Police Commission Minutes 06/28/2006

The Rochester Police Commission held their regular monthly meeting on June 28, 2006. This meeting encompassed the postponed meeting of June 7, 2006. No regular meeting of the Police Commission is scheduled for July 2006.

Present at this meeting was Chairman Flanagan, Comm. Dumont, Chief Dubois, Deputy Chief Allen, Capt. Callaghan, Capt. Dumas, Lt. Turgeon, Attorney Grossman, Communications Supervisor Martha Swats, Chaplain Lachapelle and Secretary Warburton. Also present was City Manager John Scruton, as well as members of the Department, their families, the public and the media.

A. Accreditation Update. Lt. Turgeon advised that he had received the funding from the Local Government Center that had been approved at the last meeting. He has ordered the fifth edition of the policy manual and has begun to set up the files. There will be some minor housekeeping changes to several of the policies. For example, we still have several policies with prior Chief’s names on them. We will need to adjust those. We are working on compliance issues.

We are looking for funding sources. A grant proposal has been drafted out of the Sheriff’s office for the team. The preliminary talks regarding this grant are positive. We will keep the Commission updated with our progress.

C. Bio-Key Update. Deputy Chief Allen updated the Commission on this issue. We had been working with this company for about 18 months regarding setting up our mobile data network and also working on a data-sharing network in the County. This has not progressed to a satisfactory level and we feel it is in the best interest of the agency and the city to sever our relationship with Bio-Key. The contract we had with them was only for one year, and we would recommend just letting the contract expire without renewal. We can then move forward in exploring working with IMC, our current software vendor, on this project. Comm. Dumont asked that the record reflect the Commission was in agreement with this course of action.

D. Goals and Objectives FY06; Year end Report. Chief Dubois reported that we have met and exceeded the majority of the goals. Both division commanders filed detailed reports and can answer any questions. We’ve made great progress with the comp stat system and look forward to working with that in FY07 to address crime and quality of life issues. We have done well with both our internal and external relationships we had targeted for attention. All commanders have done well with improving internal relationships. Capt. Dumas did an excellent job with the citizen’s academy. However, in an honest assessment, we still have more work to do in this area in FY 07.

We recently met with community leaders, residents and members throughout the police department to discuss our goals and objectives for FY07. We anticipate this to be complete and in place by the August meeting.

1. Community Service Recognition; Anne May: A plaque was presented on behalf of the Department to Anne May for all the time and energy she has dedicated to community policing issues over the years. During her time as a city employee Anne has worked with the court's diversion program, and many youth outreach program. Chief Dubois noted several police officers and community members who had worked with Anne over years were present this evening.

Chief Dubois said, "I found that as I grew with the department, Anne and her role as a member of this community and a city employee grew also, and her involvement with the Police Department continued to expand right up to today." She has also been involved with hiring, promotions, and different types of training at the Police Department.

Chief Dubois said, “Anne was really part of community policing long before it was a trendy thing to do in this and in other cities.” “She was so good at it as a layperson, that she was selected by the Regional Community Policing Institute as a trainer, to train other agencies about the role of the community in working with the police.” “As assistant director of the Department of Recreation and Youth Services she does not have as much time to devote to the Department. We are very grateful for all that she has done over the years to assist not only this agency but also the City as a whole. “

The City Manager said, “We certainly appreciate all that you have done in this community and other communities, to include your work in Nicaragua with Dr. Jordan. You mean a lot to the community and you are a great example of what civic involvement means, and you are a great example of a city employee who takes her work seriously.”

Anne May commented “being part of this for the past twenty-five years has been a learning experience. One of the reasons I stuck with it was because of the people I worked with. I appreciate the opportunity to have done this.”

2. Retirement Notice and Recognition of Specialist Eileen Douglass: Chief Dubois noted for those gathered that Eileen has dedicated 24 years of service to the City of Rochester as a communications specialist in the public safety center.

Chief Dubois commented, "We've lost a lot of folks over the years but not many have seen the transition in the profession like Eileen has." "She has taken our Communications Center from a time of rotary dial phones, typewriters, getting motor vehicle information through the mail, to a time of when we're talking on digital radios, tracking cruisers on GPS, doing things with Reverse 911 and mobile data." Sticking with the department through all the changes we’ve gone through is impressive. The law enforcement profession has never been in as much of a public safety mode as it has been over the past few years. With Homeland Security issues, incident command training, community policing at the level it’s at, and theories such as comp stat, all has taken on new meaning in the profession and brings new meaning to what the public safety profession is involved in. Through all of this change folks like Eileen have been in the center, bringing that all together.

