Police Department Monthly Report

James L. Cetran
Chief of Police

March, 2010

SPECIAL PROJECTS / ACHIEVEMENTS / INNOVATIONS:

Two probationary police officers have completed the first three of four Field Training phases and began Phase Four training. This Field Training is under the supervision of Department Field Training Officers. During the Field Training Program, these probationary officers are observed and evaluated on a daily basis while they are expected to perform more duties with each phase. Both officers are expected to begin solo patrol by the end of April, 2010.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES:

Patrol Division

Patrol Division (Case of Interest)

On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 about 8:30 PM officers were dispatched to a retail store located on the Berlin Turnpike on the report of a shoplifting. The complainant reported that a female shoplifter stole items from the store and then struggled with an employee in an attempt to escape. An officer was in the vicinity of the store when the call occurred. The manager told the officer that the female had gotten away but was in a vehicle which was still in the parking lot. The officer was able to find the suspect in a car however she refused to exit, using two small children as shields to prevent her arrest. The officer was ultimately able to get the female out and arrest her without further incident. The manager later told the officer that the female arrestee entered the store and began to place shoes and other clothing items in her purse. The female then attempted to leave the store without paying for the store merchandise. The manager stopped the female and attempted to get her to go back into the store. The female tried pushing past the manager but was unsuccessful. The female then went back into the store and was asked to go into the security office. She agreed but then took the stolen merchandise out of her purse throwing them to the ground. The female then ran for the door. The manager and another employee stopped the female again and while trying to hold onto her, the female bit the manager on the arm. After biting the manager, the employees let her go and she ran out the door. The woman was charged with robbery for her attack on the employee, larceny for the shoplifting and risk of injury to a minor for using the children as shields. The suspect, who was from Massachusetts, was held on bond and presented in court the next day.

Detective Division

In March, 2010 members of the Detective Division initiated or were assigned follow-up to forty-two new cases. Major case investigations included nine burglaries, three narcotics cases, two sexual assaults, five identity thefts, four larcenies and five fraud cases. Detectives also continue to perform town background investigations and background investigations for pistol permit applicants.

Detective Division (Case of Interest)

In March, 2010 officers responded to a complaint of damage to a window of a business located on the Silas Deane Highway. Responding officers determined that the damage was a bullet hole in the business window. Detectives responded and determined that the round must have originated from the parking lot of an adjoining business. Detectives were able to locate and remove the round from the wall of the office. Detectives continue to investigate the incident.

Juvenile Unit

In March, 2010 the Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled forty-two incidents involving seventy-two juveniles. In these incidents, three juveniles were arrested for criminal violations, thirty-three were diverted to parental discipline, eleven were diverted to school punishment and one was diverted to Town Social and Youth Services.

In March, 2010 the Wethersfield Police Explorers participated in a practical training exercise involving high stress scenarios as well as arrest and control training.

School Resource Officer

In March, 2010 the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the Wethersfield High School covered seventeen incidents and activities at the school. These seventeen incidents and activities resulted in nine case numbers and six incident reports. Incidents include three larcenies, one disorderly conduct complaint and one bullying/ harassment complaint. The SRO also investigated one motor vehicle crash which occurred on school property.

The SRO also covered several mediations with school students. The SRO also advised and mentored several students on substance abuse and dating relationships which included information concerning the State statutory sexual assault law.

Finally, the SRO met with school security officers and hall monitors. As a result of this meeting, several changes were made that will assist staff in maintaining a safe learning environment for students and faculty. One of the changes is meant to reduce the thefts from the men's and women's locker room. The doors to the locker rooms will now be closed approximately ten minutes after the start of a class period. If a student needs to get into the locker room after the ten minute time limit, the student is told to go to the main office and obtain a pass. This policy ensures a record of persons going into the locker room at specific times. Since implementing this procedure, there have been no reported thefts from the locker rooms.

Support Services Bureau

In March, 2010 Wethersfield Communications Unit personnel dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance to forty-six medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 232 medical emergencies for a total of 278 medical emergencies.

In March, 2010 there were twenty-nine calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, nine were handled by an animal control officer, nineteen were handled by police officers and one log entry was made for an animal control issue.

In March, 2010 seventeen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 222 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, seven were arrested by warrant. Support Services personnel transported seventeen prisoners to court to include thirteen males and four females.

The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added or replacement street signs. Work orders completed in March, 2010 include moving a 25-MPH speed limit sign from 14 Garden Street to 125' west of Broad Street and installing two "No Motor Vehicles" signs on Brimfield Road at its intersection with Folly Brook Blvd on the bike/ walking path. One sign will be at this intersection with the second sign north of this location.

Support Services Bureau, Training Unit

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010 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 Wednesday, March 3, 2010 members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) began attending monthly two-day training. On Wednesday, March 31, 2010 the CREST members began attending monthly two day training for the month of April.

On Thursday, March 18, 2010 a sergeant attended the "Capital Region Police Recertification - Supervisor Program." This training was held in the Wethersfield Police Department Community Room. This training is mandatory every three years and is open only to supervisory personnel. The training this month was on the topics of juvenile law update and motivation and communication. This training is held once per month concluding in May, 2010.

On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 two officers began attending a two day training seminar entitled "Child Passenger Safety Certification." This training was held at the Waterbury Police Training Center, Waterbury, CT. Objectives of this class were updated child passenger seat instruction and certification. Both officers are now certified in the installation of child passenger seats.

On Wednesday, March 24, 2010 an officer attended a one day training class entitled "Medical Response Technician (MRT) Refresher." This training was held at the West Hartford Police Department, West Hartford, CT. This class enables the officer to keep his State of Connecticut MRT certification, which is good for two years.

On Thursday, March 25, 2010 two sergeants began attending a two day class entitled "Civil Liability for Police Training Officers." Instruction topics include recent court decisions and legislative actions regarding training and policy issues, hiring and retention, legal standards applicable to liability for failure to train and methods of training to avoid liability.

Beginning on March 26, 2010 and continuing for five separate sessions sworn personnel, animal control officers and matrons of the Police Department completed their annual Bloodborne/ Airborne Pathogens training. Also, twenty officers received First Aid training. First Aid training certification is current for a period of three years. This training is scheduled to conclude in April, 2010.

On Tuesday, March 30, 2010 a sergeant and an officer attended a one day "CREST- Dive Team" training. This training was held in Rocky Hill, 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 swim test and equipment training.

Administrative Services Bureau

In March, 2010 police personnel responded to fifty-one police related alarms to include forty-four burglar alarms and seven hold-up/ panic alarms. Locations included thirty residential locations and twenty-one non-residential alarms. A total of 1,349 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month, forty-six locations experienced a false alarm resulting in a 96% compliance rate. This month there were 128 items of correspondence sent in connection with billing, registration and false alarm violations with $1,925.00 in alarm billing.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

In March, 2010 the Wethersfield Police Department Child Seat Technician inspected/installed eight child seats. The Support Services Division receives requests for this service via the Wethersfield Police Department web site as well as phone requests.

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 March, 2010 officers performed selective enforcement twenty-four times and spent a total of sixteen hours doing selective enforcement on various roads in town.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES: