Monthly Report to the Town Manager
Wethersfield Police Division
Town of Wethersfield
By James L. Cetran, Chief of Police
Edited by Wethersfield.net
For JANUARY, 2006
Special Projects / Achievements / Innovations:
On January 26th the Training Sergeant gave a one-hour presentation on the Taser X26 to approximately twenty (20) members of the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Association. The presentation was designed to inform the members on how the Taser works, the possible effects and secondary injuries that may be caused by the Taser and the situations in which WVAA assistance may be requested by sworn personnel.
One officer completed a lengthy investigation that led to the issuance of three arrest warrants for the individuals responsible for the recent rash of BB gun vandalisms in Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and other surrounding towns. Without this officer's dedication to this case, the fifty plus vandalisms may have gone unsolved.
Monthly Activities:
Patrol Division:
During the month of January the Patrol Division was involved in eight (8) narcotics cases in Wethersfield, which resulted in eight (8) arrests.
Total Seizures for the Patrol Division are as follows:
Marijuana: 154 grams
Heroin: 1.3 grams
Cocaine: 6.1 grams
Ecstasy (MDMA): 19 pills
Patrol Division - Cases of Interest:
On January 12th at 9:31 PM a patrol officer saw a vehicle traveling on the Berlin Turnpike with motor vehicle violations. The officer stopped this vehicle and the officer immediately smelled an odor of marijuana. The operator and the passenger appeared extremely nervous. Due to the smell of marijuana and the nervous actions of the occupants, K-9 Laine was used to search the occupants and the vehicle. The K-9 showed a positive reaction to narcotics in the vehicle and on the passenger. A thorough investigation eventually lead to the seizure of a large quantity of marijuana, Ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine, and money believed to be proceeds from dealing narcotics
Detective Division:
This month members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned thirty (30) new cases. Members of the Detective Bureau investigated three (3) residential burglaries, one (1) strong-armed robbery, one (1) kidnapping, one (1) fraud case, four (4) wanted person cases, eight (8) larceny cases, three (3) disorderly conduct cases, one (1) death investigation, three (3) vandalism cases, three (3) suspicious situations, one (1) assault and one (1) sexual assault.
Detective Division - Case of Interest:
Kidnapping: On Friday 1/6/06 Officers were dispatched to a home in Wethersfield on the report of an abduction that occurred at the Wethersfield High School. Investigation revealed that a 15-year-old student arrived at the school carrying a steak knife from home. Apparently upset over the fact that another student (victim) wanted to date another youth, the fifteen-year-old suspect threatened to "cut" the victim unless she complied with his demands. He forced her to leave the school and walk back to his house. After several hours, the victim calmed the suspect down at which time he walked the victim back to the school where she was released. He was located by police shortly after the incident and taken into custody. The knife was subsequently located at his residence. He was arrested for several crimes including Kidnapping in the first degree.
Robbery: 01/26/05, at 6:09 AM, officers were dispatched to Subway Restaurant, 770 Silas Deane Hwy on an armed robbery complaint. Investigation revealed that one male entered the restaurant, implied that he had a gun and demanded money. He fled with a small amount of cash. This same suspect then committed another robbery at a Subway in South Windsor. Intelligence was shared in the Hartford area and the East Hartford Police department received information pertaining to the identity of the suspect. Further investigation was conducted and an arrest warrant was sought by this police department as well as others. This suspect was believed to commit three additional robberies in East Hartford and was subsequently caught in the act in East Hartford and taken into custody.
Juvenile Unit:
School Resource Officer (SRO) Report:
The School Resource Officer made eight (8) arrests at Wethersfield High School for various crimes. The most serious incident involved the arrest of a juvenile student for kidnapping his ex-girlfriend. The SRO attended three (3) expulsion hearings related to these arrests and he provided testimony at one of them. The SRO completed twelve (12) incident reports. The most common complaint is larceny (theft). The SRO mediated two (2) disputes, which helped to avoid a physical altercation.
The Police Explorers
The Police Explorers conducted two (2) meetings during the month of January. There were three (3) ride-alongs for the month of January and the Explorers worked at two D.A.R.E. Graduations (Hanmer and Webb Schools).
Juvenile Cases:
There were eight (8) juveniles referred to this unit during the month of January for various criminal acts and violations. Seven (7) juveniles were referred to juvenile court. The remaining juveniles were warned or diverted to their parents or school without any further police involvement.
Juvenile Unit, Cases of Interest:
Assisted in the investigation of a kidnapping at the Wethersfield High School, resulting in arrest.
Conducted an investigation of the sexual assault of a 12-year-old Silas Deane Middle School student. An arrest warrant has been applied for and is pending.
Support Services Bureau (SSB:)
During January WPD Child Seat Technicians installed eight (8) child seats. SSB continues to receive requests via the WPD website as well as conventional phone messages. SSB personnel continue to work closely with the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance in coordinating child seat installations for residents of other area towns.
