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 the first of four Field Training phases and began Phase Two training. This field training is under the supervision of Department Field Training Officers. During the Field Training Program, these officers are observed and evaluated on a daily basis while they are expected to perform more duties with each phase.
Two other probationary police officers have completed fifteen weeks of basic training at the Connecticut Police Academy. Graduation is expected in January, 2010.
On Monday, November 2, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department hired a new dispatcher and had begun her telecommunicator training with the Wethersfield Police Department. During her training, she will be assigned to train with several veteran dispatchers. She will receive training on the Motorola Gold Elite Console, Visionair CAD and Department policies. This dispatcher is already a certified Telecommunicator in the State of Connecticut. This most recent hiring brings the number of Department dispatchers to eight, the Department's authorized strength for dispatchers.
On November 23, 2009 at about 5:20 PM patrol officers were dispatched to D'Angelo's Restaurant on the report that a robbery had just occurred. Information from witnesses reported that a white male had entered the store wearing a "hoodie" concealing his face. The male walked to the front counter and told the clerk to give him the money. The clerk refused and the male pulled out a handgun. The clerk still refused to give the male any money and instead pulled out his cell phone and began calling the police. The male suspect ran out of the store. The clerk chased after the male and saw him get into and drive off in a nearby car. The clerk saw a Rocky Hill Police Department cruiser and the clerk pointed out the suspect car to the Rocky Hill officer. The Rocky Hill officer eventually caught up to the car and after a short pursuit, he was able to stop the car. Found inside the car was the handgun and the male suspect. Both the male and the female operator were placed under arrest for crimes related to the robbery. An investigation showed that this male was the suspect in numerous other recent robberies in several area towns.
On Friday, November 27, 2009 at about 12:40 AM a patrolman saw a vehicle weaving back and forth as it traveled on the Berlin Turnpike. This vehicle continued weaving and moved across the white line dividers now straddling the lines. Upon stopping the vehicle the officer smelled an alcoholic beverage and the operator slurred his speech. The operator performed and failed a field sobriety test and the officer placed the operator under arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol and/ or drugs. Inside the vehicle was the operator's three children aged 5, 4, and 1. The operator was also charged with Risk of Injury to a Minor for operating under the influence with children in the car.
In November, 2009 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow-up to fourteen new cases. Major case investigations included one robbery, six burglaries, one assault, two larcenies, one fraud, one identity theft and three wanted persons. Detectives also continue to perform employee background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permit applicants.
On November 20, 2009 officers responded to a reported attempted burglary at a local residence. It was reported that an unknown male with a red back pack and wearing blue jeans attempted to enter this home and was last seen running from the scene. Responding patrol officers and detectives set up a perimeter in the area and began to search for the suspect. Within five minutes, a detective unit observed an individual matching that description walking on the nearby bike path. As the detective approached the individual a foot chase ensued. The suspect ran through several back yards and was eventually taken into custody. The suspect was positively identified as the person attempting to gain entry into the home. Upon taking the suspect into custody, the Department was also advised of a reported burglary at a second residence. At the time of the suspect's arrest, his back pack was searched. Inside the back pack officers found a small video camera and several other items. The victim at the second residence reported that he was missing his video camera. It was determined that the same suspect had also committed the burglary at the second residence. The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted burglary, burglary and held on bond.
In November, 2009, the Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled twenty-two incidents involving twenty-six juveniles. In these incidents, four juveniles were arrested for criminal violations, seven were diverted to parental discipline and three were diverted to school discipline.
Also, the Wethersfield Police Explorers assisted the Connecticut Special Olympics in greeting delegates attending the International Torch Run Conference. The Explorers also went to Camp Rell, Niantic, CT to use the Firearm Training Simulator (FATS) computer participating in shoot/don't shoot scenarios.
Finally, the Police Adventures Crossroads program completed its Fall session with Stations Day at Police HQ. At the conclusion of Stations Day, the participants and family members took part in a pizza party. Based on feedback from both students and parents, the program was a success.
In November, 2009 the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Wethersfield High School covered twenty-four incidents and activities at the school. These twenty-four incidents and activities resulted in eleven case numbers and five incident reports and one motor vehicle accident report. These reports include one arrest for Assault 3rd Degree and Breach of Peace 2nd Degree and the second arrest for Breach of Peace 2nd Degree. The SRO also issued a written warning for Unsafe Movement of a Stopped or Standing Vehicle. The SRO also investigated three Larceny 6th Degree complaints with one case being closed due to the finding of the lost/ stolen property. Finally, the SRO also investigated one claim of a sexual assault made by a third party which turned out to be false.
The SRO also covered numerous mediations regarding bullying and trespassing issues at Silas Deane Middle School by high school students. The SRO attended STARS meetings, the high school production of "Frog and Toad" and also participated in the school dodge ball tournament with the proceeds to benefit the Wethersfield Food Bank.
In November, 2009 Wethersfield Police dispatchers received and handled 828 E-911 emergency phone calls.
In November, 2009 Wethersfield Communications Unit personnel dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to forty-one medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 210 medical emergencies for a total of 251 medical emergencies.
In November, 2009 there were forty calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, eight were handled by an animal control officer and thirty were handled by police officers. There were two log entries for animal control issues.
In November, 2009 eighteen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 464 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, ten were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported eighteen prisoners to court to include fifteen males and three females.
