Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
In May, 2008 a probationary police officer has completed the first three of four Field Training phases and began Phase Four training. This Field Training is under the supervision of Department Field Training Officers. During the Field Training Program, the probationary police officer is observed and evaluated on a daily basis while he is expected to perform more duties with each phase. The probationary police officer is expected to begin solo patrol during the month of June, 2008.
On Sunday, May 18, 2008 at about 2:00 AM two officers were dispatched to a hotel located on the Silas Deane Highway on the report of a loud noise complaint. The night manager reported to the officers that management had received several complaints from guests about loud noise from a nearby room. The manager stated that he had previously warned the occupants from the noisy room to quiet down but the noise did not cease. The officers went to the room and heard what sounded like a party coming from within the room. They knocked on the door and found the room occupied by an adult male. The adult male told police he had rented that room, along with an adjoining room, for a party for his sixteen year old daughter. Within the adjoining room officers found ten youths in age from fourteen to eighteen along with several bags of empty beer cans, drinking cups and beer. All youths were required to contact their parent/ legal guardian and arrangements were made for their pick-up at the hotel and they were advised of the situation. The adult male later stated he did not supply the alcohol, did not know where it came from but did admit to knowing there was alcohol present and that the teens were drinking at the party. The male was cited for Failure to Halt Possession of Alcoholic Beverage by a Minor (1st Offense).
In May, 2008 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow up to thirty-two new cases. These major case investigations include two burglaries, ten larcenies, three identity thefts, two narcotic cases and four frauds. Detectives also conducted background investigations on nine pistol permits applicants.
In May, 2008 members of the WPD Detective Division assisted other area law enforcement agencies in the investigation of recent area robberies. A suspect had been identified and a meeting of area departments was held at Wethersfield Police Department. Information was shared and a method of investigation was agreed upon by all departments in attendance. Shortly thereafter, the South Windsor Police were called to investigate two armed robberies by the identified suspect. Several area departments, including Wethersfield, responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation and search of the suspect. Within one hour of the robberies, the identified suspect was in custody and charged with the robberies. Wethersfield detectives will be applying for warrants charging the same suspect with four armed robberies. Hartford area departments have reported that no similar robberies have been reported since that time.
During the month of May, 2008 the School Resource Officer (SRO) investigated thirteen incidents and reported twenty-two entries into the SchoolCop database. The SRO made two custodial arrests which include one for Breach of Peace and the second for Criminal Mischief. Both arrests were made by arrest warrant. Eleven incident reports were completed by the SRO. These reports include incidents of suspicious activity complaints, larcenies, and vandalisms.
The SRO also covered mediations regarding disorderly situations and spoke in junior and senior class civics classes regarding the Bill of Rights, 4th Amendment and other police related topics. Finally, the SRO attended the Junior Prom on May 10, 2008 and the Senior Picnic on May 28, 2008.
The Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled thirty-three incidents involving approximately fifty-three juveniles. In these incidents, five juveniles were arrested for criminal violations.
In May, 2008 the Juvenile Unit, along with the WHS School Resource Officer and D.A.R.E. officer continued their participation and coordination of the Police Adventures Crossroads Program. During the month of May, participating Silas Deane Middle School students took part in police scenario based training, investigated/ processed a mock crime scene, conducted motor vehicle stops with role players and finally questioned mock witnesses and suspects trying to build probable cause to make an arrest. During later meetings, officers and students went miniature golfing together, as well as participated in a community service program. Finally, officers and students went to an outdoor paintball range and played paintball together. The Police Adventures Crossroads program was very successful in building relationships with middle school aged youth and giving them an idea of police work. At the end of the program, many of the participants indicated that they wanted to eventually become police explorers.
In May, 2008 Wethersfield Dispatchers received and handled 874 E-911 emergency phone calls.
Wethersfield dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to forty-two medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 228 medical emergencies for a total of 270 medical emergencies.
In May, 2008 the Child Seat Technician inspected/installed two child seats. The Support Services Bureau continues to receive requests via the department web site as well as phone messages.
In May, 2008 there were fifty calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, thirteen were handled by the animal control officer(s) and thirty-seven were handled by police officers.
In May, 2008 seventeen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 397 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, fifteen were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported seventeen prisoners to court. Transported to court were twelve males and five females.
Support Service Bureau 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 town streets and several town schools. To address these complaints, officers performed selective enforcement at numerous locations throughout town. Officers performed selective enforcement sixty-six times and spent a total of forty-five hours doing selective enforcement on various city streets.
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. The following work orders were completed in May, 2008; installing "Cross Traffic Does Not Stop" placards at the intersection of Main Street/Church Street and Main Street/Marsh Street on existing stop sign poles below the actual stop sign, installing temporary "No Parking" signs on the entire length of the south side of Greenfield Street for the annual Dollars for Scholars dinner held at the Community Center on May 28, 2008 and installing numerous temporary "No Parking" signs on several streets in Old Wethersfield for the Memorial Day Parade held on Saturday May 24, 2008.
