Police Commission

LACONIA POLICE COMMISSION DECEMBER 15, 2016, MINUTES CONFERENCE ROOM #200A, LACONIA CITY HALL 45 BEACON STREET EAST, LACONIA, NH – 3:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Whittum called the Meeting to Order SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Chairman Whittum led the Pledge of Allegiance RECORDING SECRETARY – Deborah M. Sawicki ROLL CALL – Chairman Douglas A. Whittum and Commissioner Thomas K. Tarr EXCUSED – Commissioner Armand E. Maheux Chairman Whittum recognizes Staff Present -- Chief Christopher A. Adams, Captain Matthew J. Canfield, Lieutenant Richard E. Simmons, Lieutenant Allan L. Graton, and Lieutenant Thomas E. Swett EXCUSED - Prosecutor James A. Sawyer Chairman Whittum -- A quorum has been established and there are two Commission members present I. Personnel Matters A. Commendations & Awards -- No Discussion B. Training -- 1) Technology Threats & Trends in Narcotics Investigations -- Detective Kendra Neri and Detective Daniel Carsen. Lieutenant Graton advised there is no cost for this training and it is beneficial in providing Officers with knowledge of the technology being used by suspects especially when executing a Warrant. 2) American Association of Police Polygraphists Annual Conference -- Detective/Sergeant Kevin Butler. Lieutenant Graton advised this conference will provide updates on the latest techniques and best practices used by Polygraphers and is required to attend every two years. Commissioner Tarr inquired how many certified Polygraph Examiners we have and was advised only one. 3) Female Enforcers, Leadership among Female Officers -- Officer Cardinal, Officer Callanan and Officer Legere. Lieutenant Graton advised this seminar presents skill sets designed to enhance the proficiency of female Officers mentally, physically and tactically which is often times overlooked. C. Miscellaneous -- Laconia Links. Chief Adams advised the Police were presented in the Links for the Citizen’s Academy Graduation which took place at the Taylor Home as well as our participation in the Children’s Auction as we Commission Meeting December 15, 2016, Minutes Page 2 had ten people man the phones for an hour for the auction. Chief Adams advised Officers served the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Woodland Heights School and also sent a representative to the Taylor Community to participate in a ‘‘Scams’’ presentation. D. Resignations/Retirement -- No Discussion E. Hirings -- Lieutenant Graton advised we are completing the background process for five candidates with three almost complete and expect a hiring date of February 6, 2017, for three Officers. Chairman Whittum inquired if any of these applicants are full-time certified and was advised one is. Chief Adams advised two of our Officers will be graduating from the Academy tomorrow. F. Promotions/Reorganization -- No Discussion II. Division/Bureau Commander’s Forum A. Division/Bureau Commander. Captain Canfield presented the list of Holidays for 2017 for the Commission’s review. The Captain advised he has been working the schools with a program known as COPsync which is a nationally shared network of law enforcement information. Captain Canfield advised we have applied for a Homeland Security Grant for this program in hopes of covering the costs for the first year. Commissioner Tarr inquired if the teachers will have access to this program and was advised yes. Captain Canfield advised it is their goal to have the whole State on board with this Program. The Captain advised we continue to provide Active Shooter Presentations and Supervisor’s Training along with a tabletop exercise in conjunction with the Hospital and High School. B. Support Division. Lieutenant Graton advised we will be conducting our recertifications for Officers in January; including First Aid CPR Recertification. C. Operations Division. Lieutenant Simmons advised the D.A.R.E. Program just ended with the recent graduations and Officer Cardinal did a great job. Lieutenant Simmons advised with an extra body back in patrol, we will be able to overlap a shift again. The Lieutenant advised he will be meeting with the Belmont Police Department in reference to their Explorers Program in the near future. Lieutenant Simmons advised the Calls for Service are roughly the same and noted the number of accidents is down a little which can be attributed to the weather. Chairman Whittum inquired about replacement of the D.A.R.E. Officer. Chief Adams advised a notice has been sent out and we are waiting for responses, but they are big shoes to fill. Commission Meeting December 15, 2016, Minutes Page 3 D. Detective Division. Lieutenant Swett advised we did a drug sweep earlier this week which was very gratifying and to see the cooperation from the other agencies as well. Commissioner Tarr inquired if there were familiar names in the group. Captain Canfield advised we did see some of the same people we know and have dealt with in the past. E. Legal Division -- No Discussion III. Orders and Bulletins. Commissioner Tarr inquired about the three-year physical fitness testing. Lieutenant Graton advised all Officers hired after 2001 are required to meet the Cooper Standards to continue their full-time certification and anyone hired prior to that is grandfathered in. IV. Commission Action A. Acceptance of November 17, 2016, Minutes and November 17, 2016, Non- Public Session Minutes. Chairman Whittum entertained a motion to approve the out-of-State