Police Commission

POLICE COMMISSION December 19, 2019 Minutes PRESENT: Commissioner Jim Sponaugle, Commissioner Trish Hansen, Commissioner Liz Starr, Chief F. Michael Catalano, Deputy Chief Paul Sandy, and Secretary Diane Ferri. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Police Commission was held on December 19, 2019 in the Mayor’s Conference Room, City Hall, 25 Court Street, Cortland New York. Comm. Sponaugle called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m. A. MINUTES – The minutes of the October meeting were accepted as corrected, and on the motion of Comm. Hansen, second by Comm. Starr, were approved for filing. B. BILLS –The Commission reviewed the November bills totaling $40,923.50 and were approved on the motion of Comm. Starr, second by Comm. Hansen. C. REPORTS – The reports as approved on the motion of Comm. Starr, second by Comm. Hansen, were highlighted as follows: 1. YTD Budget Balances - The Commission reviewed the account lines and percentages expended. Discussion ensued regarding the balance and percentage of Overtime expended. 2. Vehicle Maintenance – The Deputy Chief updated the Commission regarding the status of the fleet, noting as follows: Vehicle # Description Cost Car – 10 Tie rod end $497.83 Car – 15 Brakes $648.60 3. Overtime – Accumulated hours worked for the month of November totaled 1713.75 hours, compared to 1703.00 hours for the same period in 2018, reflecting an increase of 10.75 hours from 2018 for the month, and an increase of 782.50 hours year-to-date. Discussion ensued regarding the position historically held that Overtime costs were less expensive than increasing the roster with additional officers. 4. Other Activities - Calls for service for the month have decreased by 118 compared to 2018. 4. SPCA Report - The SPCA report was reviewed with note of 254 complaints handled for the year, with 43 after-hours calls. The Chief noted the Common Council has changed the ordinance to allow the SPCA and/or the Police department to issue tickets for too many animals at a locale. Previously, only the Zoning Department had authority to issue this ticket. 5. Officers Activities Breakdown – Statistics highlighted by Chief Catalano noted 14 DWI arrests for the month, 311 parking tickets issued by police officers, and 222 V&T arrests. 6. Parking Tickets - 1|Page  Parking tickets issued for the month of November totaled 393. The Parking Enforcement Officer, it was noted, was off work for a few days with a Workers’ Compensation injury. 7. Arrest Breakdown - The Chief reviewed this report with the Commission, noting the increased felony arrests of 35 year-to-date, while penal law arrests have decreased by 118 and the grand total of all arrests, which have decreased by 713. Discussion ensued regarding the decreased personnel and decreased number of calls. The Chief will review the record-keeping protocol for these numbers. OLD BUSINESS BAIL & DISCOVERY 2020 – The Chief updated the Commission regarding the criminal justice reforms and bail reforms to take effect on 1/1/2020. He commented on a meeting held with the District Attorney on 12/18 regarding the upcoming changes, the conclusion being compliance to the new practices will be extremely difficult; electronic transmission of reports will become a vital necessity, and all items MUST BE transferred to the defense attorney within 15 days. Further discussion ensued regarding the particulars of compliance issues with this new law. NEW BUSINESS A. PERSONNEL – The Chief apprised the Commission of the following changed with personnel: 1. Ptl. Michael Maniaci and Ptl. James Badger will be completing their field training in early January and fully certified. 2. A new Civil Service Police Officer Candidate list has been released and 2 applicants are now being processed. Austin Fiske of Marathon, and Kory Olson of Virgil are the new tentative employees, with reservations being held for Basic Police Academy in Syracuse commencing 1/20/20, pursuant to successful completion of their background investigations. 3. Sgt. Patrick Sweeney has announced his intention to retire effective January 3, 2020, for a position with the US Marshalls in the Syracuse Courthouse. The Chief, pursuant to the Common Council’s approval on 12/17 to fill the positions created by this vacancy, will be promoting an officer to the rank of Sergeant, transferring Sgt. Sean Byrnes to the Detective Bureau, as well as hiring a new officer. Hopefully this third officer can be hired before the 1/20/20 start of Syracuse Police Academy. 4. The three officers qualifying for the promotion to Sergeant are Ptl. Patrick O’Donnell, Ptl. Brendan Byrnes, and Ptl. Adam Troyer. Dependent upon the speed with which a third candidate is hired, interviews by the Police Commission for this promotion will be held after the next Police Commission meeting. Discussion ensued regarding some of Sgt. Sweeney’s duties as the “Evidence/Property Custodian” and the extensive work he and Ptl. Melissa Eccleston completed to update and complete the inventory. B. NEW SCHEDULING SOFTWARE – The Chief apprised the Commission of the new software system being utilized effective January 1, 2020. Hopefully, it will be helpful in the 2|Page  payroll process as well as uploading to the MUNIS software system utilized by the City Finance Department. OTHER BUSINESS A. COMMENDATION, APPRECIATION, CORRESPONDENCE REPORT - 1. Ms. C. Jane Snell sent a letter of commendation to the Chief regarding Ptl. Patrick O’Donnell and his efforts to assist not only her, but also her family when she collapsed recently at the Community Restaurant. 2. AVV Staff sent a thank you card to Chief Catalano for his recent participation and support of their fundraiser entitled, “Chefs Take a Stand” 3. Sgt. Daniel Edwards received a Training Certificate certifying successful completion of the Fire Arson Investigation Seminar sponsored by the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control, NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Services. 4. Ptl. Melissa Eccleston received a Certificate of Attendance from the New York Women in Law Enforcement (NYWLE) Training Conference. 5. Ptl. Nathan Moran received a Certificate as a Maintenance Trainer for Patrol, Tracking, Article Search/Scent Detection and Narcotics Detection Canine Teams from the State of New York DCJS Municipal Police Training Council. 6. D/C Paul Sandy received a thank you letter from the Co-Chairs of the Great Cortland Pumpkinfest for the support and assistance with the planning, preparation, and partnership he and Lt. David Guerrera provided. 7. Ptl. Michael Maniaci and Ptl. James Badger each received their Certificate of Completion from the Basic Course for Police Officers or Equivalent from the State of New York DCJS Municipal 8. Sgt. Cheyenne Cute received a Certificate of Completion for Identifying and Supporting Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children training. 9. Chief Catalano received a thank you card from Margie Garcia of Bellevue, WA, thanking him and the department for all their efforts. 10. Mr. Don Richards, President of the Cortland Rotary Breakfast Club presented Chief Catalano a check for $4,000.00 in support of the McGruff and Canine Programs. The Chief responded to his letter with thanks. 11. Mayor Tobin forwarded an email to Chief Catalano from Lois Creighton, CSW of Randall School, commending Ptl. Maniaci, his Field Training Officer, Ptl. Jeffrey Fitts, and Sgt. Ryan Riley for their kindness and compassion to a small boy whose mother was found unresponsive at the home of her mother. 12. Mayor Tobin forwarded an email to Chief Catalano from a citizen who commended Ptl. Joseph Slater for his professionalism and patience with a rude, belligerently behaved woman who was illegally parked. B. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – Commissioner Sponaugle thanked everyone for their support during this most difficult of times. ADJOURNMENT 3|Page With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Comm. Starr, Second by Comm. Hansen, the meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Diane L. Ferri Confidential Secretary 4|Page