ROCHESTER POLICE COMMISSION
ROCHESTER, NH 03867
Paul J. Dumont, Chairmman
Barry K. Flanagan, Commissioner
R. Gary Stenhouse, Commissioner
MINUTES OF THE POLICE COMMISSION MONTHLY MEETING
The Rochester Police Commission held their regular monthly meeting on September 7, 2005. Present at this meeting were Chairman Dumont, Comm. Flanagan, Comm. Stenhouse, Police Chief Dubois, Fire Chief Sanborn, Deputy Chief Allen, Capt. Taylor, Capt. Callaghan, Attorney Grossman, and Account Clerk II Young, members of the Department, the public and the media.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
All present gave the pledge of allegiance to the United States Flag.
Chaplain Lachapelle opened with a prayer.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Officer Harding commented on the policy concerning facial hair per SOP 21. He stated several other departments in Massachusetts, Connecticut and a few in New Hampshire currently have this program in place. They are trying to stay current with the times to blend in more during undercover investigations.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF AUGUST 8, 2005 MINUTES
Chairman Dumont MOVED to accept the minutes of the August 8, 2005 meeting. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse with the following change.
Page 1 of 12, 3rd paragraph reads “are less than cooperative with their tenants in Rochester” and should read “are less than cooperative with the authorities in Rochester and in other cities”.
Chairman Dumont MOVED to accept the minutes, as amended. SECOND by Comm. Flanagan and PASSED unanimously.
4. OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. Goals and Objectives for 2005-2006. Chief Dubois noted after brief discussions at our last Commission meeting, we have three goals with seven objectives.
The basics of the goals are to impact crime in the City, to improve the quality of life. We also plan to refocus our community policing efforts. The emphasis on the Comstat process and the staffing issues over the past year have affected, in a negative way, our ability to focus on Community Policing. We plan to refocus those efforts in the coming year. Lastly, we plan to work on overall morale in the Department, as a Department.
Chairman Dumont stated he had no objections with the goals and objectives. Comm. Stenhouse requested a quarterly report on the status of each one of the goals. If you have set time tables and bench marks, the goals become more attainable and therefore become more effective. Chief Dubois replied if it can be done it will be done.
B. Review of SOP 21, Personal Appearance: Request by Local 580. Chief Dubois stated this was brought up at the last meeting. The department has done some research and has worked with the union to come up with something they can agree upon. The Command Staff doesn’t find it problematic if the Commission would like to adopt it.
Comm. Stenhouse asked what the Command Staff’s recommendation was?
Chief Dubois stated the staff came to a consensus that facial hair will not affect operations of the Police Department. It will not affect the departments ability to serve the public in the City of Rochester. They have no reservations if the Commission so chooses to adopt this policy tonight. However, the staff stressed that we have to have the right mindset when making a change like this. If this change is being made solely to appease people or to disguise officers while off duty so they are not recognized and disassociated as members of the Rochester Police Department then that is the wrong reason. But if the change is being made because society accepts facial hair in uniform today, then that is a reason to change the policy.
Chairman Dumont MOVED to adopt this policy. SECOND by Comm. Flanagan. Open for Discussion.
Comm. Stenhouse asked Comm. Flanagan to explain what he meant by adopting “without changing the policy.”
Comm. Flanagan stated he wanted a trial period.
Comm. Stenhouse voted against the policy change, stating that he does not feel it is a good image for the Department, or any other police department. The fact that three small Departments in New Hampshire allow facial hair tells him he is right in voting against this. None of the larger departments, i.e., Portsmouth, Manchester or Concord, allow facial hair. The Sheriff’s Department does not allow facial hair.
Chairman Dumont stated that he wants the change so they are not forced to donate to a charity. They haven’t had any complaints from the public.
The motion to amend SOP 21, to allow facial hair PASSED two to one, with Comm. Stenhouse voting in opposition.
C. Reverse 911: An operations plaque was presented to Communications Supervisor, Martha Swats certifying the Rochester Police Department as a Reverse 911 site in the State.
5. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Recognition
1. Teen Drug Court Recognition. Michelle Ricard, a Teen Drug Court juror was recognized for her participation in this important program by program coordinator Deborah Houle.
2. (SFC) Officer Eric Ball. A plaque was presented by the Commission to Eric Ball to welcome him back to the United States and to thank him for his service to his country while on foreign soil, during the conflict in Iraq.
3. Oath of Office for Promotions. The oath of office was given for promtion to Sgt. Gary Turgeon, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Also taking the oath was newly promoted (from Captain) Deputy Chief Michael Allen. The families were on hand to witness and participate in these achievements.
B. Accept Resignation: Officer Fox submitted his resignation after accepting a similar position with the Salem, NH, police Department.
Chairman Dumont MOVED to accept the resignation. SECOND by Comm. Flanagan and PASSED unanimously.
C. Educational Incentive: Officer Garneau. Chief Dubois noted that Officer Garneau meets the requirements for the incentive for a Bachelor Degree. He recommends awarding the same.
Comm. Flanagan MOVED to award the incentive, as per contract, to Officer Garneau to recognize his Bachelor Degree. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.
D. Bureau Commander Reports:
1. Patrol Bureau: Capt. Taylor reported there was a decrease in vandalism this month, but overall, compared to the same period in 2004 we are showing a 37% increase. Patrol will continue to concentrate their efforts in the affected areas, as well as on motor vehicle stops, public contact, and communication between officers on shifts and ISB.
Motor vehicle activity, summons, arrests and warnings remain high. Over all traffic stops are up by 8% as compared to the same period in 2004. Forty hours were logged in the downtown this month, and 76 parking tickets were issued. The new parking enforcement officer is doing a very good job being visible downtown.
