Monthly Report to the Town Manager
Wethersfield Police Division
Town of Wethersfield
By James L. Cetran, Chief of Police
Edited by Wethersfield.net
For APRIL, 2006
Special Projects / Achiedvements / Innovations:
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) conducted their examination of all aspects of the police department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services between April 22, 2006 and April 26, 2006. The re-accreditation team, consisting of three police officials from similar agencies located out of state, reviewed operation files and training guidelines, and interviewed officers and other staff and the public. As a result of this in-depth assessment, the assessment team will make the recommendation to the CALEA board that the Wethersfield Police Dept. be re-accredited at the next CALEA conference in July at Lexington, KY.
Probationary Officer McGee has completed eight (8) weeks of training at the Connecticut Police Academy, Basic Training, in Meriden. It is expected that he will graduate from the Academy in August 2006.
MONTHLY ACTIVITIES:
Patrol Division:
During the month of April the Patrol Division was involved in thirteen (13) narcotics cases in Wethersfield, which resulted in sixteen (16) arrests.
Total Seizures for the Patrol Division are as follows: Marijuana: 59.3 grams Heroin: 2.5 grams (5 bags) Cocaine: 1.5 grams Crack Cocaine: 10.92 grams
Patrol Division - Cases of Interest:
On April 22nd an officer stopped a vehicle for motor vehicle violations. The operator and passenger both exited the vehicle upon being stopped. A second officer arrived as a back-up officer. While speaking to the passenger, he fled from one of the officers, who chased him on foot. While running away, the officer saw the passenger reach into his coat and pull something out. The officer then saw him throw this object away from his body. The officer continued chasing the passenger who eventually stopped and gave up. Officers retraced their steps and found that the passenger threw away a loaded handgun. He then lied about his name, because officers later found out, that the Connecticut State Police wanted this passenger because they had a warrant for his arrest for escaping from a halfway house. The passenger was held on bond, and transported to court the next day.
On April 25th two officers were dispatched to a Wethersfield residence on the report that a female at the residence threatened to harm herself and possibly wanted to commit suicide. Once inside the residence, the officers found the female. The female yelled at the officers that she was not only going to harm herself but that she would attack the officers as well. The officers attempted to verbally calm the woman down, but this did not work. The officers believed that this woman would harm herself if they left, so they decided that she should go to a hospital to be evaluated. After telling the woman this, she charged at the officers. One of the officers used his Taser weapon on the woman, and he was able to take her into custody. The woman was sent to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
On April 25th a patrol officer was traveling through the parking lot of a local motel. The officer saw a vehicle in the parking lot not parked in an individual parking space. The officer ran a registration check of the vehicle and found that the Cromwell Police listed the vehicle as being “overdue”. This is normally done when someone does not return home from a trip or when someone is missing. The officer found that the people associated with the vehicle were in one of the rooms. When the officer went to the room, 2 people came out from the common area of the room and spoke to the officer. While speaking to them the officer heard a noise. The officer eventually found 6 other people hiding in the bathroom. The individuals all went to the motel room for a party. During the investigation the officer found alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and a BB gun resembling a real handgun. Also, 7 out of the 8 individuals were under 21 and not allowed to be in possession of alcohol.
Detective Division:
This month members of the Detective Bureau initiated or were assigned follow up to thirty (30) new cases. Members of the Detective Bureau investigated:one (1) residential burglary,
four (4) commercial burglaries,
two (2) robberies,
one (1) disorderly conduct,
one (1) narcotics case,
three (3) fraud investigations,
six (6) wanted persons,
one (1) missing person,
four (4) larcenies,
six (6) suspicious situation cases and
one (1) case of a juvenile offense.
Detective Division - Cases of Interest:
Robbery - On April 3rd an unknown male walked into Webster Bank, 1160 Silas Deane Hwy, handed the teller a note claiming that he had a gun and to “give him the money.” This is believed to be the same suspect that robbed the Bank North, 25 Wells Road the week earlier. Within a week of the second robbery, a sergeant working a traffic detail saw a vehicle that matched the suspect’s vehicle on the Silas Deane Hwy. The vehicle was stopped and the operator was identified as the possible suspect. This information was disseminated to police departments in the Hartford County. There was insufficient probable cause for the issuance of an arrest warrant for our bank robberies. However, this same suspect was arrested the following week by the Hartford Police Department after the suspect committed another bank robbery in Hartford. It was the diligence of the sergeant that subsequently led to the identification of the bank robbery suspect.
Kidnapping / Robbery – On April 14th this department received a complaint by a male citizen claiming that he was kidnapped by knifepoint while pumping gas at Valero Gas Station, 930 Silas Deane Hwy. and forced to drive his vehicle into Hartford. The victim was confronted by two Hispanic males while pumping gas at the gas station. One displayed a knife and forced the victim to drive them to Hartford. The victim drove into Hartford on Wethersfield Avenue and upon arriving at an Auto Zone Store the victim was instructed to park in the rear of the business. There he was assaulted and robbed. The suspect threw the victims keys away and then ran from the scene.
Juvenile Unit:
School Resource Officer (SRO) Report: No report this month.
Police Explorers:
The Police Explorers held two (2) training meetings during the month of April. At the first meeting, Explorers were fitted for uniforms and at the second meeting motor vehicle stops were covered. Four (4) Explorers went for ride-alongs in the month of April.
Incidents:
There were thirteen (13) juveniles referred to this unit during the month of April for various criminal acts and violations. Seven (7) juveniles were referred to juvenile court, two (2) were diverted to school discipline and the remaining juveniles were warned or diverted to their parents.
Juvenile Unit, Cases of Interest:
This unit assisted in the investigation of a bank robbery at Webster Bank.
This unit continues to investigate a sexual assault first-degree case.
Also, this unit closed out an underage drinking case by enforcing the town’s Underage Drinking Ordinance.
This unit assisted Juvenile Probation by serving a multiple Take Into Custody Orders (TICO) and is investigating a stolen motor vehicle case in which fingerprint analysis developed a suspect.
Support Services Bureau (SSB):
- During April 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.
- There were 91 alarms received during the month of April. Of that total, two (2) were found to be actual alarms. Eighteen (18) tickets were issued this month for violation of the false alarm ordinance.
- In the month of April 2006 dispatch personnel have no longer reported any significant problems with C-MED.
- In April 2006 SSB personnel have continued selective enforcement programs in different areas of town. SSB personnel also assisted the Patrol Division in selective enforcement.
- During the month of April the Communications Unit received and handled approximately 711 E-911 emergency phone calls. The Communications Unit dispatched the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance and Aetna Ambulance to a total of 286 medical emergencies.
- During April twenty-two (22) persons were arrested and held requiring 370 hours of incarceration. Of the persons held, twelve (12) were arrested by warrant. During April SSB personnel transported twenty-two (22) prisoners to court, fourteen (14) males and eight (8) females. The eight (8) females incarcerated by the department required 118 hours of matron coverage.
Support Services, Training Unit - Monthly Activities:
- On April 3rd one officer began attending a five-day training class entitled “Inspection and Investigation of Commercial Vehicle Crashes”. Training included an understanding of the dynamics of tractor-trailers and how they respond in an accident situation, making reliable speed estimates of accident vehicles and recognizing the importance of using evidence and facts to develop intelligent opinions of accident causation.
- On April 5th members of the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) attended monthly two-day training.
- During the week of April 3rd all sworn personnel of the Police Department completed their annual CPR, AED and Bloodborne/ Airborne training. CPR certification is for a period of one year. Also, fifteen officers received First Aid training. First Aid training certification is current for a period of three years.
- On April 10th one lieutenant and two officers attended a one-day training class entitled “DEP Annual Law Enforcement Seminar”. This training class, sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection, provides law enforcement officials with information on new and updated boating statutes.
- On April 17th one officer attended the five-day “Police Officer Recertification Training”. This training was held in Farmington, CT. This forty-hour class is mandatory every three years to keep officers certified 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 April 19th the D.A.R.E. officers attended the “2006 Connecticut D.A.R.E. Officers Association Conference” held at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, CT. This conference was mandatory for all State D.A.R.E. instructors and included instruction on several new optional D.A.R.E. lessons.
Community Relations:
In April 2006 the Support Services Bureau (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. The SSB Commander has addressed numerous parking issues at Hanmer Elementary School. It appears that many parents are assisting the school district and police department by beginning to park more often on Garden St. and staying off the property.
SSB personnel continue to address citizen complaints involving traffic and speed issues. Citizens had complained of speeding vehicles on various town streets.
Support Services personnel continue to receive requests for added street/road signs or replacement. Work orders have been completed for various signs throughout Wethersfield.
Upcoming Events:
- Annual shotgun and less lethal/ bean bag qualification for supervisors and command staff is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, 2006.
- Spring Firearms training for all Department personnel is scheduled for the week of May 22, 2006.
- In May 2006 members of the Support Services Division 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.
- The SSB Commander will continue to meet with a parents advisory committee. He will provide information to this group regarding all school traffic, parking and safety issues.
- In May 2006 the department Motorcycle unit will begin operate on a more continual basis. The motor unit will begin performing daily selective enforcement assignments. May will also bring the road race season and the Memorial Day Parade. They will be used for traffic assists in al public events.
- Members of the SSB will also assist the Fire Marshall at the yearly Safety Day at the CCMC School on Ridge Road. Safety Day is designed to expose the children of the CCMC School to the positive side of public safety.
- The department Marine Division will continue boat operation in June on a more consistent basis.
Performance Measures:
The following are the burglary and robbery statistics for the month of APRIL, 2006.... The figures in the parenthesis represent the number of cases cleared by arrest, or in which the perpetrators have been identified.
| Criminal Activity: April 2006 |
| Residential Burglaries: |
1 (0) |
| Commercial Burglaries: |
4 (0) |
| Armed Robberies: |
1 (0) |
| Strong-arm Robberies: |
1 (0) |
| Patrol Bureau Statistics April 2006 |
| Motor Vehicle Accidents |
39 |
| Driving While Intoxicated: |
27 |
| Parking Tags: |
65 |
| Criminal Arrests: |
104 |
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Edited by Wethersfield.Net
Published: 2006.05.08
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NB: Editing, referred to above, was minor: minor formatting changes were made; a few subheadings were added; all underlining and items in {{double braces}} were added to the original; decorative graphics were dropped; information in graphics (e.g. charts) were converted to text; and, comparison of monthly figures to prior single year's comparable month were dropped for lack of statistical significance. KES, Editor.
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Dr.Ken Sokolowski
- FOOT HEALTH SERVICES -
Wethersfield, CT, U.S.A.
Phone: (860) 529-6845
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