Police Commission

LACONIA POLICE COMMISSION MINUTES DECEMBER 18, 2014 PRESENT: Chairman Warren C. Clement, Commissioner Douglas A. Whittum, Commissioner Armand E. Maheux, Chief Christopher A. Adams, Captain William F. Clary, Captain Matthew J. Canfield, Lieutenant Richard E. Simmons, Lieutenant Allan L. Graton, Prosecutor James A. Sawyer, and Deborah M. Simkins GUESTS: Dennis Lintz, Bob Martin, Councilor Brenda Baer, Gail Ober Chairman Clement called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Chairman Clement led the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM#1 Personnel Matters. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #1A Commendations & Awards – Officer Michelle K. Cardinal, New Hampshire Drug Awareness Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Officer of the Year! Lieutenant Simmons advised there are over 500 D.A.R.E. Officers throughout the State and Officer Cardinal was chosen as the D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year. Lieutenant Simmons advised Officer Cardinal is thought of very highly by the students and teachers of the Elementary Schools and is well deserving of this award. ITEM #1B Training. Lieutenant Graton advised all of the Patrol Officers are trained and equipped with the Taser after completing the six-hour instructor course. Captain Clary advised the Tasers were all purchased as a result of Grant Money. ITEM #1C Miscellaneous – Laconia Links. Captain Clary advised the Citizen’s Academy Graduation was featured in an article, one of our volunteers, Ian Nugent, was shown decorating our tree, and there was a reminder about snow and ice and careful driving. ITEM #1D Resignations/Retirement – Officer Adam C. Batstone. Captain Clary advised Officer Batstone submitted his resignation which was a long and hard decision for him to make. Officer Batstone will be working at the Sheriff’s Office and he will be extremely missed here as a Training Officer, Motorcycle Officer, and very good Patrol Officer. ITEM #1E Hirings. Lieutenant Graton advised we have six scheduled to begin the background investigation phase of the hiring process and from those, we hope to hire four. ITEM #1F Promotions/Reorganization – Detective Kendra L. Neri. Captain Clary advised at shift change, Detective Kendra Neri will be assigned with Detective Dan Carsen on Narcotic Investigations. Captain Clary advised several Officers had expressed an interest in this position, and through the process, Officer Neri was determined to be the best suited for Laconia Police Commission December 18, 2014, Minutes Page 2 the position. ITEM #2A Support Division. Captain Clary advised out budget was sent over on the 1st of December and almost everything was level funded. The Captain advised we asked for a full year of salary for the Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment Coordinator (PET) position we were afforded this past year. Captain Clary advised City Hall is happy with the tax cap numbers, but we haven’t heard anything else. ITEM #2B Operations Division. Captain Canfield advised we have been busy dealing with the increasing number of Heroin overdoses. The Captain advised we have increased visibility in the Downtown area especially during the holiday shopping season and will also be increasing motor vehicle patrols. Captain Canfield advised we also have a Community Resource Officer (CRO) back from school for parking enforcement. Captain Canfield advised Officer Cardinal has been working on the Middle School D.A.R.E. Program which will hopefully start after the first of the year. ITEM #2C Legal Division. Prosecutor Sawyer advised he has been asked by the City Manager to assist with the City’s Zoning Department on the prosecution end of how to file petitions and actual Court Room presentation. ITEM #3 Orders and Bulletins. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #4 Approval of November 20, 2014, Minutes. Chairman Clement entertained a motion to approve the minutes as presented, moved by Commissioner Maheux, seconded by Commissioner Whittum, and passed unanimously. ITEM #5A Department Monthly Highlights. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #5B Monthly Fleet Report. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #5C Criminal Investigative Unit Statistics. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #5D Monthly Patrol Division Statistics. Chief Adams advised we have seen a rise of 102 percent in shoplifting incidents. Chief Adams advised we have been taking a lot of shoplifting cases from the Walmart Store since the store was reconfigured and the front of the store where the registers are located and the entrance is in Laconia. ITEM #5E Budget Print-Out. Commissioner Maheux inquired of any discussion as a result of the request for the full-time position for the Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment (PET) Coordinator position. Chief Adams advised we are planning to do a presentation after the beginning of the year, but Officer Eric Adams has been doing an exceptional job in this position. ITEM #5F Monthly Traffic Statistics. Chief Adams advised the majority of the accidents were as a Laconia Police Commission December 18, 2014, Minutes Page 3 result of unsafe backing. ITEM #6 Correspondence to and from the Department. Chief Adams noted Officer Callanan and Officer Moynihan had received a thank you as a result of a call for service due to suspicious activity. Chief Adams advised Officer Babineau received a thank you for a ride along that was performed. Chief Adams advised a special thank you had been sent to Officer Jepsen for his role as Daren, the Lion. Chief Adams advised a thank you was received for the support we provided to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and a thank you for our support of the Open Mic Program. Chief Adams advised we also received a thank you from the family of the victim of the fatal accident showing appreciation for our support, and a thank you from the family of a victim of an overdose. ITEM #7 Chief’s Report and Requests for Commission Action. ITEM #7A Performance Assessment Report Cards. Chief Adams advised they were all A’s with the exception of a couple of B’s on one report card. Chief Adams advised this program was started approximately eight years ago. ITEM #7B Approval of Notice of Holidays – 2015. Captain Clary noted the 4th of July is actually a Saturday, so Friday July 3rd will be the Holiday for the nonessential personnel and the 4th will be for the sworn personnel. Chairman Clement entertained a motion to approve the Notice of Holidays, moved by Commissioner Maheux, seconded by Commissioner Whittum and passed unanimously. ITEM #7C Officer Jonathan Howe – NH Police Standards & Training Council. Chief Adams advised every once in a while we will send support down to the Academy and even though we didn’t have anyone in this class, Officer Howe assisted as a cadre. ITEM #7D WLNH Auction. Chief Adams advised we answered the phones for an hour at the auction and we also prepared a couple of gift bags which were auctioned. ITEM #7E Christmas Present Delivery. Chief Adams advised we will be delivering gifts on Christmas Eve to approximately a hundred children. ITEM #8 Old Business. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #9 New Business. Chief Adams advised our website has been redesigned and it is new and improved. Chief Adams advised we have also supplied copies of information in the lobby to provide better customer service. ITEM #10 Confirm Date of Next Regular or Special Meeting. The January Meeting was scheduled for January 15, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. in the Community Room at Laconia Police Headquarters. ITEM #11 Other Business – LPD Annual Christmas Luncheon. Chief Adams advised the luncheon is scheduled for December 23, 2014, at 12:00 p.m. Laconia Police Commission December 18, 2014, Minutes Page 4 ITEM #12 Citizen Comments. Mr. Lintz inquired about shoplifting incidents and the percentage of people who are actually apprehended by civilian loss prevention officers or Police Officers and was advised most cases are as a result of a loss prevention officer contacting the Police Department. Mr. Lintz inquired about body cameras and if Officers will be wearing them. Chief Adams advised this has been a topic of conversation within this Agency, but we will not be rushing into making any decision until we have heard all the pros and cons. Mr. Lintz inquired if there will be a Federal Grant to cover these and the Chief advised this has been discussed for purchase, however, there are other concerns with regard to the storage of the data. Mr. Lintz advised wearing a body camera will also document any conversations that are taking place and this should be used. Mr. Lintz inquired if we are taking advantage of the 10-33 Program and was advised we do regularly and, in fact, purchased our Hummer through this program. Captain Clary advised we research the equipment, the cost of items and the benefits to the Department before we jump into the purchase of any type of technology. Mr. Lintz also suggested that reports can be done through the use of a body camera as well. Chairman Clement advised we continue to keep this on the front burner and follow the recommendations from the Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Lintz inquired of the availability of breaking down the data with regard to shoplifting incidents. Prosecutor Sawyer advised the mass majority of shoplifting incidents are reported by Loss Prevention Officers within the businesses who have witnessed the incident. Bob Martin asked if body cameras were to be implemented, would this be beneficial to the Police as far as how someone may react knowing they are being video taped. ITEM #13 Non-Public Session. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. There being nothing further to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Maheux, seconded by Commissioner Whittum, and passed unanimously at 3:35 p.m. _______________________________ Douglas A. Whittum, Clerk Laconia Police Commission /dms