Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
A Probationary Officer has completed ten weeks of basic training at the Connecticut Police Academy. Graduation from the Academy is expected in August, 2007.
Two Probationary Officers have completed the first three of four Field Training phases and have begun Phase Four training. This Field Training is under the supervision of Department Field Training Officers. During the Field Training Program, the officers are observed and evaluated on a daily basis while they are expected to perform more duties with each phase.
On May 21, 2007 at about 12:30 AM an officer was dispatched to Folly Brook Boulevard on the report of a pickup truck operating erratically. As the officer approached the vehicle, the operator put his vehicle into reverse and purposely backed into the officer's cruiser hard enough to push the cruiser out into the road. The suspect vehicle then drove away into Hartford. The officer pursued the vehicle which eventually led onto I-91 south. While traveling on the interstate, the occupants of the suspect vehicle threw out large quantities of suspected narcotics, some of which landed on the cruiser. The suspect vehicle eventually got a flat tire and stopped on Route 9 in Berlin. The operator and a passenger were arrested without incident. A second passenger ran away and was later captured by the Connecticut State Police and a K-9 team. The operator and passengers had lengthy records and one was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.
On Monday, May 28, 2007 at approximately 11:08 AM patrol officers were dispatched to a Goodwin Park Road residence after a neighbor reported seeing a male exit his neighbor's house and the burglar alarm going off. The neighbor gave a description of the male and stated that he was not the homeowner. The male had walked away from the home and was walking towards a wooded area. Officers surrounded the area and set up a perimeter. Shortly after setting up the perimeter, an officer saw a male fitting the description of the suspect walking on an adjacent street. The male was stopped and identified as the person who had broken into the home. The male suspect was arrested and held on bond due to a lengthy criminal record. The male was also currently on parole for other burglary convictions.
During May, 2007 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow up to thirty- seven new cases. These cases include two robberies, six fraud cases, nine burglaries, one identity theft and six larceny cases.
On May 8, 2007 Detectives responded to a reported burglary at a local jewelry store. Officers and detectives observed that a suspect(s) had entered the business by smashing out a front glass window. It was later determined that suspect(s) had removed a large quantity of jewelry. At that time there were no suspects.
On May 9, 2007 officers responded to a complaint of a burglary in progress at a second local jewelry store. Two citizens driving by the business saw that the front glass was smashed and witnessed an individual inside the business. Officers responded and where able to locate two individuals who had just burglarized the business. Two individuals were arrested and charged with the burglary. Further interview of one of the suspects led officers to believe that they were also responsible for the burglary at the first jewelry store the night before. Warrants are pending for the first burglary.
On May 24, 2007 the Detective Bureau Commander responded to a complaint at the Webb Elementary School. The lieutenant learned that an adult male was making threatening statements regarding himself and his nine-year-old daughter. The male suspect had told his ex-girlfriend that he intended to kill himself and his daughter and where they could be found. The Wethersfield Police contacted the Connecticut State Police who located the male and his daughter in the area of Connecticut where he told his ex-girlfriend they could be found. The male was detained and committed to a Windham County Hospital for a psychological evaluation. Approximately two weeks later, the male was arrested for Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder.
On May 28, 2007 a Wethersfield detective was returning to this department on Interstate 84 in Farmington, CT. The detective saw a Farmington police officer stop a vehicle and have its occupants at gunpoint. The detective immediately stopped and assisted the Farmington officer. The occupants were placed under arrest without incident. The occupants were arrested for an armed robbery in Farmington. The Farmington Police chief wrote a letter of appreciation concerning the detective's actions.
In April, 2007 the SRO completed four incident reports for events including vandalism, larceny, a fight, and a public disturbance. Additionally, the SRO handled two mediations between Wethersfield High School students in an effort to curtail future problems. The SRO also assisted Patrol Division members with an investigation regarding a breach of peace that occurred off school grounds bringing the complainant and suspects to a common understanding. The SRO, along with WHS School Security, is also reviewing the current deployment and location of WHS hall monitors.
Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit investigated nineteen incidents involving nineteen juveniles. In these incidents, three juveniles were referred for criminal violations while the remainder of these juveniles was diverted to their parents or school authorities without any further police investigation.
The Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit investigated a complaint involving a fight at the Wethersfield High School involving two female students. School security video was instrumental in investigating this fight.
Emerson-Williams School complained of a suspicious situation in which it was believed that a student may have discharged an Airsoft gun off school property. It was found that the student had not brought the gun to school; however, he possessed the gun without his parent's knowledge. The student was turned over to his parents and the Airsoft gun was destroyed.
The WPD Explorers competed in Police Explorers Stations Day held at the CT POST Academy in Meriden. The Wethersfield Police Explorers finished in 2nd place in the Driving Simulator, and 3rd place in the Unknown Response competitions. Our eight explorers competed with approximately 500 explorers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Wethersfield Police Explorers supplemented police operations at the Cystic Fibrosis Walk on May 20, 2007 and the Memorial Day Parade on May 26, 2007. The explorers performed basic traffic direction and pedestrian assistance at these events.
During the month of May, 2007 Wethersfield Communications Unit personnel received and handled 904 E-911 emergency phone calls. The dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance and Aetna Ambulance to a total of 264 medical emergencies.
During May, 2007, twenty-five persons were taken into custody and held requiring 383 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, twelve were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported twenty-five prisoners to court. Sixteen males and nine females were transported to court. The nine females incarcerated required 109 hours of matron coverage.
Support Service Bureau (SSB) officers continue to address citizen complaints involving traffic, parking violations and other motor vehicle violations. Citizens regularly complain of a variety of different violations on various local streets and a several schools. To address these complaints, SSB officers conducted selective enforcement during May, 2007 at the Wethersfield High School. SSB officers also conducted selective enforcement for stop sign violations on Charter Road at the intersection with Davis Road and Hartford Avenue at the intersection with Avalon Place. Finally, SSB officers performed selective enforcement for seatbelt violations on Highland Street at Old Common and Jordan Lane at Wolcott Hill Road.
