Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
On December 5, 2008 the Wethersfield Police concluded its initial application process for the position of Probationary Police Officer. The Department accepted 558 applications for this position. On December 13, 2008 361 persons took the written examination at the Wethersfield High School. The current number of applicants and persons taking the written examination represent a noticeable increase in numbers compared to not only recent Department hiring processes but area processes as well. The next portion of the process, oral board examinations, is scheduled for the week of January 12, 2009.
Members of the Patrol Division made twenty-eight Driving Under the Influence arrests for the month of December, 2008. This number shows the dedication the Department has shown to ridding Wethersfield streets of drunk and impaired drivers.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, hosted a one day course entitled Powerphone's Active Shooter Response - The Dispatcher's Role on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. This course was held in the WPD Community Room.
On December 20, 2008 at about 11:55 PM a patrol officer saw a vehicle traveling on the Silas Deane Highway at a high rate of speed. The roads were snowy and icy from a previous storm. The vehicle operator continued to drive at a high rate of speed even after the officer activated the cruiser's emergency lights. A short distance later the officer saw that the vehicle had spun out in the snow. The vehicle operator then attempted to drive away again from the officer but the driver lost control of their car a second time. The driver then got out of the car and surrendered to the officer. An investigation at the scene caused the officer to charge the operator with Engaging Police in Pursuit and Driving While Under the Influence.
On December 28, 2008 a patrol officer was dispatched to a local residence on the report that a vehicle with dark tinted windows kept driving up and down their street. The officer located the vehicle with dark tinted windows and initiated a traffic stop. The tinted windows were so dark that the officer could not see into the vehicle. While speaking to the two occupants, the officer smelled and saw marijuana in the car. Both occupants gave conflicting stories about their intended purpose in the area and the officers continued their investigation. A search revealed marijuana in the vehicle and a handgun in the pocket of the passenger's jacket. Both occupants were placed under arrest and transported to Police HQ.
In December, 2008 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow-up to twenty new cases. Major case investigations include one burglary, seven larcenies, one identity theft and four frauds. Detectives also continue to perform town background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permits applicants.
In December, 2008 detectives closed many cases by obtaining confessions and applying for arrest warrants. Detectives cleared several bank robberies by obtaining confessions from both of the suspects. Arrest warrants have been obtained for two suspects charging both with two counts of armed robbery at two local banks. Additionally, a confession was also obtained from one suspect regarding his involvement in the armed robbery of local sandwich shop located on the Silas Deane Highway which occurred in October, 2008.
In December, 2008 the Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled twenty incidents involving twenty-two juveniles. In these incidents, one juvenile was arrested for criminal violations, two were diverted to school punishment and four were diverted to parental punishment.
The Wethersfield Police Explorers will engage in training for their upcoming Stations Day Competition which will take place in May, 2009.
In order to be in compliance with state law, the Support Service Bureau Commander provided the quarterly E-911 total call count report to the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Safety, Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunicators (OSET). For the quarter, October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 dispatchers at the Wethersfield Police Department handled 2,408 E-911 calls to include 810 E-911 calls in December, 2008.
The Wethersfield Police Department recently submitted their statistics in four categories to the Connecticut Police Chief's Association (CPCA) for the holiday period to include December 24, 2008 through January 4, 2009. The CPCA collects each Department's statistics in four areas to include motor vehicle stops, DUI arrests, motor vehicle accidents and accidents involving a fatality. At the Wethersfield Police Department, each officer continues to work hard to reduce accidents, decrease speed and deter drunk driving. The Wethersfield Police Department reported the following activity to the CPCA for this period; Motor Vehicle Stops, 309; DUI Arrests, 16; Motor Vehicle Accidents, 32 and Motor Vehicle Fatalities, 0.
In December, 2008 Wethersfield dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to thirty-six medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 235 medical emergencies for a total of 271 medical emergencies.
In December, 2008 there were nineteen calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, eight were handled by an animal control officer and eleven were handled by police officers.
In December, 2008 eighteen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 317 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, twelve were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported eighteen prisoners to court to include fifteen males and three females.
On Tuesday, December 2, 2008 three dispatchers attended a one day class entitled "Active Shooter Response - The Dispatcher's Role." This training was hosted by the Wethersfield Police Department Training Unit and held in the WPD Community Room. Training topics included five phases of the active shooter, pre-arrival survival instructions, gathering vital intelligence for responders, communicating with an active shooter, workplace violence and post incident stress. As the host agency of this course, the Department saved over $800.00 in tuition costs.
On Tuesday, December 2, 2008 the accreditation manager began attending a three day conference entitled "CALEA Fall Conference." This conference was held at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This conference provided instruction and updates to the CALEA accreditation process. This Department has an onsite CALEA visit scheduled in May, 2009.
On Friday, December 5, 2008 two officers attended a one day training class entitled "Hidden Compartments within a Vehicle." Training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. This training class is designed to help law enforcement personnel locate contraband and concealment areas within a vehicle. Personnel are also instructed how to gain access to the compartments without destroying the contents.
On Monday, December 15, 2008 nine officers completed the third and final day of training entitled "Patrol Rifle Training." This training was held at the Berlin Police Range in Berlin, CT. This training is in support of the Colt AR-15 Patrol Rifles that will be implemented in the patrol vehicles. Objectives included technical and safety issues, fundamentals for marksmanship, basic patrol rifle techniques, close quarter rifle shooting, reloading and malfunction clearing and live fire drills. All officers passed a 60 round rifle qualification course and a written test. This training was a continuation from November, 2008. These nine officers are now authorized to carry the patrol rifle on duty.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2008 an officer began attending a three day class entitled "Domestic Drug Interdiction." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. Objectives of this course include outlining comprehensive investigative techniques to identify behavior and conduct of drug violators, instruction on currency seizures, stash houses, and the role of narcotic canines.
On Thursday, December 18, 2008 a detective attended a two hour class entitled "Physical Fitness Testing Update." This class was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. This course updated personnel on the entry level and basic training fitness standards. This detective is a POSTC Certified Physical Fitness Trainer, giving him the ability to train and certify new officers in POSTC fitness standards prior to entering the academy.
On Tuesday, December 23, 2008 a canine officer along with his canine, Hunter, attended a one day training class entitled "Police Canine/ Police Canine Handler Training." The canine officer and Hunter participated in this monthly canine training with several other area law enforcement canine teams. Training included evidence recovery and tracking.
Support Service Bureau officers continue to address citizen complaints involving traffic, parking violations, and other motor vehicle violations. Citizens regularly complain about a variety of different violations on various city streets and several public schools. To address these complaints, officers performed selective enforcement at several locations throughout town. Officers performed selective enforcement four times and spent approximately three hours doing selective enforcement on various city streets.
The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added or replacement road signs. Several work orders were completed in December, 2008 to include replacing a bent street sign post at the intersection of Hartford Ave and Willard Street and posting temporary "No Parking" signs on the west side of Farmingdale Road from Wells Farm Drive to Sunrise Terrace for a large party on Farmingdale Road that was held on Sunday, December 21, 2008.
In December, 2008 the Child Seat Technician inspected/installed five child seats. The Support Services Bureau continues to receive requests via the department web site as well as phone messages.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, will be hosting one day of the Capital Region Police Recertification - Supervisor Program. This five day course will be held in the WPD Community Room on January 15, 2009 and continue one day per month until May, 2009.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, will be hosting a three day course entitled "Colt Rifle Armorer" beginning on February 10, 2009. This course will be held in the WPD Community Room.
In November, 2008 police and fire personnel responded to ninety-six alarms to include seventy-eight burglar alarms, four fire alarms and fourteen panic alarms. Locations included thirty-eight non-residential locations, fifty-one residential alarms and seven state/ town-owned locations.
A total of 1,203 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month eighty-seven locations experienced a false alarm resulting in a 92% compliance rate.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of December, 2008 along with comparative statistics for the same period 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 | December 2007 | December 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 10 (0) | 3 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 1 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
