Police Commission Minutes 09/ /06

Present at this meeting was Chairman Flanagan, Comm. Stenhouse, Comm. Dumont, Chief Dubois, Capt. Callaghan, Attorney Grossman, and Secretary Warburton. Also present was the media.

A. Accreditation Update. Capt. Callaghan reported that we are still on target for completion in February 2007. Lt. Turgeon worked on four different areas involving six operating procedures this month. We are working on some of the more complex issues first and we are ahead of schedule.

B. Automated External Defibrillators. Chief Dubois advised that he and Chief Sanborn have both assigned staff people to review this issue. There are plans to meet with the City Manager in the coming week to review the progress thus far, and what is needed to move forward. There should be a more comprehensive update at the next meeting.

A. Recognition: Officer Michael Brinkman, Military Service Bar. Chief Dubois noted that Officer Brinkman, through his service in the US Navy qualifies to wear this bar on his uniform. Normally he would be present to receive the bar, however he is away at the Police Academy. We will present the bar in a briefing when he returns.

Comm. Dumont to MOVED to accept the retirement notice, stating that he was a great guy, hates to see him leave, but wishes him well in new endeavors. The motion was SECONDED by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.

C. Donation to Project Good Morning: Estate of Wesley Martin. Chief Dubois noted that the Department was notified by the attorney’s for the estate of Mr. Wesley Martin that he had bequeathed a percentage of his estate to the Project Good Morning program. A check in the amount of $6308.29 was recently received, which has been forwarded to the City Council to accept. We are asking the Commission to accept the funds as well. We will work with our finance office to have the funds put into a revolving account, targeted to this program.

Chief Dubois stated he did not know him, and could not be sure. He believes that someone in the Martin family had benefitted from the program, therefore Mr. Martin left money to the program via his final wishes.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to accept the donation from the Estate of Wesley Martin, to be used for the purposes as stated by Mr. Martin. SECOND by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.

1. Patrol Division: Capt. Callaghan prepared this report in Capt. Dumas’ absence. It was noted that Capt. Dumas graduated from the FBI Academy on September 15, 2006, and we are looking forward to his full time return to the Department.

Motor vehicle activity in patrol is up more than 32%. We have stopped more than seven thousand vehicles to date. At this same period last year, we had stopped just over five thousand vehicles. We are working diligently on DWI enforcement. We have seen a 70% increase between the months of July (10 arrests) and August (17 arrests) for DWI arrests, and we anticipate a continued improvement in this area.

2. Support Division: Capt. Callaghan stated that the Investigations Division worked on several high profile cases this reporting period, including a shooting, a stabbing, an arson , as well as some sexual assault cases that are under investigation.

We have officers in school resource officer positions, one at the high school and one at the middle school. We are working on a more balanced approach regarding the effectiveness of the School Resource Officers, which will include the law enforcement aspect, but also training and mentoring. The four main benefits of having the SRO’s are a reduced work load to the patrol officers by not requiring an officer to respond, building a rapport with the students that can keep them abreast and aware of issues that may be “brewing,” with an eye to prevention, improving the image of the Department among juveniles and creating a better relationship with the school, and enhancing the reputation of the Department. We are receiving excellent reports regarding the interaction of the SRO’s with the student population.

3. Executive Report: Chief Dubois reported in the absence of Deputy Chief Allen that we are doing well thus far with our 2007 budget. We are keeping a close watch on the vehicle maintenance line, as mentioned in prior months. We continue to keep an eye on our overtime accounts as well.

1. Cruisers. Chairman Flanagan inquired as to the status of the new cruisers. He was told we would receive them the week of September 11, 2006. Do we have any update as to when they will actually be received?

Chief Dubois reported that the Ford Company has indicated a back log for the Crown Victoria, nationwide. All vendors are in a holding pattern for this model vehicle. We are told that we will receive two in a couple of weeks and the final two, a couple of weeks after that. We anticipate the vehicles being in place in approximately one month.

A. Appreciation and Recognition: Off. Livingstone is thanked by a participant in the Citizen’s Academy for his effort in the ride along program. He is also thanked for assisting/chaperoning the 2006 Project Graduation. Sgt. Dugas is thanked by Jennifer White for his assistance with traffic concerns and information in organizing a coalition in her neighborhood. The Granite State Street Rodders thank the Chief and Department for traffic assistance on Route 11, during “cruise” nights. Off. Loignon is thanked by Ronnie Dow, age 7, for recovering his stolen property.

Comm. Dumont pointed out that the revenue account was down over last year. The court fines were $29,000 below what was estimated, and nothing has been recorded to date this year for Court fines.

Chief Dubois replied that we are a couple of months into the year. We generally get large quarterly checks from the Court, versus monthly checks. You will notice also that we decreased our estimated intake, based on last year’s numbers.

Comm. Stenhouse stated that “it may sound like a contrary point of view that you don’t really want to give money back at the end of the year, but at the same time you don’t want to over spend your budget. I’d be concerned that we have given up certain services to account for turning back $125, 000 (one hundred twenty five thousand dollars). That’s a big chunk of money. It’s the role of any department to accomplish their mission, staying within the funds allotted, not to send money back. The same thing happened with dispatch, although there were unmet needs there, as well being down personnel. Turning back money is good news, but at the same time, not good news. The Council approves a budget to meet the needs, not necessarily to return the money. “

Chief Dubois responded that much of that returned money came from the salary line, as that is the largest line in our budget. Most of the lines were spent or overspent. Significant adjustments were made to the salary lines in this budget, which I think will have an impact on the amount we may send back.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to enter a non-public session at 7:20 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 8:07 P.M. on a MOTION by Comm. Dumont, SECOND by Chairman Flanagan and PASSED unanimously.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award merit increases, based on a passing evaluations to the next step in the contract for the following officer:, Officer James Bonneau . The Motion was SECONDED by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award the merit lump sum bonus to Officer Anthony Macaione and Officer Patrick Emerson based on passing evaluations. The Motion was SECONDED by Comm. Stenhouse and PASSED unanimously.