the liability for us only doing things halfway, I won’t subject our personnel to that risk.”

“We need to make sure our folks are adequately trained and have the adequate equipment to do it, so they can do it in a safe-as-possible manner,” he added.

Mayor Crystal Dingler noted that she had pursued grant funding to help support surf rescue before it was disbanded, but the City Council at that time blocked her from accepting any funds (a $35,000 grant was offered from the Grays Harbor Community Foundation), and she did not put any money for it in the following budget proposals.

“I was unable to accept the grant that was offered, and we have not had surf rescue since that time,” Dingler said.

She asked the new chief to “look at this seriously and make some recommendations to us as to what the alternatives are that are out there and what the feasibility is. We all know that we do not have enough police, and police were a part of the surf rescue we had before.”

Bathke said he would review what other coastal areas are doing, but he also stressed a review of fresh water responses as well, noting Ocean Shores has 23 miles of inland lakes and waterways. One of the recent fatalities involved a man who drowned in the Grand Canal.

Bathke referenced several funding possibilities: “There are quite a few of them, actually, that we can look at if we want to go that route, so that it doesn’t put the burden on the taxpayers.”

Another possibility, he suggested, is to look at new technology, such as a drone that will withstand 55 mph winds and that can drop a flotation device to someone in the water. However, he was doubtful about what it would take to support another fully manned surf rescue team, and noted it would take at least a year to have such a response team trained and ready once a decision was made to proceed.

“You need constant training to evaluate personnel, and I don’t even know if we have enough personnel to function on a shift day-to-day basis, and do it safely,” Bathke said. “Because if we can’t, we are not going to venture down that road. It opens up the city to liability, and I won’t do that as your fire chief.”

“We do need to do something,” he added, “but once again, people do need to be responsible for their actions as well when they are out recreating.”

Bathke started his career in 1977 as a Fire Explorer in New Berlin, WI, and advanced through the ranks in Wisconsin as a firefighter, paramedic, lieutenant, captain, training officer, battalion chief, and fire chief, serving the city of West Bend, city of Wauwatosa, town of Lisbon, and Ripon Area Fire District.

Bathke spent the past 4½ years as Battalion Chief and Fire Chief of the Hellsgate Fire District in Star Valley, AZ, and a Regional Director for the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association.

He also holds a Master’s Degree in Management, a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, and an Associate Degree in Fire Science, and is currently a Nationally Registered Paramedic.

Bathke has been on the job in Ocean Shores for two weeks. His annual salary is $100,527.

Dingler said she expects the chief to take the next few months to “look at everything at the same time,” including how surf rescue fits in with the entire operation of the Fire Department.

“I am honored to be chosen as the leader of the Ocean Shores Fire Department and to lead such a fine bunch of individuals who work for the city,” Bathke said in opening remarks. “I am really, really excited about some of the possibilities and the real challenges to be overcome. But we will do that, and we are committed to provide the best service possible for all the residents and visitors alike.”