school requests, moved by Commissioner Tarr, seconded by Chairman Whittum, and passed unanimously. V. Review of Monthly Activity Reports A. Department Monthly Highlights. Chief Adams advised we had 25 domestic disturbances, 76 general disturbances, 11 suicidal subjects, and 6 Violations of Restraining Orders. The Chief advised there were 16 volunteer hours for LPD and 15 ¾ hours of volunteer hours, and 18 victims were served. B. Monthly Fleet Report -- No Discussion C. Criminal Investigative Unit Statistics. Lieutenant Swett noted an increase in activity. D. Monthly Patrol Division Statistics. Chief Adams advised aggravated assaults have risen, and these are serious level assaults which is very concerning. The Chief advised overall, Crimes against Persons are down 5% from last year, but Robbery has shown a significant increase, Burglaries are on par, Shoplifting reduced slightly, total Crimes against Property are up 12% compared to last year and Group B crimes are up 6% year to date. Chief Adams advised the drug numbers are also up, but this is attributed to our drug unit and the recent Commission Meeting December 15, 2016, Minutes Page 4 drug sweep. Commissioner Tarr noted Criminal Trespass appears to remain a concern. Chief Adams advised last week we arrested three people who were living in a utility closet in the Parking Garage, so a lot of it may be as a result of the homeless population. Commissioner Tarr inquired how our homeless could be described. Chief Adams advised this is definitely a concern and there are several different types; those who are living on the streets and those who are couch surfing, but have no permanent residence. Chief Adams advised the Carey House accommodates the homeless and the Belknap House is due to open in the near future which will also be available for the homeless. Lieutenant Swett advised we can also call 211 as there are shelters available through this number. Chairman Whittum inquired if the Salvation Army has any other overnight facilities and was advised just the Carey House. E. Budget Print-Out. Captain Canfield advised there will be an adjustment made in the budget print-out which will be seen next month. Commissioner Tarr inquired about the training line item as being almost depleted and Captain Canfield advised there was a reimbursable item that was wrongfully charged to the Training line item, but again this will be corrected and reflect in next month’s print-out. F. Monthly Traffic Statistics. Chief Adams advised there were 49 accidents, 10 with injury, but with the change in weather, these numbers may increase. Chief Adams wanted to remind the motoring public to drive slowly in the weather and also that ten of the accidents were as a result of driver distraction/ inattention. VI. Correspondence to and from the Department. Chief Adams advised we received an e- mail from Aroma Joe’s thanking us for what we do, a note from the American Cancer Society, an intern thanking us for his experience, a note from Melcher and Prescott from when we were serving the turkey dinner at woodland Heights, the Elm Street School for our participation in the Harvest Festival, one of the participants in the Citizen’s Academy, the Lakes Region Leadership Program, and an e-mail from a resident of Old North Main Street regarding speeding concerns. Commissioner Tarr inquired if the Chief reaches out when receiving something like this and the Chief advised yes. The Chief advised we also received an e-mail from the Middle School thanking us for participation in Family Night. The Chief advised we also received an invitation to a young man’s birthday party and he seems to be doing better; noting he graduated in the D.A.R.E. Program this year. VII. Chief’s Report A. Performance Assessment Report Cards. Chief Adams advised all of them were A’s with a couple of B’s. Commission Meeting December 15, 2016, Minutes Page 5 B. Notice of Holidays -- 2017. Commissioner Tarr moved to approve the Notice of Holidays, seconded by Chairman Whittum, and passed unanimously. C. Annual LPD Christmas Luncheon. Chief Adams advised the luncheon is scheduled for December 21, 2016, at noon and we always look forward to seeing Officers from decades ago. D. Leadership Lakes Region. Chief Adams advised members from Leadership Lakes Region participated in the ride-along program and overwhelmingly commented on what an extremely positive experience it was. E. Family Night -- Laconia Middle School. Chief Adams advised three or four Officers attended Family Night which was held at the Laconia Middle School and Stand-Up Laconia was there extending clothing to some of the families and also played some basketball. F. Christmas Shopping. Chief Adams advised there were about fifteen Officers, Department employees, and family members who participated in the shopping this year. Commissioner Tarr inquired how the families are chosen. Chief Adams advised we receive recommendations from the School District which gives a little more control. VIII. Old Business -- No Discussion IX. New Business -- No Discussion X. Confirm Date of Next Regular or Special Meeting -- January 19, 2017 XI. Other Business -- No Discussion XII. Citizen Comments -- No Discussion XIII. Non-Public Session -- No Discussion RSA 91-A:3II (a) -- The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee or the investigation of any charges against him or her unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting, and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.