Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
In June, 2008 a probationary officer successfully completed all four Field Training phases and began solo patrol on June 23, 2008.
On Sunday, June 1, 2008 at about 4:00 PM a patrol sergeant, who was assigned a traffic detail at the Putnam Bridge construction project, assisted at the scene of a car fire near the Putnam Bridge. As the sergeant drove away, he saw a vehicle traveling in the wrong lane. This vehicle was also passing vehicles on the wrong side of the road. The sergeant turned on his emergency lights but the operator continued to drive directly at the sergeant. The sergeant moved his cruiser off to the side of the road to avoid a collision. The vehicle continued to drive away now turning onto Burbank Road. The driver of the vehicle again drove his vehicle at the sergeant again forcing the sergeant to turn off to the side of the road. As the vehicle sped away, another officer assigned to the Putnam Bridge traffic detail who was still at the car fire scene, pointed his weapon at this car. The operator stopped the car and pulled over. The sergeant arrived on scene and placed the operator under arrest. The vehicle, which had been stolen out of Cromwell, was returned to the owner. The operator was placed under arrest for being in the stolen car, Reckless Endangerment and various motor vehicle charges.
In June, 2008 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow up to thirty new cases. Major case investigations include one burglary, seven larcenies, three identity thefts, two narcotic cases and two frauds. Detectives also continue to perform town background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permit applicants.
Wethersfield detectives are working with the Mid-State Narcotics Task Force assisting personnel with the development of narcotic cases.
During the month of June, 2008 the School Resource Officer (SRO) made twelve entries into the SchoolCop database. Of these entries, nine case numbers were required with eight reports filed. Three arrests were made during the month to include arrests for simple trespass, a threatening incident and creating a public disturbance. The remaining incidents were for a missing person, a medical incident and three larcenies.
The SRO spoke in both junior and senior class civics classes regarding the 4th Amendment and other police related questions. Finally, on June 10, 2008 the SRO attended the Senior Prom at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT.
The Wethersfield High School ended its academic year on June 20, 2008 with graduation ceremonies held at Cove Park in Old Wethersfield.
The Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled thirty-seven incidents involving approximately forty-seven juveniles. In these incidents, two juveniles were arrested for criminal violations, one was diverted for school punishment and seven were diverted to their parents/ guardians for follow-up.
The Juvenile Unit met with representatives from the Town Division of Social & Youth Services to discuss the well received Police Adventures Crossroads Program at the Silas Deane Middle School. The discussion included the possibility of expanding the program, running a session in the Fall and possibly in the Spring. Also discussed was adding another police practical event for the students.
During the week of June 16, 2008, the Wethersfield Police Explorers assisted in the parking operations for the Traveler's Championship at the TPC in Cromwell. During this week, the explorers put in many hours of service while taking responsibility for traffic direction and control in the parking lots.
In June, 2008 Wethersfield Dispatchers received and handled 832 E-911 emergency phone calls.
Wethersfield dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to twenty-seven medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 237 medical emergencies for a total of 264 medical emergencies.
In June, 2008 there were thirty-six calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, nine were handled by the animal control officer(s) and twenty-seven were handled by police officers.
In June, 2008 fifteen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 364 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, six were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported fifteen prisoners to court. Transported to court were twelve males and three 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-seven times and spent a total of forty-four 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. Some of the work orders completed in June, 2008 included placement of numerous cones, barricades and temporary "No Parking" signs in support of the annual Keane Foundation Road Race held on June 1, 2008; placement of temporary "NO PARKING" signs on Robbinswood Drive in support of a wedding that was held at the Silas Robbins House on Saturday, June 7, 2008; installation of a stop sign on Carleton Street/ Oakdale Street as well as painted a stop bar on the pavement; installed numerous temporary "No Parking" signs in Old Wethersfield for the Wethersfield High School Graduation that was held on Friday June 20, 2008 at Cove Park and 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.
On Monday, June 2, 2008 six members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) attended an annual five-day training session. A seventh officer, a CREST negotiator, also trained during a practical exercise which was held Friday, June 6, 2008.
On Monday, June 9, 2008 three officers began attending a five day training class entitled "Crisis Intervention Team Training." This training was held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT. Training topics include mental illness, substance abuse, safe de-escalation techniques, suicide by cop, suicide assessment and prevention, excited delirium, child mental health and trauma and mental health and the law.
On Monday, June 16, 2008 a WPD detective and WPD officer began attending a five day training class entitled "National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) Advanced SWAT School." Training was held at various locations in Newington and West Hartford, CT. Both officers are Squad Leaders for CREST. Training topics include introduction to resolution of barricaded suspect situation tactics, individual and team covert movement and chemical agent, less-lethal and diversionary device overviews, high-risk warrant service and hostage rescue techniques Officers also completed multiple fast-paced field training exercises.
On Thursday, June 19, 2008 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 Monday, June 23, 2008 a WPD lieutenant began attending a five day training class entitled "National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) SWAT Supervision and Command Decision Making." Training was held at the Newington Police Department, Newington, CT. Training topics include major incident debriefs, leadership issues, justifying SWAT, the use of SWAT teams, SWAT and the media, selection and training of supervisors and team members, weapons and equipment selection, legal issues overview, critical incident management, barricade, hostage and suicide-by-cop procedures, warrant service planning and response to active shooter situations.
On Tuesday, June 24, 2008 an officer and a detective attended one day "CREST- Dive Team" training. This training is conducted on a monthly basis with several other area law enforcement agencies that comprise CREST. This month's activities included a vehicle search in the Connecticut River in Hartford, CT.
The week of July 27th, 2008 the Wethersfield Police Explorers will participate in the 2008 Connecticut Police Explorer Academy. There will be eight explorers from the Wethersfield Explorers Post attending the academy as well as three explorers from the Rocky Hill Explorers Post who will be attending with the Wethersfield unit. The Juvenile Unit detective will be reprising his role as Drill Instructor/Classroom Instructor as will a WPD sergeant in his capacity as a Phase Director.
On Tuesday, August 5, 2008 this Department will hold its annual National Night Out at Millwoods Park. This annual event is coordinated with several other town departments including the Parks & Recreation Department, Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Marshal's Office, Social & Youth Services and the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Association. The event will include food and drinks, music, games and prizes for persons of all ages.
In June, 2008 police personnel were dispatched to a total of eighty alarms to include thirty-four at businesses, forty-four at residences and two at Town or State owned facilities. Twenty-two locations were billed this month for violating the false alarm ordinance and fines were appropriately charged. Sixty-nine new or alarm renewal registrations were received from residents / businesses in the month.
A total of 1,097 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month, 1,030 locations did not have a false alarm relating to a 94 % compliance rate.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of June, 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 | June 2007 | June 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 1 (0) | 1 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 2 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