During the month of January there continued to be radio meetings. In each of the meetings our concerns about system strength loss and static are forwarded to Motorola. The system wide static continues to be a problem. Members of the Townwide Radio Committee are in the process of planning for the nationwide Nextel Re-Banding program. The committee has formed a sub-committee to address emergency radio needs and procedures. The town has granted approval for Trott Associates from Texas to analyze our system and to assist in the re-banding process. Trott Associates has provided the town with maps showing signal strength in all areas of town. Several members of the Radio Committee are also assigned to a Radio Logistics Committee. This committee is assigned the job of assisting with the re-banding issue and its effects on the town's radio system. This committee will work with Motorola, Trott Associates and Fred Martin to help the town through the re-banding process.
There were 102 alarms received during the month of January. Of that total, one alarm was found to be an actual alarm. Three (3) tickets were issued this month for violation of the false alarm ordinance.
During the month of January the Communications Unit received and handled approximately 817 E-911 emergency phone calls. The Communications Unit dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance and Aetna Ambulance to a total of 232 medical emergencies.
In the month of January dispatch personnel have no longer reported any significant problems with C-MED. Department dispatchers received 89 EMS 911 calls in December 2005.
During January fifteen (15) persons were arrested and held requiring 251 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, fourteen (14) were arrested by warrant. During January SSB personnel transported fifteen (15) prisoners to court, thirteen (13) males and two (2) females. The two (2) females incarcerated by the department required 88 hours of matron coverage.
In January SSB personnel continued selective enforcement programs in different areas of town. SSB personnel assisted the Patrol Division in selective enforcement.
SSB personnel are working closely with town Animal Control Officers to develop new policies involving the capture and release of town dogs. Documentation will be developed to closely monitor the release of animals and the proper procedure to collect the required funds for animals that are removed and housed.
Community Relations:
In January the SSB Commander continued to work closely with the Board of Education in addressing parking and traffic complaints in and around the high school and several elementary schools. Numerous parking issues have been addressed at Hanmer Elementary School. Work has been done with the B.O.E. to begin using the gated area in front of the school. The gated area will be used as the new pickup and drop off area for the buses and vans. At the Wethersfield High School, parents are still dropping off in the area of the buses and vans, in violation of posted signs. The department will begin address these parents in the morning hours.
SSB personnel continue to address citizen complaints involving traffic and speed issues. Citizens had complained of speeding vehicles on various town streets. The Police Department just received the S.M.A.R.T. machine back from Cromwell PD.
SSB personnel continue to receive requests for added street/road signs or replacement. Work orders have been completed for various signage throughout Wethersfield.
Support Services, Training Unit - Monthly Activities:
On January 4th & 5th members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (C.R.E.S.T.) attended monthly two-day training.
On January 9th-12th one detective attended a three-day training class entitled "Basic Crime Scene Processing." Training topics included evaluation of the crime scene, protection of the crime scene, recording the crime scene via notes, sketches and photography and techniques for latent fingerprint location and collection.
On January 18th-20th one dispatcher attended a three-day training class entitled "Emergency Medical Dispatch." The class, instructed by Powerphone, Inc. included topics such as the emergency dispatch process, handling difficult callers, assigning needed resources, identifying the caller's chief complaint and risk management techniques to reduce liability.
On January 23rd one office attended a five-day training course entitled "Driving While Intoxicated Enforcement." Training areas included improving abilities to detect and apprehend violators under the influence of alcohol, identifying medical and physical problems that portray symptoms of alcoholic impairment and understanding N.H.T.S.A. approved Field Sobriety tests.
On January 23rd one officer attended the five-day "Police Officer Recertification Training." This forty-hour class is mandatory every three years in order that officers retain their certification in the State of Connecticut. The training encompasses a wide variety of training including ICS training, PRAWN training, legal updates, bias crimes, patrol procedures, juvenile law and domestic violence laws.
On January 25th one dispatcher attended a training meeting for members of the Regional Incident Dispatch (RID) Team. Training included radio inter-operability training as well as discussions on upcoming RID training in the spring and training opportunities offered by the Office of Domestic Preparedness.
Upcoming Events:
In February members SSB will increase their efforts at selective enforcement, directed at speeding and other various moving violations. A particular effort will be given around the town schools.
One lieutenant, one sergeant and one patrol officer have volunteered to sit on the Re-Banding committee. The lengthy and involved re-banding process will begin in 2006.
The sergeant and officer are also assigned to a sub-committee to help design an emergency plan for all radio operations in the town.
Performance Measures:
A total of 293 alarm tickets totaling $25,400 in fines were issued in 2005. Of that total, 131 alarm tickets were issued using the new false alarm ordinance fine schedule implemented July 1, 2005. As a result, an additional $10,750 in fines were issued this year using the new fine schedule....Actual alarms 5; chargeable alarms 655; non-chargeable alarms 187; alerm tickets issued 293.
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of January, 2006.... The figures in the parenthesis represent the number of cases cleared by arrest, or in which the perpetrators have been identified.
Criminal Activity January 2006
Residential Burglaries: 3 (0)
Commercial Burglaries: 0 (0)
Armed Robberies: 0 (0)
Strong-arm Robberies: 1 (0)
Patrol Bureau Statistics for January, 2006:
MV Accidents: 43
DWI: 23
Parking Tags: 32
Criminal Arrests: 89
