Police Commission

POLICE COMMISSION December 17, 2014 Minutes PRESENT: Chairman Thomas O’Mara, Commissioner James Sponaugle, Commissioner Eric Prior, Chief F. Michael Catalano, D/C Paul Sandy, and Secretary Diane Ferri. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Police Commission was held on December 22, 2014 in the Mayor's Conference Room, City Hall, 25 Court Street, Cortland New York. Comm. Thomas O'Mara called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. A. MINUTES – On the motion of Comm. Sponaugle, second by Comm. Prior, the Commission approved the minutes of the October meeting as written. There was no meeting in November. B. BILLS –The Commission reviewed the November bills totaling $21,246.90 and on the motion of Comm. Sponaugle second by Comm. Prior, were approved and placed on file. C. REPORTS – The following reports were highlighted: 1. Year-to-Date Budget Report – The Commission reviewed the MUNIS system report, highlighting balances, encumbrances, and % age of funding expended. 2. Overtime – Accumulated hours worked for the month of November totaled 2086.50 hours, compared to 1733.00 hours for the same period in 2013, reflecting a 353.50-hour increase for the month, and a 1658.75-hour increase year-to-date from 2013. The overtime accrued for Cortaca and the holiday OT contractual bonus account for the majority of the increase. 4. Other Activities Report – The Commission reviewed the report while the Chief highlighted some of the statistical information. Overall, service requests decreased for the month by 151 calls. 5. SPCA Animal Control Report – Animal complaints answered totaled 20 (321 calls year-to-date) with 4 after-hour calls for the month. 6. Officers Activities Breakdown – Statistics highlighted by Chief Catalano included 8 DWI arrests for the month, 2 each of which were issued by Ptl. Ryan Riley and Ptl. Nathan Moran. A total of 197 V&T tickets were written in the month of November with 30 being issued by Ptl. Ryan Riley, 22 by Ptl. Patrick O'Donnell, and also 19 each by Ptl. Ryan Riley and Ptl. Nathan Moran. Ptl. Kyle Green issued 79 parking tickets. 7. Arrest Breakdown – Arrest activity was reviewed by category. On the motion of Comm. Prior second by Comm. Sponaugle and carried, the reports were accepted for filing. 1 OLD BUSINESS A. PERSONNEL - The Chief noted: 1. The Civil Service Office has posted and scheduled a test for the PEO position. 2. The hiring freeze was lifted as requested by the Chief at the Common Council meeting, with a view to an academy being available in March 2015, to fill the recent vacancy left with Ptl. Debra Barber's transfer to the Cortland County Sheriff's Office. B. CORTACA - The Chief noted the recent efforts produced a good result, although the bars lost revenues. The work of the various law enforcement entities and the weather contributed to a subdued weekend. NEW BUSINESS NEW PHONE SYSTEM - The Chief apprised the Commission of the recent installation of the new digital phone system by a company called Finger Lakes Technology Group. OTHER BUSINESS A. COMMENDATION AND APPRECIATION REPORT – 1. NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services presented to each member of the Department a Certificate of Attendance for their Opioid Overdose and Intranasal Naloxone Training for Law Enforcement Course. 2. D/C Paul Sandy received a Certificate of Completion from FBI-LEEDA for successful completion of the Supervisor Liability Training Class 14-6. 3. Sgt. Daniel Edwards and Sgt. Michael Strangeway each received a Certificate of Attendance from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services for attending the Cellular Phone Investigations Course. 4. Ptl. Roger Stafford and K9 Lummel received a Certificate of Achievement from the Eastern Police Canine Association and were awarded the Degree of Police Narcotics Dog I on 9/16/2014. 5. Sgt. Cheyenne Cute received a Certificate of Attendance from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services for attending the Interview and Interrogation Training. 6. Sgt. Michael Nichols, Sgt. Sean Byrnes, and Ptl. Joseph Slater each received a Certificate of Attendance from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services for attending the Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement Course. 7. Ptl. Chadd Hines and Ptl. Melissa Eccleston each received a Certificate of Attendance for Child Passenger Safety Recertification Update Course. 8. Ptl. Bradley Becker received a Certificate of Completion from the State of New York Fire Training Certificate for completing the Bio Terrorism Awareness Course. 9. Sgt. Daniel Edwards received a Certificate of Completion from the NYS Academy of Fire Science Training for completing the Fire Arson Investigation Seminar Course. 10. Ptl. Jared Aiken received a Certificate of Completion from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Municipal Police Training Council for successfully completing the Police Field Training Officer Course. 2  11. Cub Scout Pack 87 sent a thank you note to Lt. David Guerrera, Sgt. Seth Rowland and Ptl. Peter Wright for a tour of the Department. 12. Ptl. Melissa Eccleston received a thank you for her response to a call regarding a citizen's mother, whose son was not able to locate. 13. Ptl. Bradley Becker, Ptl. Kenneth Bush, and Ptl. Melissa Eccleston each received a letter of commendation for their efforts during a traffic stop on 5/13/14, during which a large amount of heroin was seized and two suspects taken into custody. 14. Ptl. Ryan Riley received a letter of commendation for his efforts in an investigation into a suspicious vehicle in Riverside Plaza on 6/14/14. 15. Ptl. Jared Aiken received a letter of commendation for his work involving a grand larceny investigation at Wickwire Pool on 7/31/14. 16. Ptl. Jeffrey Fitts received a letter of commendation for his investigation into two larcenies from motor vehicles on 8/19/14. 17. Ptl. Roger Stafford and Ptl. Brendan Byrnes each received a letter of commendation for their efforts during a drug activity investigation on 9/5/14. 18. Ptl. Patrick O'Donnell and Ptl. Ryan Riley each received a letter of commendation for their response to a shoplifting complaint on 9/18/14. 19. Ptl. Anthony Natoli received a letter of commendation for his work in a drug investigation on 10/4/14. 20. Ptl. Robert Reyngoudt received a letter of commendation for several areas of contribution to the Department in his role as School Resource Officer and the national recognition he has attained for standards of excellence. 21. Ptl. Brendan Byrnes received a letter of commendation for the award "Police Officer of the Year". 22. Sgt. Daniel Edwards received a letter of commendation from Chief Catalano, awarding him with the "Department Commendation Award" issued on 12/8/14. 23. Ptl. Chadd Hines received a Certificate of Completion for the NYS DCJS BAC Recertification. B. CORRESPONDENCE - 1. Chief Catalano wrote a letter to Denise Rzepka, regretfully accepting her letter of resignation from her position as a school crossing guard. 2. Chief Catalano shared an email from the Cortland Elks Lodge 748, thanking everyone for their participation in the Halloween parade. 3. Aaron Baier, Access to Independence, sent a letter of thanks to Lt. David Guerrera for his participation in their 2014 Disability Mentoring Day on 10/15/14. 4. Chief Catalano sent thank you letters to Maj. Donald Faughnan, Sherriff Lee Price, Chief Steven Dangler, Director Scott Roman, Eric Verfuss, and David Butler for their efforts and assistance during the recent Cortacajug Football Game. 5. Pres. Eric Bitterbaum sent a letter to Chief Catalano, thanking him for the "unfaltering dedication" the commission displayed in efforts to improve the event. 6. Maj. Donald Faughnan sent a letter to Chief Catalano acknowledging receipt of the letter of thanks originally sent to him and his unit. C. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – Comm. O'Mara noted he will be unavailable for the January and February 2015 meetings. 3 The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 3:15 p.m. in the Mayor's Conference Room. With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Comm. Sponaugle, and seconded by Comm. Prior, the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diane L. Ferri Confidential Secretary 4