Comm. Stenhouse had a concern regarding the vandalism. He asked what were we attributing as to the cause for the increase in vandalism?
Capt. Taylor stated it was due to several nights of BB gun and rock throwing incidents. ISB was working on the case and led them to a group of juveniles living in a tent behind the Rochester Cemetery.
Comm. Stenhouse also asked why the last period of traffic activity was down dramatically compared to a similar period in 2004. Capt. Taylor stated it was due to a shortage of manpower and staffing.
Comm. Dumont asked about the ordinance that was passed by the council the previous evening changing Winter Street to one way parking?
Chief Dubois stated the discussion concerned initiating no parking on either side of the street from Craigee D’s to the railroad tracks.
Chairman Dumont had concerns for the homes that are now multi-family apartments and only have driveways for a single family homes.
Comm. Flanagan was concerned that this would negatively affect Craigee D’s business.
Chief Dubois said the study will encompass any negative impact to this and other businesses.
2. Support Bureau: Capt. Callaghan reported in the past month the Detectives Division had been involved in several high profile cases. This caused them to work around the clock to try to solve the cases.
The drug unit has been conducting surveillance’s on the commercial burglaries that have happened with in the last two months. They are waiting for some forensic evidence to come back to tie a suspect to these burglaries. During motor vehicle stops the drug unit has recovered a considerable amount of Crack Cocaine. They are currently working on prosecuting that case.
At this time the department is working with “Justice Works” an organization associated with the UNH to help solve computer and identity theft crimes. The goals the department would like to attain with this program include:
1. Investigating the crimes.
2. Prosecuting the cases.
3. Community policing component.
4. Training more officers through developed protocols for consistent investigation of such crimes.
5. Train first responders to conduct on line searches.
6. Capability of viewing investigations on line.
7. Would like to obtain the capability to maintain operations security during computer investigations.
Our agency will be hosting the training next year on this pilot program. Justice Works has determined identity theft, child predators, threats and computer crimes are now a local problem.
Chief Dubois stated these are crimes of the future and we are trying to position the department to handle those arrests. Capt. Callaghan added that we have officers who are trained and are capable to investigate those types of crimes. Comm. Stenhouse commented that he would like to see our Department present this program to other agencies, and he offered his facility as a location for that training.
3. Administrative Bureau: Deputy Chief Allen reported the new time sheets have been implemented. The trial period revealed these could be used with success and all members of the Department will begin using them for the next payroll
CIP requests are now being sought for FY06. We will put together a proposal for the next five years, once all input has been received.
We have made a lot of progress with the AVL-GPS project. The monitors were installed in the dispatch center and the modems were installed in the cruisers. The last phase of the installation, scheduled for next week, is the installation of the server so everything will tie together. Also in that same topic, our MIS office was instrumental in getting the software for Reverse 911 up and running.
The window blinds were installed in all windows. This has helped dramatically with glare on computers screens and should also help to address energy issues. We were able to remove all paper taped to the windows to block sun glare.
The cruisers have been ordered and will arrive at the end of October.
The department is expanding the Crime Analysis program and had a crime analyst who is a leader in his field work with Det. Tapscott on these analyses to coincide with comp stat for the future.
Deputy Chief Allen and Lt. Toussaint met with the commander of the Center of New Hampshire SWAT team to discuss SWAT regionalization. They are looking to expand the number of personnel on the team in order to take on any type of emergency response. The department is in the preliminary stages right now but wanted to introduce it to the commission. We have two officers currently testing to expand the number of officers in our program this year.
6. CORRESPONDENCE:
A. Appreciation and Recognition. Off. Macaione is recognized by his supervisor for going the extra mile assisting a citizen with a broken window, caused by criminal mischief. Off. Jeremiah Murphy is thanked by Ms. Scagliotti for professional service rendered in accident investigation. Off. Livingstone is thanked by Ms. Mayo for going the extra mile investigating a theft of a go cart. US Marshall Steve Monier thanks [Capt] Allen and the RPD for recent press conference assistance. Off. MacKenzie and Fina are thanked by the Rochester Youth Safe Haven for attendance and demonstration at their annual cookout.
7. INFORMATION:
A. Financial Reports - August 2005. No discussion.
B. Information Other; enclosed with Agenda. There was a request that the City and Police Department promote and support the “Rochester Appreciation Night” dinner event hosted annually by the Rochester Elks Lodge, scheduled for October 14, 2005.
C. The public portion of the meeting closed with a prayer from Chaplain Lachapelle.
8. NON-PUBLIC SESSION:
Comm. Flanagan MOVED to enter a non-public session at 8:05 P.M. for the purpose of personnel and legal matters. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse. The motion PASSED by roll call vote, Comm. Stenhouse-yes, Comm. Flanagan-yes, Chairman Dumont -yes.
The non-public session closed at 8:20 P.M.
9. MISCELLANEOUS:
At the close of the non-public sessions the following action or discussion occurred:
A. Merit Increases, Union
Comm. Flanagan MOVED to award merit increases, based on passing evaluations to the next step in the contract for Off. Patrick Emerson, Off. Anthony Bossi, Off. Keith Dietenhofer. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.
B. Top of Grade Adjustments, Union
Comm. Flanagan MOVED to award top of step adjustments for Off. Anthony Macaione and Off. Donovan Funk. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.
10. ADJOURNMENT:
Comm. Flanagan MOVED to adjourn. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse at 9:02 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rhonda Young (Account Clerk II)
Minute Taker
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