Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
Beginning January 1, 2007 this Department began tracking alarms using the new CryWolf software. This program has eliminated the need for the Police Department to track alarms using the old Admins system. CryWolf also allows the Police Department to mail invoices directly to the alarm owner and eliminates the need to use a police officer to issue a citation for violations.
Two (2) Probationary Police Officers have completed fourteen weeks of basic training at the Connecticut Police Academy. Graduation from the Academy is expected in March, 2007.
On January 8 - 10, 2007 the Wethersfield Police Department Training Unit hosted a three day class entitled "Emergency Medical Dispatch" sponsored by PowerPhone. This training was held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room.
On January 23 - 24, 2007 the Wethersfield Police Department Training Unit hosted a two day class entitled "Civil Liability" sponsored by the Connecticut Police Academy. This training was held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room.
In January, 2007 members of the Wethersfield Police Department Patrol Division were dispatched to a local convenience store on a threatening complaint. The victim stated that he had recently been threatened by a male previously known to him. Additionally, the victim told members of the Patrol Division that the male recently was involved in the theft of a large amount of money. While still interviewing the victim, Patrol Division members located the suspect and arrested him for the threatening incident. Members of the WPD Patrol Division and Detective Division soon learned that the suspect was involved in the theft of over $143,000.00 from an area secured armored car transport company. Due to the investigative efforts of a Wethersfield Police detective, over $143,000.00 was located and returned to the company with the suspect arrested and incarcerated.
This month members of the Detective Division initiated or were assigned follow up to twenty-one new cases. Detectives have received AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) hits on two outstanding burglary investigations. One AFIS hit included identifying a suspect in an eight year old burglary and a second for a high dollar value burglary. The detectives are also investigating four fraud cases, four burglaries, one fatal fire investigation, one sexual assault and two larceny cases. Detectives also completed three pistol permits applications and three Town of Wethersfield background investigations.
In January, 2007 a Wethersfield Police detective assisted the Patrol Division in identifying a suspect who was actively wanted by area towns for his involvement in counterfeit checks. With the arrest and identification of the suspect, other area law enforcement agencies have been able to make further criminal cases, one resulting in a CORA case at the State level.
In January, 2007 the Detective Division assisted the Patrol Division with an investigation into the theft of over $143,000.00 from an area secured armored car transport company. Members of the Patrol Division were involved in a threatening case in which the victim related that the suspect had just recently stolen cash from his employer, the armored car service company. Due to the investigative efforts of a Wethersfield Police detective, over $143,000.00 was located and returned to the company with the suspect arrested and incarcerated.
The School Resource Officer handled eight (8) incidents during the course of January, 2007. These incidents included three (3) larceny complaints, two (2) suspicious situations, one (1) trespass, one (1) mediation and one (1) narcotics complaint.
There were six juveniles referred to the Juvenile Unit during the month of January, 2007 for various criminal acts and violations. Three juveniles were referred to juvenile court and the remaining were either diverted to their parents or school without any further police involvement, or their cases are still pending. This unit was responsible for the initial investigation or follow up of six new cases.
In January, 2007 the Juvenile Unit investigated a fight that occurred at the Silas Deane Middle School. Investigation revealed that one of the juveniles possessed an air-soft BB gun in their backpack and that the BB gun was provided by a juvenile classmate and friend. The three juveniles involved (the weapon carrier, weapon provider and the other fighter) were summonsed for various charges. Two of the juveniles were charged with dangerous weapons offenses (carrier and provider.)
The WPD Explorers held two training meetings during the month of January, 2007. The Explorers assisted the Department D.A.R.E. officer with the Emerson Williams, Webb and Hanmer Elementary Schools D.A.R.E. graduation programs. The Juvenile Unit detective attended the Connecticut Police Explorer Academy Executive Staff meeting on the evening of January 27, 2007.
During the month of January, 2007 Wethersfield Dispatchers received and handled 784 E-911 emergency phone calls. Wethersfield dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance and Aetna Ambulance to a total of 270 medical emergencies.
During January 2007, twenty-one (21) persons were taken into custody and held requiring 635 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, fourteen (14) were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported twenty-one (21) prisoners to court, including seventeen (17) males and four (4) females. The four (4) females incarcerated by the department required 103 hours of matron coverage.
During January, 2007 the Support Services Bureau Commander prepared the department's performance measures for the quarter October 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006:
In January, 2007 the Support Services Bureau Commander completed his report to the Board of Education regarding the proposed changes/additions to the signs at the Webb School and made some minor recommendations that will help to improve the safety of the students at the school when outside the building as well as improved traffic flow.
The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added street/road signs or replacement. Several work orders were completed for new signs and/or replacement signs throughout Wethersfield. Work orders completed during January, 2007 included installing two additional 35-MPH speed limit signs on Middletown Avenue.
On Monday, January 8, 2007 through Wednesday, January 10, 2007 a WPD dispatcher attended a three day training class entitled "Emergency Medical Dispatch." The class, instructed by Powerphone, Inc. was hosted by this Department and held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room. Training topics included the emergency dispatch process, handling difficult callers, assigning needed resources, identifying the caller's chief complaint and risk management techniques to reduce liability.