The Wethersfield Police Department recently submitted their statistics in four categories to the Connecticut Police Chief's Association (CPCA) for the Memorial Day weekend (Friday May 25, 2007 12:00 PM through Monday, May 28, 2007 12:00 AM). The CPCA is responsible for collecting similar information from each participating Connecticut law enforcement agency. The information includes motor vehicle stops, DUI arrests, motor vehicle accidents and number of fatal motor vehicle accidents.) The Wethersfield Police Department reported the following activity to the CPCA;
MV Stops 110 DUI Arrests 1 MV Accidents 7 Fatal MV Accidents 0
At the Wethersfield Police Department, each officer is working hard to reduce accidents, decrease speed and deter drunk driving.
The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added street signs and/or replacement. Several work orders were completed in May, 2007 for new signs and/or replacement signs throughout Wethersfield to include installing three "No Parking School Days 7AM - 4PM" on Church Place (northbound,) attaching a "No Outlet" placard on top of the existing street sign for Bay Roc Road at its intersection of Two Rod Highway and finally replacing an existing stop sign on Morrison Avenue at its intersection with Wolcott Hill Road. Its new location is approximately ten feet east of its previous location.
On Tuesday, May 1, 2007 a patrol officer and her narcotic canine, Laynie, began attending a three day training class entitled "Narcotics Detection Canine In-Service Training." This training was held at the Connecticut State Police Training Unit, Meriden, CT. This in-service training is conducted quarterly in order to maintain certification through the Connecticut State Police.
On Wednesday, May 2, 2007 a patrol officer attended a one day training class entitled "Motorola Trunked Users Group Meeting". Training was held at the Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center, Westford, MA.
On Thursday, May 3, 2007 two officers and a dispatcher attended a one day recertification class entitled "NCIC/ COLLECT Recertification Training". Training was held at the Connecticut State Police Complex, Meriden, CT. This class is a recertification class for persons presently certified on the NCIC/ COLLECT computer system. Recertification is for a period of two years.
On Thursday, May 10, 2007 two sergeants attended the "Capital Region Police Recertification - Supervisor Program." This training was held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room. This training is mandatory every three years and is open only to supervisory personnel. The training this month was on the topic of Leading and Influencing as Supervisors. This training is held once per month concluding in June 2007.
On Monday, May 14, 2007 an officer began attending a five day training class entitled "Motorcycle Crash Investigations." This class was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. Topics included interpreting motorcycle crash scenes, acceleration and deceleration characteristics of motorcycles, braking efficiency and analyzing damage.
On Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Chief James Cetran and the Detective Bureau Commander Thomas Dillon 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. This month's topics include ethical decision making and police department culture.
On Tuesday, May 15, 2007 a patrol officer, along with his 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.
Semi-annual firearms training was conducted the week of May 21, 2007. Training consisted of qualification, point/instinctive shooting, a functional skills evaluation as well as a simmunition scenario. Forty two members of the Department qualified with their issued firearm. Training was held at the Berlin Police/ Mattabasset Gun Range, Berlin, CT.
On Thursday, May 24, 2007 department supervisors and commanders attended annual Mossberg Shotgun and Less Lethal Qualification. Training included classroom updates on deployment of the less lethal use of force, qualification on the Department shotgun, Mossberg, Model 590A1, less lethal sock rounds as well as training scenarios with the less lethal ammunition.
On Thursday, May 31, 2007 several members of this department received training on the new Wethersfield Police booking system. This training was held in the WPD Training Unit Conference Room. Training was conducted by the vendor; MobileTec International Inc. Training included booking prisoners, system inquiries and disposition entries.
Support Services Bureau Officers continue to address citizen complaints involving traffic, parking and speed issues. Citizens regularly complain of a variety of different violations on various town streets and a several town schools. To address these complaints, Support Service Bureau officers conducted selective enforcement at Emerson Williams School, Charles Wright School and the Wethersfield High School on various dates in May, 2007. Citations and warnings were issued. Also, Support Service Bureau officers conducted selective enforcement for stop sign violations on Charter Road and on McMullen Avenue for speeding. Support Service Bureau officers also conducted patrol checks of Millwoods Park to include the skate park in order to curtail the vandalism that has been happening there.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, will be hosting one day of the Capital Region Police Recertification - Supervisor Program. This course will be held in the WPD Community Room on June 7, 2007.
The annual Special Olympics Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch Run is scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2007. Police officers and Wethersfield Special Olympics athletes will be running up the Silas Deane Highway from the Rocky Hill Town Line to the Wethersfield Police Department.
The newly appointed department Accreditation Manager is scheduled to attend the C.A.L.E.A. summer conference July 25 - 28, 2007. This conference is a four-day training seminar in Montreal, Quebec. This conference will disseminate a basic level of information and training to assist the accreditation manager with his duties of accreditation on a statewide and national level.
The Police Explorers will be assisting with the Hanmer School Health Fair, the Highcrest School Fair, the Travelers Championship as well as three D.A.R.E. graduations taking place during June, 2007.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to a total of ninety-four alarms during the month of May, 2007 of which eighty were deemed to be chargeable alarms. Thirty locations were billed this month for violating the false alarm ordinance. Thirteen new alarm registrations were received from residents and businesses in the month of May. To date there are a total of 850 locations with active alarm systems registered with the police department.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of May, 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 | May 2006 | May 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 4 (0) | 7 (2) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 1 (0) | 2 (2) |
| Armed Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 1 (0) | 2 (0) |
