Police Commission

LACONIA POLICE COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 15, 2015 PRESENT: Chairman Warren C. Clement, Commissioner Douglas A. Whittum, Commissioner Armand E. Maheux, Chief Christopher A. Adams, Captain Matthew J. Canfield, Lieutenant Richard E. Simmons, Lieutenant Allan L. Graton, Prosecutor James A. Sawyer, and Deborah M. Simkins EXCUSED: Captain William F. Clary GUESTS: Dennis Lintz, Bob Martin, Councilor Brenda Baer, Councilor Ava Doyle, 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. Happy Birthday wishes were given to Commissioner Maheux along with cake and a birthday tune! ITEM #1A Commendations & Awards. Chief Adams wished to express gratitude to John Bancroft who was instrumental during the inception of the Greater Laconia Crime Line in 1986. ITEM #1B Training. Lieutenant Graton advised we have upcoming training in conjunction with Homeland Security for Officer involved shootings on February 27 and 28, 2015, and approximately fifty people will be attending from various agencies. ITEM #1C Miscellaneous – Laconia Links. Chief Adams advised we had answered the phones for the children’s auction and today we received a donation of $10,000 for the Family Fund. Chief Adams advised there was an article to remind everyone to keep their headlights on in poor weather conditions and half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. Chief Adams advised there was an article congratulating Officer Cardinal as the recipient of the D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year for the State of New Hampshire. Chief Adams advised there are over a hundred D.A.R.E. Officers in the State and it is an honor to receive this recognition. ITEM #1D Resignations/Retirement. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #1E Hirings. Lieutenant Graton advised we are in the process of hiring four new Officers and their backgrounds are almost completed. The Lieutenant advised two of the applicants are New Hampshire Certified, and is hopeful they will start during the second week of February. ITEM #1F Promotions/Reorganization. Chief Adams advised Detective Neri has been working with Detective Carsen, targeting Narcotic violations, and is doing a great job adjusting to this Laconia Police Commission January 15, 2015, Minutes Page 2 new position. ITEM #2A Support Division. 1) Greater Laconia Crime Line. Lieutenant Graton advised the crime line is being disbanded as it wasn’t being used, we weren’t receiving calls, and there were issues with regard to getting people on the Board of Directors. The Lieutenant advised there was approximately $2,000 in the account which has been donated to the Child Advocacy Center. Lieutenant Graton advised the number will be maintained and will be referred to as the Laconia Tip Line. Chief Adams again expressed his sincere thank you to John Bancroft for all his efforts and noted a number of major crimes were solved as a result of this program. 2) Parade Road Repeater Site. Lieutenant Graton advised we have three poles at the site and one is used for the repeater. The Lieutenant advised the pumping station is in need of a pole, and will pay for half of our costs involved, including the electricity. ITEM #2B Operations Division. Captain Canfield advised Officer Cardinal and Lieutenant Simmons are continuing to work on the D.A.R.E. Program for the Middle School. Captain Canfield advised Officer Orton and Detective Neri are working on presenting another Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Class in coordination with the school system which will be geared to students as well as any faculty who may be interested. Captain Canfield advised he is working with Genesis Behavioral Health in reference to the active shooter policy to help them craft this along with a drill at their facility on Blueberry Lane. Captain Canfield advised we are going to be taking on an intern from the Plymouth State University and he will be doing some training with us starting in a couple of weeks. ITEM #2C Legal Division. Prosecutor Sawyer advised he has been working with the Court and the Superintendent of the Jail with Compliance Court on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. to check on people with mental health or drug abuse concerns. Prosecutor Sawyer stated this has been very informal, but they are trying to step it up a little to make it more formal with the assistance of Genesis Behavioral Health. Commissioner Maheux inquired if the Court is busy and Prosecutor Sawyer advised we are very busy, but it appears we process cases much quicker than any other Court in the State, which is a testament to Judge Carroll who sits on the bench from 0800 hours to 1600 hours every day and some days without a break. ITEM #3 Orders and Bulletins. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #4 Approval of December 18, 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. Chief Adams advised overall there is a 13 percent increase with regard to Crimes Against Persons and a 1percent decrease in Crimes Against Property. Chief Adams advised the drug offenses for 2014 which were increased Laconia Police Commission January 15, 2015, Minutes Page 3 as compared to 2013. The Chief is hoping some of the programs we have initiated will have an impact on lowering some of these figures. Chief Adams advised the number of Robberies was equal for both 2013 and 2014, none of them being at a convenience store. Chief Adams advised Officers have been targeting the convenience stores to do Park, Walk and Talk, which may deter a potential crime. The Chief advised unfortunately we had ten overdose deaths in 2014 and the Laconia Fire Department administered Narcan approximately 40 to 50 times during this same time period. Chief Adams noted the number of volunteer hours for our volunteers as well as Officers/employees of the Department, and how impressive these numbers are. 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. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #5E Budget Print-Out. Chairman Clement noted the budget appears to be on target. ITEM #5F Monthly Traffic Statistics. Commissioner Whittum noted a significant increase in the number of motor vehicle stops conducted during the month as well as an increase in parking ticket enforcement. ITEM #6 Correspondence to and from the Department. Chief Adams advised a thank you was sent to Pastor Warren for the meals they have dropped off at the Department along with Doctor Spead who has delivered food during holidays, etc. Chief Adams advised we received a couple of e-mails concerning the current atmosphere given the events affecting Law Enforcement, expressing encouragement for the Department. Chief Adams advised a Facebook message was sent from an extremely thankful mother who received gifts on Christmas Eve and correspondence in reference to the donation of trees. Chief Adams advised a letter was also received from a retired Massachusetts State Trooper complimenting former Officer Adam Batstone and the assistance he provided to an individual who was suffering with some mental health issues. ITEM #7 Chief’s Report and Requests for Commission Action. ITEM #7A Performance Assessment Report Cards. Chief Adams advised all of the report cards received were A’s and B’s. Chairman Clement advised we receive the report cards and are thankful the victims are taking the time to complete these assessment cards and returning them to us. Chief Adams advised we cannot force anyone to return a card. ITEM #7B Approval of Commission Attendance Report. Chairman Clement entertained a motion to approve the Commission Attendance Report, moved by Commissioner Maheux, seconded by Commissioner Clement, and passed unanimously. Laconia Police Commission January 15, 2015, Minutes Page 4 ITEM #7C Well 100 Challenge. Chief Adams advised this was a five-week challenge and we had very good participation once again. The Chief advised this was focused on eating, sleeping and drinking water. Chief Adams advised Captain Clary is currently presenting this program once again. ITEM #7D Goals and Objectives Update. CALEA – Chief Adams advised MIS Robin Moyer assumed the position of Accreditation Manager and has implemented Power DMS for our CALEA Assessment Management. Lieutenant Graton advised we are ahead of other Departments as far as compliance for this time of the year and we are scheduled for on site inspection in 2016. Texting/Distracted Driving Campaign – Chief Adams advised Officers have been targeting distracted drivers throughout the year, with an emphasis on education, and we have handed out hundreds of fliers. Chief Adams advised effective January 1, 2015, we initiated the hands-free Law within the Department. Human Trafficking Campaign – Chief Adams advised Sergeant Swett gave a presentation last year at the Motorcycle Week Meeting as usually big events are targeted, and we would be naïve to see it not happening around here. The Chief advised an informational card was also passed out to Officers in reference to warning signs of Human Trafficking. Chief Adams advised Kitty Kiefer of New Beginnings gave a presentation at the Belknap County Chiefs of Police Meeting as well. Employee Assistance Program – Chief Adams advised it is important that we reach out and identify employees who need assistance and they know the services that are available to them. Chief Adams advised some times we take our work for granted and we need to reach out and make sure our employees are fine. Physical Fitness – Chief Adams advised the Department continues to focus on improving the overall health of its employees, a majority of the employees participate in some sort of physical fitness regularly, and wellness materials are distributed on a regular basis. Anti-Bullying Campaign – Chief Adams advised the Department works very closely with the School District and Officer Orton is involved with all potential bullying incidents at the Laconia High School. The Chief advised Officers assigned to the other schools will investigate all allegations of bullying as well. Chief Adams advised it is important this topic gets the attention it needs and to make sure children and parents are involved to diffuse any potential situation. The Chief advised that D.A.R.E. Officer Cardinal also discusses bullying at length during the D.A.R.E. Program. ITEM #7E 2015 Community Initiatives. Chief Adams advised we have been working on Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Projects for approximately eight years, and are now utilizing bigger teams working on major issues. Chief Adams advised we have memorialized the POP Projects and if something comes up, we can certainly reinstate a project. Chief Laconia Police Commission January 15, 2015, Minutes Page 5 Adams advised we have been looking at some National Programs and Community Initiatives, one of which is “Coffee with a Cop”, and we will be starting this program in the near future. Chief Adams advised we are also looking at starting a Police Athletic League which is also a National Program. The Chief advised Officers will be going out in the community, coaching, playing basketball and interacting with the kids on a different level. Chief Adams advised we are also going to be attending Ward Meetings and talking about issues; whether substance abuse, crimes, or poverty. Chief Adams advised we will keep the Commission updated on how these programs are progressing and feels it is very important to go out into the neighborhoods. ITEM #8 Old Business. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #9 New Business. Chief Adams advised the Governor has just given permission for Police Officers to administer Narcan and it will be up to each community to see if they would be willing to do that. Chief Adams advised he will confer with Chief Erickson to discuss the pros and cons for this, but feels it would be more beneficial to the smaller communities who do not have a full-time Fire Department. ITEM #10 Confirm Date of Next Regular or Special Meeting. The February Meeting was scheduled for February 19, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. in the Community Room at Laconia Police Headquarters. ITEM #11 Other Business. There was no discussion with regard to this Agenda Item. ITEM #12 Citizen Comments. Dennis Lintz inquired if the Attorney General has made any considerations with regard to body cameras. Chief Adams advised he has not heard anything new from the AG’s Office. Mr. Lintz advised a body camera could aid in the interaction with an Officer and an individual. Chairman Clement reaffirmed Chief Adams’ decision with regard to any determination being made following the Attorney General’s recommendation. Gail Ober complimented the new website and Chief Adams expressed a thank you to MIS Robin Moyer for the updates and changes made. Mr. Lintz inquired if the use of an anonymous tip line is more informative than confidential informants. 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 3:44 p.m. _______________________________ Douglas A. Whittum, Clerk Laconia Police Commission /dms