In November, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department submitted their statistics to the Connecticut Police Chief's Association (CPCA) for the Thanksgiving holiday period. This time period included noon Wednesday, November 25, 2009 to midnight, Sunday, November 29, 2009. The CPCA collects the statistics from each local department in four areas. During this time period the Wethersfield Police Department recorded fifty-five motor vehicle stops, two driving under the influence arrests, two 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.
In November, 2009 the Wethersfield Police Department participated in the semi-annual "Click It or Ticket" enforcement wave period coordinated by the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation. This campaign was held from November 16, 2009 through November 29, 2009. During this time Department members issued, forty-two Failure to Wear Seatbelt infractions tickets, thirteen speeding infractions tickets and seventy other traffic-related infractions tickets. A post-campaign survey of Wethersfield motorists showed an 88.5 % seatbelt compliance rate.
On Wednesday, November 4, 2009 five members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) began attending monthly two-day training.
On Monday, November 9, 2009 an officer began attending a two week training class entitled "Traffic Crash Reconstruction." This training class was held at the Waterbury Police Activity League, Waterbury, CT. Training areas included determining the speed of vehicles at impact using conservation of linear momentum, behavior of vehicles in a collision using Newton's three laws of motion and the derivation and origin of the commonly used speed formulas.
On Thursday, November 12, 2009 a sergeant and dispatcher began attending a two day training class entitled "Everbridge Emergency Notification System Training." Training was held at the Connecticut Police Academy, Meriden, CT. This system, which is being implemented in various police departments throughout the State of Connecticut, will allow the Department to send out notifications throughout the Town in event of an emergency. The sergeant and dispatcher were trained as system administrators. A second dispatcher also attended a one day system user training.
During the week of November 16, 2009 the WPD Training Unit conducted Fall 2009 Low Light Firearms Training. Forty-three (43) officers participated in this training, which was held at the Berlin Police Range in Berlin, CT. Training consisted of three hours of low-light/ no light firearms training and one hour of classroom training. Officers were required to complete a 60 round qualification course in low light conditions, which all officers successfully passed. Officers also completed two point-instinctive courses and a stress / malfunction course. Both the point-instinctive courses required officers to quickly and accurately identify and shoot at multiple threats. The malfunction course required officers to clear various primary and secondary malfunctions and then quickly and accurately identify and shoot at a threat. Prior to this training, officers received instruction on the Department Deadly Force policy conducted by the patrol sergeants. All officers were also given a written examination on the Department's Use of Deadly Force policy. Nine (9) officers also qualified with the Colt AR-15 patrol rifle and were required to complete a written examination on the same.
On Monday, November 16, 2009 two officers began attending a five day training class entitled "Crisis Intervention Team Training." This training was held at Rentschler Field, East 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 Thursday, November 19, 2009 a detective began attending a two day training seminar entitled "Arson Investigators' Seminar." This training was held at the Hartford Marriott Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill, CT. Topics included arson investigation, gas explosions and scientific methods.
On Tuesday, November 24, 2009 a detective and two officers attended a one day training conference entitled "15th Annual Children, Youth and the Police Statewide Conference." This training was held in Cromwell, CT and is sponsored by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. The annual police conference consisted of various topics including Juvenile Law Update, Raise the Age Legislation and Safe Schools collaboration.
On Wednesday, November 25, 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.
The Support Services Bureau continues 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 several locations throughout town. In November, 2009 officers performed selective enforcement thirty-seven times and spent a total of approximately thirty-two hours doing selective enforcement on various roads in town.
Some of these complaints include the report of unauthorized vehicles entering the driveway to the Wethersfield High School from Wolcott Hill Road during the start of school in the morning, a complaint of speeding vehicles on Wells Road near Emerson Williams School during the morning and afternoon hours and a request for additional temporary No Parking signage on Wintergreen Lane during the Wethersfield High School Thanksgiving Day football game.
A recommended action plan was devised and each complaint was handled appropriately. Officers from the Support Services Bureau went to the High School in November to monitor this situation. Numerous parents were observed entering this driveway to drop off students. Each of these motorists were stopped and advised not to use this driveway for student drop off. They were told of alternative places to drop off the students. The SMART machine was placed on Wells Road in the area of Emerson Williams School two times in late October. The normal posted speed limit in this area is 40 MPH. During the morning arrival time and the afternoon dismissal time the speed limit is 25 MPH. The SMART machine was set with a speed limit of 25 MPH. At the conclusion of the day, the SMART machine reported that the average speed was 35 MPH. As a follow up to the SMART machine, an officer from the Support Services Bureau conducted selective enforcement in this area on several days in November. This officer noted there were no speeding vehicles at the times he was present. Finally, Wintergreen Lane was added to the list of streets that were posted with temporary No Parking signs for the football game. There were no problems on Wintergreen Lane the day of the game.
In November, 2009 police personnel responded to thirty-eight alarms to include thirty-four burglar alarms and four hold-up/ panic alarms. Locations included twelve non-residential locations, twenty-four residential alarms and two state/ town-owned locations. A total of 1,337 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month, thirty-four locations experienced a false alarm resulting in a 97% compliance rate. This month there were 64 items of correspondence sent in connection with billing, registration and false alarm violations with $ 2,075 in alarm billing.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of November, 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 | November 2008 | November 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Burglaries | 3 (0) | 6 (2) |
| Commercial Burglaries | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Armed Robberies | 1 (0) | 1 (1) |
| Strong-arm Robberies | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