On Tuesday, January 9, 2007 the department training sergeant attended a one day training class entitled "Special Legal Issues and Topics." This course was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Training included various recent criminal and civil court cases in and around Connecticut regarding police-related topics that included use of force, pursuit, off duty and identification issues.
On Tuesday, January 9, 2007 a Canine Unit officer and Canine Hunter attended a one day training class entitled "Police Canine/ Police Canine Handler Training." The officer and Hunter participated in this monthly canine training with several other area law enforcement canine teams. Training included evidence recovery and tracking.
On Tuesday, January 16, 2007 a WPD dispatcher attended a "Regional Incident Dispatch (RID) Meeting." The RID Team is a group of approximately twelve telecommunicators comprised from local law enforcement agencies. The RID Team is designed to supplement area dispatch centers in the event of a large crisis, man-made/ natural disaster etc.
On Tuesday, January 16, 2007 a WPD detective began attending a three day training class entitled "Basic Crime Scene Processing." Training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Training topics included evaluation of the crime scene, protection of the crime scene, recording the crime scene via notes, sketches, and photography and techniques for latent fingerprint location and collection.
On Tuesday, January 16, 2007 Chief James Cetran and the Detective Division Commander attended the "Capital Region Chief's of Police Recertification" training held in Rocky Hill, CT. This recertification program, which is required every three years, is open to Chiefs of Police and Second in Command Officers only. Topics include Leading and Influencing, Executive Liability, Legal Updates, Policy Development, Police Suicide, Sexual Harassment, Juvenile Law, Gang Update and Ethical Decision Making. This course is held one day per month, concluding May, 2007.
On Monday, January 22, 2007 a WPD officer began attending a two-week class entitled "D.A.R.E. Officer Training." This training was held at the New Hampshire Regional Training Institute in Center Strafford, New Hampshire. This intensive two week training program is required for officers beginning to teach in the D.A.R.E. program. Training topics included teaching and presentation preparation, D.A.R.E. guidelines and programs and dealing with youth and schools.
On Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Chief James Cetran and four (4) WPD lieutenants attended a three hour class entitled "Response to Active Shooters in Schools and Public Buildings: Executive Overview for Chiefs." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Training was conducted by two officers involved in the Columbine High School Shootings. Topics included an overview of the police response in Columbine, training issues for active shooter training, police response for active shooters in schools and executive responsibilities at active shooter scenes.
On Wednesday, January 24, 2007 five (5) WPD sergeants attended a three hour class entitled "Response to Active Shooters in Schools and Public Buildings: Executive Overview for Patrol Supervisors." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Training was conducted by two officers involved in the Columbine High School Shootings. Topics included an overview of the police response in Columbine, training issues for active shooter training, police response for active shooters in schools and supervisor responsibilities at active shooter scenes.
During January, 2007 WPD Child Seat Technicians installed nine (9) child seats. The Support Services Division continues to receive requests via the Wethersfield website as well as conventional phone messages. Support Services Division personnel continue to work closely with the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance in coordinating child seat installations for residents of other area towns.
Support Services Division officers continue to address citizen complaints involving traffic and speed issues. Citizens had complained of a variety of different violations on various town streets. Support Services Division Bureau officers conducted selective enforcement in several different locations in January, 2007 including on Wolcott Hill Road by the Wethersfield High School, Middletown Avenue, Fox Hill Road, and Willow Street.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, will be conducting training on the ASP baton. Along with this training will be a walk through of the Wethersfield High School with all officers and an overview of active shooter response conducted at the Wethersfield High School.
Patrol Division personnel were dispatched to a total of eighty-eight (88) alarms during the month of January, 2007 of which sixty-eight (68) were deemed to be chargeable alarms. Three (3) locations were billed this month for violating the false alarm ordinance. Thirty-Five (35) new alarm registrations from residents/ businesses were received in the month of January, 2007. To date 561 residential and 164 non-residential alarms (725 total), have been registered with the Police Department.
A total of 281 alarm tickets totaling $28,800 in fines were issued in 2006. Of that total, 181 alarm tickets were issued using the new false alarm ordinance fine schedule implemented July 1, 2005. As a result, additional $14,050 in fines were issued this year using the new fine schedule. By comparison, the total amount of fines issued in 2005 was $25,400 (293 tickets.) The highest fine issued during 2006 for a single, chargeable, false alarm was $325. Locations with three or more chargeable alarms were responsible for 25.2% of the total number of alarms received in 2006, compared with 25.7% from 2005. Below is a comparison of alarms received in 2006 and 2005.
| Category | 2006 | 2005 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actual Alarms | 5 | 5 | Unch. (0%) |
| Chargeable Alarms | 631 | 655 | -24 (-4%) |
| Non-Chargeable Alarms | 193 | 187 | +6 (+3%) |
| Alarm Tickets Issued | 281 | 293 | -12 (-4%) |
| TOTALS | 1,112 | 1,140 | -28 (-2%) |
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of January, 2007 along with comparative statistics for the same period of last year. The figures in the parenthesis represent the number of cases cleared by arrest, or in which the perpetrators have been identified.
| Criminal Activity | January 2006 | January 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 3 (0) | 4 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 1 (0) | 0 (0) |
