Police Commission Minutes 02/01/06

The Rochester Police Commission held their regular monthly meeting on February 1, 2006. Present at this meeting was Chairman Flanagan, Comm. Stenhouse, Comm. Dumont, Chief Dubois, Deputy Chief Allen, Capt. Callaghan, Lt. Dumas, Secretary Warburton, Attorney Grossman, the public and the media.

A. Disorderly Residence Ordinance: Cpt. Callaghan advised that a meeting has been scheduled for February 7, 2006, at 6:00 P.M. Individuals invited to the meeting include the Rochester Landlords Association, coalition members and others who may have an interest. The Franklin City Manager, Greg Doyon will help us facilitate the discussion.

B. Phone System Auto Attendant Issues: Update: Chief Dubois stated that he is aware that this has been a concern of the Commission for some time. There is a new vendor for the city phone system, and we are working on this issue as part of an overall upgrade of the City phone system. We do plan to reduce the number of attendant options to simplify the system.

Chief Dubois advised that no time line has been set. However, there have been numerous conversations with the business office to resolve these concerns. Training has been scheduled for mid-next week on the system. It is a complex system. Getting the system up and running the way we desire has taken time, but, over time it will save the City money.

1. Patrol Division: Lt. Dumas noted that we have begun to implement the structure changes that were discussed recently. We have implemented temporary sergeant’s positions that have enabled us to keep the Sergeants on the street with direct supervision, and move the Lieutenants back to their traditional roles of report review and analysis for comp stat. There have been adjustments but it has been positive at all levels.

We are implementing our geo-based policing style, which breaks the City out to two sectors, an east sector and a west sector. Officers will take ‘ownership’ of those areas over the three-month rotation they are assigned. We do have some issues to iron out with regard to zone lines and call volume. For the most part, supervision has bought into the concept and we are showing an improvement in dealing with specific issues. An example of this is noise complaints. Previously, several different officers could take similar reports in a short span of time. If it is the same officer responding each time, they have the opportunity to build from those encounters and either address the issue through sanctions or positive change. It is our goal to have the geo-based plan implemented by the next shift rotation, beginning on February 25, 2006.

Lt. Dumas responded that we are somewhat limited as to what we can do. Right now we are controlling what is posted for overtime, and managing time off requests. So far, there have not been many concerns. We’ve explained the issues we have to deal with to membership and we’ve asked for their help, input and understanding. The biggest thing to control is the postings. There is not a lot that can be done for the investigative hours.

2. Support Division: Capt. Callaghan advised that there are some things he has identified that can be improved in the investigation’s bureau. He is currently having the staff use an analytical approach to case preparation to be able to do more with strategic targeting, for example with the juvenile offender or the elderly. We will focus on background investigations on these targets, expand our critical thinking and problem solving analysis techniques better, and thus have a well-constructed package to submit to the County Attorney.

Our efforts in cyber crime are moving forward. Det. Tapscott has some investigations he is currently working. He has sent one case to federal authorities. We are also working on a lesson plan for credit card scams to use with our business community and also at the high school and middle school.

Comm. Dumont inquired if we had heard anything more about having the K-9 in the school? Capt. Callaghan reported that members of the Department met with the committee of the school board reviewing that issue. That committee plans to bring a recommendation forth to the full board at their next meeting.

3. Executive Report: Deputy Chief Allen reported that we had our review of our budget request with the City Manager. The meeting went very well. It is a work in progress, however, all recommendations at this point are moving forward and we are optimistic about that.

The existing budget is right in line, with the bottom line. As noted in recent months there are several areas we continue to watch closely as they are overspent in the line. We continue to work with the finance director on keeping those balanced out by the end of the year.

The AVL/GPS is now up and running. If you were to walk into the communications center right now, you will see two plasma televisions displaying a map of the City and the locations of all the police units. This is truly going to be an outstanding benefit to the City, the Department, and the officer in terms of officer safety. Our mobile data terminals are also up and running with the cellular technology. We will be setting up training next week and hope to have everything finalized by the end of the month.

1. Video Arraignments. Comm. Dumont noted that video arraignments went on line last week. A lot of folks are happy with the progress. We have two cameras, and the individuals sit at different spots. There has been some concern by the prosecutor of close quarters. We have done twenty-four such arraignments so far.

Lt. Dumas noted that it has helped the police department. We used to transport the arrested person to court, wait for their case to be called, and further, wait for the sheriff to transport any detainees, or transport them ourselves. Now the officer goes to court, swears to the Gerstein before the Judge. There is no excessive waiting or transports, things that used to tie officers up, taking them away from the Street.

