Police Commission

LACONIA POLICE COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 11:00 A.M. 9/5/2019 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Whittum called the meeting to Order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chairman Whittum lead the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Executive Assistant Lori A. Marsh 4. ROLL CALL 4.A. Chairman Whittum recognized Commissioners present - Chairman Douglas Whittum, Commissioner Thomas Tarr and Commissioner Frank Mello. 4.B. Chairman Whittum recognized Staff present - Chief Matthew Canfield, Captain Allan Graton, Lieutenant Michael Finogle and Lieutenant Kevin Butler. 4.C. Chairman Whittum recognized a quorum has been established and there are three Commissioner members present. 5. PERSONNEL MATTERS Chairman Whittum recognized Chief Canfield. Chief Canfield recommended to the Commission the re-structure of our agency, to include a second Captain position in light of the recent retirement we had. He advised that as a result of this, he is recommending five people for promotion. He advised they include the promotion of Lieutenant Michael Finogle to the Rank of Captain, the promotion of Sergeant Gary Hubbard to the Rank of Lieutenant, the promotion of Sergeant Christopher Noyes to Operations Lieutenant, the promotion of Officer Cardinal to the Rank of Sergeant and the promotion of Officer Robert Sedgley to the Rank of Sergeant. Chairman Whittum entertained a Motion to approve the recommendations proposed by Chief Canfield. Commissioner Tarr advised he will enthusiastically make a Motion to Chairman Whittum that the Police Commission accept the promotions as presented by Chief Canfield. Commissioner Mello advised it is an honor to second that Motion. With all Police Commissioners in favor of the Motion, the Motion passed unanimously. Chief Canfield called Captain Finogle front and center. He advised Captain Finogle served in the United States Army for 5 years as a Military Police Officer in Puerto Rico for 3 years and 2 years at Fort Lewis in Washington. He advised he holds an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently working on his Bachelors Degree. He advised he has been a Laconia Police Officer for over 20 years, during which time he created the first departmental K9 Unit and gained a lot of notoriety around the State for his work in this area. He advised he was a Drug Recognition Expert and taught this program all over the State, while also gaining recognition as a great police officer and DWI investigator. He advised Captain Finogle is a very dedicated and loyal employee of the City of Laconia Police Department and he has ever confidence in his ability to run the Operations Division, which he will command after his swearing in today. Officer for over 20 years, during which time he created the first departmental K9 Unit and gained a lot of notoriety around the State for his work in this area. He advised he was a Drug Recognition Expert and taught this program all over the State, while also gaining recognition as a great police officer and DWI investigator. He advised Captain Finogle is a very dedicated and loyal employee of the City of Laconia Police Department and he has ever confidence in his ability to run the Operations Division, which he will command after his swearing in today. Chief Canfield called Lieutenant Christopher Noyes front and center. He advised Lieutenant Chris Noyes began his career as a Part-Time Police Officer with the University of New Hampshire Police Department and became a Full-Time Police Officer in 1999. He advised in 2002 he was hired by our agency, where he has been a Patrol Officer, Mountain Bike Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective, and a Patrol Sergeant. He advised he served a one-year assignment with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force and also helped to build our drug unit that we currently have in Laconia today. He advised he hold an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from the New Hampshire Technical Institute and will be promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant working in the Operations Division. Chief Canfield called Lieutenant Gary Hubbard front and center. He advised Lieutenant Gary Hubbard served honorably in the United States Marine Corps for 28 years, where he retired as a Sergeant Major. He advised that during his tenure with the Unites States Marine Corps, he served in combat deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom in Okinawa, Japan and the Philippines, as well as Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in Kuwait. He advised he holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He indicated and has served as a Laconia Police Officer for nearly 31 years and has held assignments as a Mountain Bike Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective, Honor Guard member and most recently as a Patrol Sergeant. He advised Lieutenant Hubbard will work in the Support Division as a Lieutenant. Chief Canfield called Sergeant Michelle Cardinal front and center. He advised Sergeant Michelle Cardinal holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice and has been a Laconia Police Officer for 11 years. He advised she completed an internship with the Laconia Police Department before being hired and beginning her career with this agency. He indicated she was a D.A.R.E. Officer for 7 years, President of the New Hampshire D.A.R.E Officers Association, a Master Patrol Officer, Evidence Officer and Field Training Officer. He advised Sergeant Michelle Cardinal, upon her promotion, will command a patrol shift. Chief Canfield called Sergeant Robert Sedgley front and center. He advised Sergeant Robert Sedgley was an Explorer with the Laconia Police Department and also a Dispatcher prior to becoming a Full-Time Police Officer and has worked for the Laconia Police Department for the past 14 years. He advised he has a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College and has been a Master Police Officer, Dispatcher, Fleet Maintenance Officer and Field Training Officer. He advised that upon Sergeant Sedgley's promotion, he will command a patrol shift. All of the promoted employees were then sworn in by Bail Commissioner Ann Kaligian. Chief Canfield advised it is truly his pleasure to recommend these promotions and he appreciates the approval of the Police Commission of the approval of the promotion of all of these individuals. He advised the testing process was certainly long and enduring and he thinks there were a lot of good people who could have filled these roles. He advised certainly those getting promoted today are going to make this agency much stronger and he thinks they will build a much stronger leadership team to not only serve the City of Laconia, but build camaraderie, pride and integrity within our agency. He advised it is absolutely his pleasure to promote ever single one of these individuals and thanked those promoted. Captain Finogle was pinned by his wife, Lorie Finogle. Lieutenant Hubbard was pinned by his wife, Tracy Hubbard. Lieutenant Noyes was pinned by his wife and daughter, Meghan Noyes and Amelia Noyes.  Captain Finogle was pinned by his wife, Lorie Finogle. Lieutenant Hubbard was pinned by his wife, Tracy Hubbard. Lieutenant Noyes was pinned by his wife and daughter, Meghan Noyes and Amelia Noyes. Sergeant Cardinal was pinned by her father, Paul Cardinal. Sergeant Sedgley was pinned by his wife, Alexandra Sedgley. Chief Canfield congratulated everyone and advised he looks forward to working with them and appreciates their dedication to our agency. Chairman Whittum advised Chief Canfield said it all and indicated that as he looks around he sees several faces that he had in school at one point in time and it's nice to see people who have worked their way up within the department be recognized for their integrity, their effort and their ability. He congratulated those promoted and thanked them for assuming the positions. Commissioner Tarr advised he echoes what Chairman Whittum said and advised he knows these promotions did not come easily and come from hard work, dedication and professionalism. He advised that taking himself out of the Commissioner role and speaking as a Citizen of the City of Laconia, it gives him great comfort to know that we have such qualified professionals in positions of responsibility in the City. He thanked those promoted for all they do. Commissioner Mello advised that when he first learned of the promotions, he was very pleased to see that these people did get promoted and that they have been with the department for quite a few years and it's wonderful to see those promotions come from within. He advised they all certainly deserve it and thanked those promoted. 5.A. Promotions/Classification Change 5.A.i. Captain Michael P. Finogle 5.A.ii. Lieutenant Gary A. Hubbard 5.A.iii. Lieutenant Christopher R.A. Noyes 5.A.iv. Sergeant Michelle K. Cardinal 5.A.v. Sergeant Robert E. Sedgley, Jr. 6. COMMISSION ACTION 6.A. Motion to Accept Promotions 7. ADJOURNMENT On a Motion by Commissioner Tarr, seconded by Commissioner Mello, and passed unanimously, the Special Meeting of the Laconia Police Commissioner was adjourned at 10:14 am.