The Wethersfield Police Department recently submitted their motor vehicle activity statistics in four categories to the Connecticut Police Chief's Association (CPCA) for the recent 2008 Memorial Day long weekend. At the Wethersfield Police Department, each officer is working hard to reduce accidents, decrease speed and deter drunk driving. The Wethersfield Police Department reported the following activity to the CPCA; Number of Motor Vehicle Stops (169), Number of DWI Arrests (3), Number of Motor Vehicle Accidents (5) and Number of Motor Vehicle Fatalities (0).
Officers from the Wethersfield Police Department also participated in the annual "Click It or Ticket" enforcement wave period that was held from May 19, 2008 through June 1, 2008. WPD statistics for this campaign include Seatbelt Citations (127), Seatbelt Warnings (48), DUI Arrests (7), Speed Citations (30), Speed Warnings (34), Other Traffic Citations (46), Other Traffic Warnings (185) and Non Traffic Violations/Criminal Arrests (32).
On Thursday, May 1, 2008 an officer began attending a two day training class entitled "Responding to Violent Combatants: Overcoming Size Differences." This class was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. The lead instructor for this training was Lieutenant (Ret.) Kevin Dillon. Objectives of this training included the use of physical tactics particularly designed to assist smaller stature officers or female officers during arrest and control situations.
On Monday, May 12, 2008 a newly promoted sergeant began attending an eight-day course entitled "First Line Supervisory Leadership." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Training objectives include understanding and developing leadership skills, identifying the responsibilities of a supervisor and ways to improve decision making and problem solving. This course also includes a three day Critical Incident Management course.
On Monday, May 12, 2008 three WPD officers began attending the five day "Capitol Region Police Officer Recertification Training". This training was held in Farmington, CT. This forty hour class is mandatory every three years to keep officers certified in the State of Connecticut. The training encompasses a wide variety of topics including ICS training, PRAWN training, legal updates, bias crimes, patrol procedures, juvenile law and domestic violence laws.
On Monday, May 19, 2008 an officer began attending a five day course entitled "Methodology and Techniques of Crash Data Retrieval." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. Objectives of this course included the proper extraction of data stored in a crashed vehicle's control module during an investigation. The officer, who is one of department's accident reconstructionists, was also certified in the use of the Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) System, which the department owns.
During the week of May 19-23, 2008 the WPD Training Unit conducted "Spring 2008 Firearms Training." Forty-four (44) officers participated in this training. Training was held at the Berlin Police/ Mattabasset Gun Range, Berlin, CT. Officers were required to complete a 60 round qualification course, which all officers successfully passed. Officers also completed two point-instinctive courses, a functional skills evaluation as well as a simmunition scenario. The point-instinctive courses emphasized close quarter combat shooting while under timed, stressful circumstances. The simunition scenario emphasized the proper use of cover and communications between officers while taking fire. Officers were required to take a written test on the nomenclature of the Glock handgun. All officers passed this test.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2008 the WPD Training Unit conducted "Spring 2008 Mossberg Shotgun and Less Lethal Training." Training was held at the Berlin Police/ Mattabasset Gun Range, Berlin, CT. Nine (9) supervisors and commanders participated in this training. Training included classroom training on use of the shotguns, qualification on the Department shotgun, Mossberg, Model 590A1, less lethal sock rounds as well as training scenarios with the less lethal ammunition. The supervisors and commanders were required to take a written test on the less lethal munitions and the nomenclature of the Mossberg shotgun. All supervisors and commanders passed this test.
On Wednesday, May 28, 2008 a dispatcher attended a one day training class entitled "Homeland Security Local Commodities Distribution Points Training." This training was conducted by the CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room. Training included the activation of Local Commodities Distribution Points in the aftermath of a catastrophic disaster in order to distribute relief commodities.
The Wethersfield Police Explorers will participate and assist in the Travelers Championship. The Explorers will run the parking operations for the Tournament. The Explorers will also assist the D.A.R.E. program with spring D.A.R.E. graduations during the month of June, 2008.
The annual Special Olympics Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch Run is scheduled for Thursday, June 5, 2008. Department 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.
In May, 2008 police personnel were dispatched to a total of fifty-five alarms resulting in a 94 % false alarm compliance rate. Ten locations were billed this month for violating the false alarm ordinance and fines were appropriately charged. Twenty-seven new alarm registrations were received from residents / businesses in the month. Of note, there were seven false fire alarms in the month.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of May, 2008 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 2007 | May 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 7 (2) | 2 (1) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 2 (2) | 0 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 2 (0) | 0 (0) |
