Police Department Monthly Report

James L. Cetran
Chief of Police

December, 2011

SPECIAL PROJECTS / ACHIEVEMENTS / INNOVATIONS:

In December, 2011 the Wethersfield Police Department's Support Services Bureau coordinated the annual WPD Toy Drive. Many unwrapped toys were generously donated by citizens and businesses throughout the town. All of the toys were collected at Police Headquarters and then dropped off at the Town's Social Services Department for distribution. This year two van loads of toys were donated.

In December, 2011 the Animal Control Officers set up a PetFinder account online. PetFinder is the main online source for lost/found pets and adoption. Besides advertising impounded dogs in the paper, the Department is now required by law to post impounded pets online. The ACOs created the Petfinder account at no-charge and have posted their first impounded dog. The Department's Petfinder page can be found at www.petfinder.com/shelters/CT470.html.

Three probationary police officers have successfully completed their fourth and final field training phase and have begun solo duties. These three probationary officers are currently assigned to the Department's Patrol Division.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES:

Patrol Division

Patrol Division (Case of Interest)

On Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 4:47 PM several officers were dispatched to a bank on the Berlin Turnpike for a report of a hold-up alarm. While the units were enroute, the dispatcher informed the officers that bank employees reported that it was an actual robbery. Once on scene, one bank employee told an officer that she believed the suspect ran into a pizzeria just a few doors down from the bank. A search of the pizzeria was negative for the suspect. An officer located a person, however, matching the description of the suspect standing inside another business that was near the bank. The officer saw a large pile of money on the counter next to this person. The pile of money later was determined to be the money stolen from the bank. The officer took this person into custody after determining that this person was the bank robbery suspect. The suspect was charged with Robbery Third Degree and Larceny Third Degree. The suspect was held on bond and was presented in court the following day. All the money was recovered and no persons were hurt during this incident.

Detective Division

In December, 2011 members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow-up to approximately twenty new cases. Major case investigations included five burglaries, four forgeries, two sexual assaults, one robbery and four identity theft cases. Detectives also continue to perform town background investigations and backgrounds for pistol permit applicants.

Detective Division (Case of Interest)

On Friday, December 16, 2011 a detective was dispatched to a business located on the Silas Deane Highway which specializes in purchasing new or slightly used clothing and children's merchandise. This business will then later resell the merchandise. It was reported that persons had entered the establishment trying to sell new clothes. It was found that these persons would buy clothes at a retail store and immediately bring them to this business. The suspects would receive a check for the clothes. The suspects would then alter the check adding hundreds of dollars of value to the check. The suspects would then cash the check. They would then purchase more clothes and repeat this scam at other businesses that also take in clothes for sale. Eventually four individuals were charged with forgery, larceny and associated charges.

Juvenile Unit

In December, 2011 the Wethersfield Police Department Juvenile Unit handled twenty-seven incidents involving thirty juveniles. In these incidents, ten juveniles were arrested, three juveniles were diverted to the Town of Wethersfield's Juvenile Review Board and two juveniles were diverted to parental punishment.

The Wethersfield Police Explorers completed a promotional process to determine its rank structure for the 2012 year. The process involved a written test as well as individual evaluations. As a result, five explorers were promoted to the position of lieutenant (1), sergeant (2) and corporal (2).

School Resource Officer

In December, 2011 the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the Wethersfield High School (WHS) reported covering twenty-two incidents which were entered into the School Cop Database. These incidents resulted in twelve case numbers, eleven case reports and one supplemental report. There were seven arrests at WHS during the month which included charges for Assault Third Degree and Breach of Peace Second Degree.

The SRO also investigated five larceny and one disorderly conduct complaints. The SRO also assisted an officer with a threatening complaint.

The SRO and the WHS school administrators held several mediations with students over disputes ranging from dating relationship issues to general disputes. The SRO also investigated several truancy and defiance issues at WHS.