Comm. Dumont said that video arraignments are estimated to save forty-five police hours per day. Chief Dubois stated at a recent County Chief’s meeting, where many County Chief’s were represented, this was a topic that was discussed in a positive light.

2. Public Commendation. Chief Dubois took a moment to thank Lt. Dumas for the job he has been doing in patrol this month. He said, “I have been impressed with the work he’s presented to my office. I want to publicly commend him for that.”

3. Education Incentive - Capt. Callaghan. Chief Dubois noted that Capt. Callaghan achieved his Masters in Public Administration from the UNH. We are certainly proud of him and the work that he put into this achievement. As far as we know, he is the first commander in the history of the Department to have achieved this distinction while working for this agency. It has helped us in our executive role, as he could apply some of the things he was learning in course work to real life issues.

4. Physical Agility Policy. Chief Dubois stated that we have had physical agility tests as a component of the promotional process for a couple of years. When we added this to the standard operating procedure, we agreed to waive it to give the Local some time to get ready for it.

The Local has requested to waive this again for these promotions pending. I am of the opinion it is an important component to being a Police Officer and I want to end the days of waiving this, or eliminate it completely from the process. It’s been in the policy for a couple of years now, and we have to make a decision whether to have it or not.

I have been working closely with the police union to enforce this for the Sergeant and Lieutenant positions. The Union is opposed to the physical agility portion at this time. I want to have more time to work with them before a final decision is made on this. I would like to have a mutually agreeable preference before we move forward with the pending promotions.

Chairman Flanagan concurred. This is not the first time we have compromised with the Union. However, the Police Commission sets policy, not the staff or the union. If the process is to be fair for Lieutenants and Captains, it should also be the same for Sergeants. I think we should do them all, and not waive them for only a few.

Comm. Stenhouse commented that many things have changed since this was added to the policy. The first being the addition of a state of the art fitness room in the building. It is not outside the realm that commanders may respond to calls that would require the use of physical persuasion. I would have a concern with this if it were not solely a “pass/fail.”

Chief Dubois stated that we can further discuss the level of fitness. I don’t want to cram it down their throats. We can ease into it in an agreeable format and over time be more stringent. This isn’t just about the physical aspects of the job, it also goes to individual health aspects to include cardiac, gastrointestinal, etc.

Comm. Stenhouse stated this is one way to encourage fitness in the profession. Why should you have to be fit at the age of 25, but not at the age of 45? That’s the reverse of what it should be.

Chief Dubois stated that he continues to work with the Local on this issue, but it will slow down the process for the Sergeant promotions. For higher level promotions, we will use the physical agility portion of the policy. Any agreement that I might reach with the Local, I will bring before the Commission first.

A. Appreciation and Recognition: Brent Diesel, Strafford County YMCA commends members of Department for investigative work on a rash of burglaries over the summer. Det. Jamey Balint is nominated and recognized as the VFW Police Officer of the Year. Off. Keith MacKenzie and Fina are thanked by the Nashua Police Dept. for participation training of the Nashua K-9 team. Off. Mike Mundy is thanked by the Falzone family for a lock out assist. Off. Paul Kusinerz is thanked by Ea Ksander, Community Development Specialist for providing a ride along, in conjunction with her Seacoast Leadership courses. Sgt. Anthony Deluca is thanked by Off. Dugas for going above and beyond the job for him. Off. Jamey Balint is nominated and recognized as the Jaycees Outstanding Young Police Officer for the year 2006. Specialist Eileen Douglass is nominated and recognized as the Jaycees Outstanding Communications Specialist for the year 2006.

Comm. Flanagan MOVED to enter a non-public session at 7:28 P.M. for the purpose of personnel and legal matters. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse. The motion PASSED by roll call vote, Comm. Dumont-yes, Comm. Stenhouse-yes, Chairman Flanagan-yes. The non-public session closed at 8:10 P.M. on a MOTION by Comm. Flanagan, SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award merit increases, based on passing evaluations to the next step in the contract for Off. Eric Dugas, Off. Eric Babine, and Off. David Pridham. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.

Comm. Stenhouse MOVED to overrule the Chief’s recommendation to award a top of grade merit adjustment to Officer Timothy Morgan. SECOND by Comm. Dumont, for discussion purposes only. [Discussion in non-public]. A roll call vote on the motion, Comm. Dumont, no, Comm. Stenhouse yes, Chairman Flanagan, no. The motion failed by a vote of 2 - 1.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award the education incentive to Captain Paul Callaghan in recognition of the MPA (Masters in Public Administration) recently obtained. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.