Police Department
Monthly Report
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Police Department |
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James L. Cetran
Chief of Police
Two probationary police officers have completed six weeks of basic training at the Connecticut Police Academy. Graduation is expected in October, 2009.
On June 14, 2009 at about 3:50 AM patrol officers were dispatched to a local home on the report an unwanted person who had broken into the home. The unwanted person was later identified as the father of one of the four children who resided at that location. Officers arrived at the home and found the doors locked. The officers saw who they believed was the suspect inside the house. Fearing that an assault was taking place, the officers forced entry into the home. The first officer saw the male and the male ran away towards a bedroom. The officer caught the male in the hallway and the two struggled. The officer attempted to handcuff the male but the suspect slipped away. As the male entered the bedroom he grabbed his approximately two year old child and used him as a shield so the officer would not arrest him. As officers approached the male, the male squeezed and continued to hold onto the child tightly. Another struggle ensued in which officers were able to free the child from the suspect's grasp. Officers used a Taser on the male and eventually handcuffed the suspect. The male was placed under arrest for numerous criminal charges including breaking into the home, assault and risk of injury to a minor. The male was also arrested on a warrant stemming from a previous case in which he waited outside the home of this same victim, dragged her into a car and assaulted her while driving around. He was held on bond and later transported to court.
On June 19, 2009 at about 1:00 AM patrol officers were dispatched to a local residence on the report that a homeowner had looked out her window and saw a male breaking into her car. The victim gave a description of the male to the dispatcher who relayed this to responding officers. Upon the officers' arrival, they found a male who matched the description of the suspect. This male denied breaking into the car. This male stated he used to live on this same street and was visiting relatives. The victim positively identified the male and he was subsequently placed under arrest for attempting to gain entry to the victim's vehicle.
In June, 2009 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow-up to twenty six new cases. Major case investigations include one sexual assault complaint, three burglary complaints, one identity theft complaint, eight larceny complaints and three fraud complaints. Detectives also continue to perform employee background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permits applicants.
In June, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled twenty-one incidents involving twenty-seven juveniles. In these incidents, two juveniles were arrested for criminal violations, five were diverted to school discipline, fifteen were diverted to parental discipline and two were diverted to the Wethersfield Department of Social and Youth Services.
The Wethersfield Police Explorers assisted at the Travelers Championship at the Tournament Players Club in Cromwell, CT. The Wethersfield Police Explorers worked with explorers from Windsor, Manchester and Middletown directing traffic and supporting the main parking lot at the event. This was a very important event for the post as the money donated by Travelers to the explorer program funds activities for the entire year.
In the month of June, 2009 Wethersfield dispatchers received and handled 1040 E-911 emergency phone calls. The tornado that struck the Town of Wethersfield on Friday, June 26, 2009 resulted in approximately 300 E-911 emergency calls.
In June, 2009 Wethersfield Communications Unit personnel dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to seventy-seven medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 215 medical emergencies for a total of 292 medical emergencies.
In June, 2009 there were thirty-eight calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, ten were handled by an animal control officer and twenty-eight were handled by police officers.
In June, 2009 eight persons were taken into custody and held requiring 164 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, eight were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported eight prisoners to court to include seven males and one female.
The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added or replacement street signs. Some of the completed work orders for June, 2009 include placing temporary "No Parking" signs in support of the annual Corpus Christi School picnic on Friday June 19, 2009 and in support of the Wethersfield High School Graduation on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
On Thursday, June 4, 2009 a detective and 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 8, 2009 four members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) attended an annual five-day training session.
On Tuesday, June 9, 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 Thursday, June 11, 2009 two Department D.A.R.E. officers attended a one day training conference entitled "2009 Combating Underage Drinking Annual Law Enforcement Conference." Objectives included up-to-date underage drinking resources and statistics and strategies for reducing youth access to alcohol.
On Thursday, June 18, 2009 an officer attended a four hour workshop entitled "Winchester Ammunition Ballistics Workshop." This workshop was held at the Hartford Police Department Range, Hartford, CT. Representatives from Winchester, which is the manufacturer of our duty ammunition, were on hand demonstrating the ballistic capabilities of several different rounds of ammunition, including our handgun and rifle ammunition.
On Thursday, June 18, 2009 a dispatcher attended a "Regional Incident Dispatch (RID) Meeting." This training was held at the Bradley Field National Guard Hanger, Windsor Locks, CT. The RID Team is a group of approximately twelve telecommunicators comprised from local law enforcement agencies. The RID Team is designed to supplement area Dispatch Centers (PSAPs) in the event of a large crisis, man-made or natural disaster, etc.
On Thursday, June 30, 2009 a sergeant and two officers attended one day "CREST- Dive Team" training. This training was held in Windsor, CT. This training is conducted on a monthly basis with several other area law enforcement agencies that comprise CREST. This month's activities included a recovery dive in the Connecticut River.
On Thursday, June 30, 2009 an officer attended a one day training class entitled "Intoxilyzer 5000 Instructor Training." This training was held at the CT State Police Forensics Laboratory, Meriden, CT. With this training, this officer will be able to recertify other department officers on the use of the Intoxilyzer 5000.
On multiple dates during the month of June, 2009 several officers were trained in the use of the State Tactical On-Scene Channel System (STOCS). The STOCS equipment allows for the tactical use of a cross band repeater allowing for inter-operable communications on existing radio equipment. This training was held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room.
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 fourteen times and spent approximately seven hours doing selective enforcement on various city streets.
In June, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department Child Seat Technician inspected/installed three child seats. The Support Services Bureau receives requests for this service via the WPD web site as phone requests. The Wethersfield Police Department Child Seat Technician also participated in two seat belt clinics. The first was held with the Rocky Hill Police Department in Rocky Hill and the other with the Newington Police Department in Newington. During these clinics, the WPD technician installed approximately fifty child seats.
NCIC/COLLECT recertification for select Department personnel is scheduled for July and August, 2009.
The Wethersfield Police Explorers will participate in the Connecticut Police Explorers Academy at Eastern Connecticut State University the week of July 26, 2009.
On Tuesday, August 4, 2009 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 and Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Association.
Members of the Wethersfield Police Department have been selected to represent the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (C.R.E.S.T.) at the upcoming Connecticut SWAT Challenge. This grueling competition encompasses teams from throughout New England and the United States. Winners of the competition are invited to the World SWAT Challenge. The Connecticut SWAT Challenge is scheduled for August, 2009.
In June, 2009 police personnel responded to fifty-nine alarms to include fifty-three burglar alarms and six hold-up/ panic alarms. Locations included thirty-one non-residential locations, twenty-one residential alarms and seven state/ town-owned locations. A total of 1,260 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month, fifty locations experienced a false alarm resulting in a 96% compliance rate. This month there were 197 items of correspondence sent in connection with billing, registration and false alarm violations.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of June, 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 | June 2008 | June 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 1 (0) | 3 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
