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 eighteen weeks of basic training at the Connecticut Police Academy. Graduation from the Academy is scheduled for August 22, 2007.
On Monday, July 23, 2007 and Tuesday, July 24, 2007 the WPD Training Sergeant instructed two separate three hour classes entitled "Patrol Procedures and Motor Vehicle Stops." These classes were taught to approximately 120 police explorers at the Explorer Police Academy held at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT.
During the week of July 23, 2007 thirty-four police applicants participated in the next portion of the this department's entry-level police officer process; the oral board examination. During the week of July 30, 2007 ten applicants were extended "Conditional Offers of Employment." These Conditional Offers of Employment allow the ten final applicants to continue in the process and allows the department to conduct background investigations, polygraph examinations, psychological interviews and medical examinations.
During the week of July 23, 2007 the Accreditation Manager attended the CALEA Summer Conference Seminar in Montreal, Canada. The Conference provided more than the basic information and tools necessary for the newly appointed Accreditation Manager to conduct his daily activities. Additionally, the Accreditation Manager continues to expand his knowledge on a daily basis while working with the associated software and personal contacts.
On July 10, 2007, at about 9:30 PM a patrol officer saw a motor vehicle traveling on the Berlin Turnpike with several equipment violations. After stopping the vehicle, the officer spoke to both the operator and passenger. The two occupants gave varying accounts about the vehicle and their intended destination. It was then that the driver of the vehicle admitted to the officers that he was in possession of marijuana. Officers then had both occupants exit the vehicle. One of the officers saw a crack pipe in the area where the passenger was sitting. The officers then searched the car and found crack cocaine beneath the passenger seat. The passenger was handcuffed and told he was under arrest. The passenger became argumentative and began yelling at the officers. The passenger also began reaching into his pants. The passenger was told several times to stop reaching into his pants pockets. The officers were unsure if he was trying to destroy evidence or obtain a weapon. The officer attempted to gain control of the passenger's hands but was unsuccessful. The passenger then head-butted the officer in the forehead. The two officers then attempted to gain control of the passenger a second time but were unsuccessful. The passenger ran from the officers and was later captured after a short foot pursuit. The passenger was charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Escape from Custody and Interfering with an Officer's Investigation. The driver was charged with Possession of Marijuana and other motor vehicle violations.
In July, 2007 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow up to twenty-four new cases. Major cases investigations include one robbery, two fraud cases, three burglaries, two identity thefts and two larceny cases.
On July 13, 2007 at about 10:00 AM Wethersfield Police dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a Broad Street resident reporting that she had just arrived home and as she walked inside, she saw a man jumping out her dining room window. Several officers arrived on scene and began to search the area. The homeowner gave a description of the suspect to the responding officers. The burglar had entered the home through an open window. One of the responding officers searching the area saw a male matching the suspect's description. This male was stopped and questioned about the burglary, however, he denied committing any crimes. The homeowner was transported to where the male was stopped and positively identified the male as the person who had been in her house. A search of the male produced a stolen item that was identified by the homeowner. A police track with K-9 Hunter produced the car keys and car starter hidden in some bushes off of Main Street. The suspect also had a crack pipe in his pocket and $75.00 in cash. The officers believed the money was stolen. During this investigation it was learned that the suspect had also broken into another home, through an open door, and took $55.00 in cash with the denominations of that found on the suspect. The suspect was arrested for both burglaries and held on bond until he was presented in court. Members of both the Patrol and Detective Division assisted in the arrest of the suspect.
No Report This Month (Summer School Vacation)
During the week of July 23, 2007 approximately ten WPD Police Explorers attended Explorer Police Academy at Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT. The Explorer Police Academy is divided into four phases, each phase giving explorers unique classroom and training opportunities.
In July, 2007 Wethersfield Dispatchers received and handled 892 E-911 emergency phone calls. Wethersfield dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance and Aetna Ambulance to a total of 255 medical emergencies.
In July, 2007, twenty-three persons were taken into custody and held requiring 406 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, sixteen were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported twenty-three prisoners to court. Transported to court were nineteen males and four females. The four females incarcerated by the department required 36 hours of matron coverage.
The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added or replacement street signs. Several work orders were completed for new or replacement signs throughout Wethersfield to include installing temporary "No Parking" signs along the entire west curbline of Town Hall parking lot, installing six "NO PARKING ANYTIME" signs on McMullen Avenue along the northbound curb line, replacing the faded existing stop sign on Ruscan Road at Stillwold Drive and replacing the faded existing stop sign on Jordan Lane at Hartford Ave.
On Tuesday, July 17, 2007 three officers attended a one day training class entitled "Work Zone Training for Law Enforcement." This course was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Objectives included understanding standards and guidelines related to temporary traffic control in work zones, understanding the role of police officers in work zones, and recognizing the proper practices and procedures related to the use of police officers in work zones. Each officer attending this class was presented with state and federal lesson plans for teaching work zone safety training.
On Wednesday, July 18, 2007 nine members of the department attended a four hour class entitled "NCIC/ COLLECT for the MDT User." Training was held at the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room and was instructed by a certified department instructor. This training is specifically for sworn personnel who access-only NCIC and COLLECT information on department mobile data terminals. Certification is for a two-year period.
On Tuesday, July 24, 2007 a department canine 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.
On Wednesday, July 25, 2007 three officers attended a one day training class entitled "Critical Incidents: First Responder Training." This course was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Objectives included precipitating events, the crisis state, listening for emotions - active listening, suicide issues and team work during a critical incident response.
On Tuesday, August 7, 2007 this department will hold its annual National Night Out in Millwoods Park. This annual event is coordinated with several other town departments, including the Parks & Recreation Department, Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Marshal's Office.
The Capital Region Emergency Services Team (C.R.E.S.T.) will be participating in the CT SWAT Olympics to be held in September, 2007. Several Wethersfield officers have been selected to represent the CREST Team. Winners of this year's competition will be allowed to participate in the prestigious World SWAT Olympics.
The 23rd Annual Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce Cornfest will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2007 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Police personnel will be used to support this event to include pre-event planning and event traffic control.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to a total of sixty-eight alarms during the month of July, 2007. Sixty-five alarms were deemed to be chargeable alarms. Twenty locations were billed this month for violating the false alarm ordinance. Twenty-five new alarm registrations were received from residents and businesses in the month of July. To date, there are a total of 875 locations with active alarm systems registered with the Police Department.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of July, 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 | July 2006 | July 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 2 (0) | 2 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 12 (0) | 1 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 0 (0) | 1 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 1 (0) | 0 (0) |