Finally, the SRO was interviewed by several students as part of a Senior English project. The SRO, along with a second officer, also participated in a Career Prep class which involved speaking to students in the class in regards to a career in law enforcement.

Support Services Bureau

In December, 2011 the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to fifty-seven calls for service.

In December, 2011 there were 103 calls involving animal control issues. Of those calls, eighty-three were handled by the part-time animal control officers and twenty were handled by police officers. Seven dogs were impounded with four being redeemed. Cases included one Assist Other Jurisdiction (Newington PD) and one impoundment associated with an emergency committal incident.

In December, 2011 the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance (WVAA) was dispatched to seventy-two medical emergencies and Aetna Ambulance to 197 medical emergencies for a total of 269 medical emergencies.

In December, 2011 seventeen persons were taken into custody and held requiring 283 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, nine were arrested by warrant.

The Support Services Bureau Commander continues to receive requests for added or replacement road signs. Work orders completed in December, 2011 included the temporary installation of signage in support of the Chamber of Commerce's "Holidays on Main Street" on December 1, 2011 in the area of Main Street between Church Street and Center Street.

Support Services Bureau, Training Unit

On Thursday December 1, 2011 two sergeants, three detectives and two officers attended a one day recertification class entitled "NCIC/ COLLECT Recertification Training." Training was held at the Connecticut State Police Forensics Lab, 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 Wednesday, December 7, 2011 six members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) began attending monthly two-day training.

On Monday, December 12, 2011 a detective and two officers began attending the five day "Capitol Region Chiefs of Police Review Training." This training was held at the Farmington Police Department, Unionville, CT. This forty hour class is mandatory every three years to keep officers certified in the State of Connecticut. The training encompasses a wide variety of topics including ICS training, PRAWN training, legal updates, bias crimes, patrol procedures, juvenile law and domestic violence laws.

On Tuesday December 20, 2011 a canine officer, along with his canine, Owen, attended a one day training class entitled "Police Canine/ Police Canine Handler Training." The canine officer and Owen participated in this monthly canine training with several other area law enforcement canine teams. Training included evidence recovery and tracking.

Administrative Services Bureau

In December, 2011 police personnel responded to sixty-two police related alarms to include fifty-eight burglar alarms and four hold-up/ panic alarms. Locations included thirty-two residential alarms and twenty-seven non-residential alarms. A total of 1,558 alarm permits are currently on file with the Police Department. During the month, fifty-five experienced a false alarm resulting in a 96% compliance rate. This month there were fifty-one items of correspondence sent in connection with billing, registration and false alarm violations with $ 2,625 in alarm billing.

In 2011, Department members responded to 721 alarms (668 burglar, 53 hold-up/ panic). The Administrative Services Bureau also sent out 1,129 items of alarm correspondence with alarm billing totaling $ 33,575 and alarm fine collection totaling $ 32,390.

As of December 31, 2011 the Wethersfield Police Department has expended $273,064 on overtime. This is equivalent to 60.7% of the Department's total budgeted overtime for this fiscal year. In December, 2011 ninety-three shifts were staffed with no shifts staffed below critical staffing levels.

As of December 31, 2011 the Department has no police officer vacancies and is at its authorized strength of forty-seven sworn officers. Finally, as of December 31, 2011 the Department has one officer on workers compensation due to work-related injuries and two other officers assigned to light duty.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Support Services Bureau officers continue 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 at several town schools. To address these complaints, officers performed selective enforcement at numerous locations throughout town. In December, 2011 officers performed selective enforcement nine different times and spent approximately 8.25 hours doing selective enforcement on these identified roads. This included Support Services Bureau personnel conducting a selective enforcement program on Nott Street in the area of Woodside Drive. Additionally, the S.M.A.R.T. Machine speed trailer was placed on Goff Road in the area of the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation garage for ten days. It was then placed on Maple Street south of Butler Road for two days.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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). This inspection is scheduled for April, 2012.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES: