Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
On February 9, 2009 several members of the Connecticut Police Accreditation Coalition (CONN-PAC) assisted the Wethersfield Police Department by conducting an on-site inspection of accreditation files. Several file construction suggestions were made as a result of this mock on-site inspection. This inspection was done in anticipation of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) on-site inspection scheduled for May, 2009.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, hosted a three day course entitled "Colt Rifle Armorer" February 10th to 12th, 2009. This course was held in the WPD Community Room. As the host agency for this training class, the Department saved $1200.00 in tuition costs for this class.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, hosted one day of the Capital Region Police Recertification - Supervisor Program on Thursday, February 19, 2009. This course was held in the WPD Community Room.
The Wethersfield Police Department, Training Unit, hosted a three day course entitled Powerphone's Emergency Medical Dispatch February 23rd to 25th, 2009. This course was held in the WPD Community Room. As the host agency for this training class, the Department saved approximately $400.00 in tuition costs for this class.
During the week of February 23, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department held oral board examinations as well as a practical skills examination for twenty-eight (28) public safety dispatch candidates. These candidates were chosen from a pool of three-hundred and sixty applications that were received in January, 2009. These twenty-eight candidates were selected based on a review of their application, previous work experience and position-related specialized skills and certifications.
On February 14, 2009 at about 11:50 PM officers were dispatched to a local residence on the report of a man breaking into a car parked in the driveway. The complainant/ homeowner saw someone standing next to his car and looking inside it with a flashlight. Unfortunately, the suspicious person had already left the area upon the officer's arrival. The owner inspected his car and found that although nothing appeared missing, several items had been moved inside the car and some items were taken out of the glove box. Officers began searching the area. A Rocky Hill K-9 arrived on scene and immediately began a track. The K-9 traveled through several yards and located a male hiding in a rear yard. This male was wearing clothing similar to the suspect. The male was from Middlefield and had no legitimate reason to be in the back yard. Found near this male were several items believed to have been taken from vehicles and a flashlight. The male was placed under arrest for attempting to break into the vehicle.
On February 24, 2009 at about 1:30 PM a patrol officer was dispatched to a gas station located on the Silas Deane Highway on the report of two suspicious males in the parking lot. The dispatched officer arrived and saw a vehicle occupied by the males being driven through the parking lot. The officer also noticed that the vehicle had a motor vehicle display violation. Upon stopping the vehicle the officer was told by a detective that the two occupants in the car were suspected of committing burglaries in several shore line towns. The officer also saw drug paraphernalia inside the car. A check of the vehicle revealed several dangerous instruments including long bladed knives and a stun gun. Both occupants were placed under arrest. Also found in the vehicle was a large amount of jewelry believed to be stolen, computer parts and known burglar tools.
In February, 2009 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow-up to thirty new cases. Major case investigations include one robbery, five burglaries, three identity thefts, two larcenies and three fraud cases. Detectives also continue to perform background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permits applicants.
In February, 2009 WPD detectives received a complaint from an individual regarding possible thefts committed against his elderly father. The complainant believed that his father's care giver was taking advantage of his father and was the one responsible for these thefts. The complainant stated that he believed that his father was going through his money too quickly. The complainant stated that at one point he gave his father some money and later that same day his father was asking for more even though his father never left the house. Through surveillance, detectives later saw the care giver stealing money directly from the father's wallet. The care giver was arrested on that date for that theft and has since provided a confession to detectives.
On February 27, 2009 detectives assisted the State of Connecticut, Department of Tobacco Compliance with an undercover tobacco compliance investigation. State of Connecticut personnel, with assistance from a WPD detective, went to numerous stores in town checking on underage tobacco purchases. The compliance officer supplied an underage person who would attempt to try and buy tobacco products from these different stores. The underage person was able to purchase tobacco products from one business on the Berlin Turnpike. This business was issued a summons for the Sale of Tobacco to Minors.
In February, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled twenty-three incidents involving thirty-two juveniles. In these incidents, two juveniles were arrested for criminal violations, two were diverted to school punishment and nineteen were diverted to parental punishment and one was diverted to counseling through the Division of Social and Youth Services.
In February, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Explorers participated in two practical training exercises. The first training exercise involved the detection of DUI suspects. This exercise involved performing field tests on adult volunteers who had consumed alcohol. The second training exercise involved a multi-station practical exercise which included a domestic violence incident, assault incident, emotionally disturbed person (EDP) and a shots fired incident.
In February, 2009 the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the Wethersfield High School reported twenty-six incidents that were entered into the School Cop Database. These twenty-six incidents resulted in nine incident reports. These twenty-six incidents included four disorderly conduct incidents, two harassment complaints, one assault complaint, three larceny complaints, one trespass complaint, one possession of alcohol by a minor complaint, one violation of a protective order complaint and one incident involving the texting of an explicit photograph.
The SRO reported making eight arrests for incidents to include the issuance of infraction tickets during the month of February, 2009. Additionally, the SRO documented eight mediations conducted during the month.
In the month of February, 2009 Wethersfield Dispatchers received and handled 745 E-911 emergency phone calls.
In February, 2009 Wethersfield dispatchers dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to fifty-four medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 202 medical emergencies for a total of 256 medical emergencies.
In February, 2009 there were thirty-one calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, eleven were handled by an animal control officer, eighteen were handled by police officers with two log entries.
In February, 2009 five persons were taken into custody and held requiring ninety hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, three were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported five prisoners to court to include four males and one female.
On Tuesday, February 3, 2009 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.
On Monday, February 9, 2009 an officer began attending a five day training class entitled "CREST Explosive Breaching School." This training was held in Glastonbury, CT.
On Tuesday, February 10, 2009 a sergeant and two officers began attending a three day training class entitled "Colt M-16/ AR-15 Armorer's School." Training was hosted by the Wethersfield Police Department Training Unit and held in the WPD Community Room. Training included proper assembly, disassembly and maintenance of these Colt weapons.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 two officers began attending a three day training class entitled "Accident Investigation Training - Total Station." This training was hosted by the Capital Region Chiefs of Police Association and held at the Newington Police Department, Newington, CT. Both officers are trained accident reconstructionists. Training will assist both officers, in cooperation with other departments on a regional team, to conduct measurements at serious and fatal motor vehicle accidents.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 a canine officer and Canine Elaine began attending a three day training class entitled "Narcotics Detection Canine In-Service Training." The canine officer and Canine Elaine attended training 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 Monday, February 23, 2009 a dispatcher began attending a three day training class entitled "Emergency Medical Dispatch." This training, instructed by Powerphone, Inc., was hosted by the Wethersfield Police Department Training Unit and held in the WPD Community Room. Training topics included the emergency dispatch process, handling difficult callers, assigning needed resources, identifying the caller's chief complaint and risk management techniques to reduce liability. This class is one of several mandated training classes in order to keep certification as a telecommunicator by the State of Connecticut.
On Monday, February 23, 2009 an officer began attending a five day training class entitled "Interview and Interrogation Techniques for the Investigator." Training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. Course objectives included ability to analyze verbal and written statements, identifying the most common interviewing pitfalls, identifying evasive verbal responses and non-verbal body language.
On Tuesday, February 24, 2009 a sergeant and an officer attended a one day "CREST - Dive Team" training. This training was held at Coventry Lake, Coventry, CT. This training is conducted on a monthly basis with several other area law enforcement agencies that comprise CREST. This month's activities included an ice dive.
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 fifty-eight times and spent approximately thirty-four hours doing selective enforcement on various town streets.
In February, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department Child Seat Technician inspected/installed nineteen child seats. The Support Services Bureau receives requests via the Department web site as well as phone messages.
The School Resource Officer assigned to the Wethersfield High School will be participating in the Freshman Experience on April 20, 2009.
The Wethersfield Police Department continues to prepare for an on-site inspection conducted by members of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) scheduled for May, 2009.
In February, 2009 police and fire personnel responded to fifty-eight alarms to include fifty burglar alarms, six fire alarms and two panic alarms. Locations included twenty-one non-residential locations, thirty-one residential alarms and six state/ town-owned locations. A total of 1,228 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month fifty-three locations experienced a false alarm resulting in a 95% compliance rate. Ninety items of correspondence were sent in connection with billing, registration and false alarm violations. During this month $ 2,475 was collected for current and previous month's false alarm billing.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of February, 2009 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 | February 2008 | February 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 3 (0) | 4 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 1 (0) | 1 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
