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 eleven weeks of basic training at the Connecticut Police Academy. Graduation is expected in October, 2009.
On July 12, 2009 at about 11:20 PM the Wethersfield Police Department received an alarm call for the Charles Wright Elementary School on Nott Street. Officers arrived on scene and could hear noises coming from the roof of the school. An officer was able to climb up to the roof and saw two males hiding by an air duct. The males were identified and were known by the officer from previous police dealings. The males reported that they were on the roof smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol and had attempted to enter the school. The males were placed under arrest and charged accordingly.
On July 15, 2009 at about 11:00 PM officers were dispatched to the area of Prospect Street near Maple Street on the report that an unmarked Hartford Police car was following a vehicle in Wethersfield. This vehicle had struck the unmarked Hartford cruiser in Hartford. When the Hartford officer exited his car to investigate the accident, the operator accelerated away from the scene and the officer followed it into Wethersfield. After calling the Wethersfield Police, the Hartford officer saw this vehicle leave the roadway and strike a tree on Maple Street. The operator ran away from the crash. Officers searched the immediate area without finding the suspect. Wethersfield Police requested assistance from local police agencies and requested a canine to search the area. A Connecticut State Trooper and his canine responded. The canine followed a scent and was able to locate the suspect hiding in some bushes. The male was placed under arrest and charged with driving under the influence, operating with a suspended license and evading responsibility.
On July 23, 2009 at about 4:00 PM a witness reported to Wethersfield Police dispatch that she saw a person break into a car while it was parked at a business located on the Silas Deane Highway. This witness followed the suspect's vehicle as it drove north on the Silas Deane Highway. Wethersfield detectives, who heard the dispatch, were able to stop the vehicle on the Silas Deane Highway. Once stopped, officers were able to determine that three males had in fact stolen a G.P.S. unit out of the car. An investigation showed that these same males had stolen three other G.P.S. units from various locations in Wethersfield and had also stolen a woman's purse, a cell phone, and a checkbook. The three males were placed under arrest for four separate cases of larceny. Other departments are extremely interested in these arrests because the same described vehicle had been seen at numerous car breaks.
In July, 2009 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow-up to twenty-two new cases. Major case investigations include one robbery, one sexual assault, twelve burglaries, one identity theft and five larcenies. Detectives also continue to perform employee background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permits applicants.
On Tuesday, July 14, 2009 detectives responded to a burglary complaint at a bank located on the Silas Deane Highway. Upon arrival, detectives were shown that the bank's ATM machine had been forced open. Officers saw that the suspect(s) had entered the bank by cutting a hole in the roof directly above the ATM machine. The suspect(s) were able to force their way into the ATM and made off with a sum of money. During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect(s) were able to disable the bank's alarm system. As of this date, there have been two other similar burglaries in the State of Connecticut.
On July 27, 2009 detectives responded to a reported burglary at a professional office building located on the Silas Deane Highway. This building is a multi-story office building. Upon the officers, arrival it was determined that numerous offices were broken into. Detectives processed each of the scenes and points of entry. All of the burglarized offices were forced open. It is undetermined at this time the total value of the burglaries.
On Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at about 11:00 PM the department received a 911 call reporting that an individual had been shot at a home on Westmont Road. Upon arrival, the officers were confronted by a female who reported that a male party had been shot inside the home at Westmont Road. Upon the officer's entry into the home, they found a male party suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Responding officers immediately requested an ambulance and began administering first aid. The victim was transported to a Hartford area hospital. Upon the removal of the victim, the Detective Bureau Commander requested that the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad respond to the scene for processing. The case is currently under investigation.
In the month of July, 2009 Wethersfield dispatchers received and handled 919 E-911 emergency phone calls. 900 (98%) of these calls were answered within one second.
In July, 2009 Wethersfield Communications Unit personnel dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to fifty-six medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 192 medical emergencies for a total of 248 medical emergencies.
In June, 2009 there were fifty-three calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, seventeen were handled by an animal control officer and thirty-six were handled by police officers.
In July, 2009 seventeen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 218 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, eleven were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported seventeen prisoners to court to include fourteen males and three females.
In July, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department submitted their statistics to the Connecticut Police Chief's Association (CPCA) for the July 4th holiday weekend. This time period included Friday, July 3, 2009, 12:01 AM through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at midnight. The CPCA collects the statistics from each local department in four areas. During this time period the Wethersfield Police Department recorded forty-four motor vehicle stops, one driving under the influence arrest, four motor vehicle accidents and no motor vehicle accidents involving a fatality. Each officer at the Wethersfield Police Department is working hard to reduce accidents, decrease speed, and deter drunk driving.
On Thursday, July 9, 2009 a field training officer assisted the Connecticut Police Academy with "Practical Skills Day" for the 325th Training Session. This field training officer served as a role player in exercises that put into practice the knowledge recruits have gained in the classroom under controlled conditions.
On Monday, July 20, 2009 an officer began attending a four day training class entitled "Field Training Officer Program." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. This training allows students to become certified Field Training Officers. Training areas included FTO liability, standardized evaluation guidelines, remedial training and completion of daily observation reports.
On Tuesday, July 21, 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, July 27, 2009 a sergeant attended a four hour training class entitled "Extremism in Connecticut: Groups, Individuals, Symbols and Tattoos." This training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. This course focused on extremist groups, individuals and trends in Connecticut and the northeast area. It also provided specific information on school and campus-related security issues.
In July, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department Child Seat Technician inspected/installed four child seats. The Support Services Bureau receives requests for this service via the WPD web site and phone requests.
In July, 2009 the Support Services Bureau received several complaints and inquiries from residents concerning possible traffic problems and requests for signage on town-controlled streets. These include a request for a stop sign on Stillwold Drive/ Lindbergh Drive to control speeding vehicles, a complaint of speeding vehicles on Crest Street, a complaint of speeding vehicles on Wolcott Hill Road between Nott Street and Jordan Lane and a request for additional stop signs at the intersection of Dale Road and Linden Street. The speeding vehicle complaints were addressed through a combination of selective enforcement and deploying the SMART machine in the area. Regarding the requests for additional signage, no additional signage was placed based on a review of speed data, lack of significant accident history, and review of road design, location and purpose.
The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to work with both Town staff and volunteers in preparation of the Town of Wethersfield's 375th Anniversary fireworks display and concert at Cove Park scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2009 and the Town of Wethersfield's 375th Anniversary Parade in Old Wethersfield scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 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, Wethersfield Fire Marshal's Office 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 July, 2009 police personnel responded to fifty-two alarms to include forty-eight burglar alarms and four hold-up/ panic alarms. Locations included eighteen non-residential locations, twenty-nine residential alarms and five state/ town-owned locations. A total of 1,274 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month, forty-nine locations experienced a false alarm resulting in a 96% compliance rate. This month there were 99 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 July, 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 | July 2008 | July 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 1 (0) | 1 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 0 (0) | 11 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 1 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 1 (0) | 1 (0) |