Chief Dubois also thanked Eileen for all the times she safely brought folks home, from individuals in the community, to officers on her watch. She was there for countless shifts to ensure that happened.

For her years of service and dedication on behalf of the City, City Manager John Scruton presented Eileen Douglass with a granite award with the city's emblem. He said, “Eileen, we appreciate your many years of service, and we wish you well.” The Police Commission also presented her with a plaque with a communications specialist badge on it. Chief Dubois noted that the badge on the plaque is a bit different, in that Eileen was one of the last specialists we have that wore the badge as part of the uniform.

Chairman Flanagan read the plaque aloud and said, “it is sad to see you go, but I’m glad that is what you want to do. In the 24 years you have been here that I have known, you have touched a lot of people’s lives and have given advice when asked, sometimes, when not asked. I wish in the coming years that your life is blessed with happiness with your family. You deserve it.”

Eileen addressing the commission and the crowd reflected on the different city officials that have come and gone during her time and thanked everyone she ever worked with, including her family for their support. "Because of my family, I was allowed to have my 24-year career here in Rochester.” In speaking to her co-worker’s, several to whom she mentioned by name, Eileen said, “I wish you all well, you'll always be in my heart. You can call me anytime; I'll always be there for you."

B. Accept Retirement Notice: Officer Timothy Morgan (22 years of service). The retirement notice of Officer Timothy Morgan, after serving 22 years was accepted by the Commission. Chairman Flanagan stated, he’s a good man and I hate to see him go.”

C. Grant Opportunity: NH Fish and Game OHRV; Review and Approve Application. Chief Dubois advised that Capt. Dumas had sought this funding to help him address several OHRV complaints we have been getting throughout the city. We have the equipment and officers trained to address these issues. The grant is for $3,375.00 (three thousand three hundred seventy five dollars) to allow us to run patrols targeting that issue in the City. If we receive the funding, the Patrol division will monitor it.

D. FY07 Goals and Objectives Preliminary Update. Chief Dubois reiterated what was mentioned in the FY06 final report. We met with a wide range of folks, including the media to help us set our goals for FY07. It went very well. The final report will be presented at the August meeting.

The east west concept has been in effect for about six months. At the last rotation we switched some officers around so they would remain familiar, particularly the young officers, with various areas of the City. A couple of officers chose to remain in their sectors because they felt they still had things to accomplish.

We used the Reverse 911 System recently for a missing child. The commanders worked all avenues, to include coordination of a search in the daylight with NH Fish and Game. Approximately 11:30 P.M., they decided to send out the call through Reverse 911. What weighed heavy was the time the calls would go out. The area was going to affect approximately 9,000 houses in Rochester.

We recognized the inconvenience to our residents, but weighing this from a perspective if your own 10-year-old child was missing and decided to make the calls. At approximately 3:45 A.M., we were able to reunite the child and parents. It was a decision I (Dumas) supported and would make again under the same circumstances. Most residents once they found the end result understood that it was worth the effort and inconvenience.

Comm. Dumont noted that the public should be aware that the Reverse 911 system is being fine-tuned. There were persons who were called in areas of the City during the recent floods who were not in any flood zone.

Supervisor Martha Swats commented that with phone number portability, it is easy for folks to get calls even if they have moved. Further our information is only as good as the information that Verizon has. They send updates a couple of times a month to us. The system, even as it is, is excellent because the dispatchers just couldn’t do what the system does, among all the other calls they monitor.

Deputy Chief Allen commented that we purchased the system with a grant. It is an expensive system and the cost of the unit is based on the number of modules you buy. In order to get the system in operation, we purchased what we could with the funds we had available. However, the current system limits the number of calls we can send out at one time. Furthermore, when we purchased the unit, we were on an older phone system and paying for all local calls. Making a large number of calls at that time would have had a huge financial impact. We are looking to expand the system this year, upgrading the number of lines and seeking funding through various resources, including Homeland Security monies.

Chairman Flanagan noted for the record that Comm. Dumont was a factor in getting Reverse 911 in the City. He had a chance to see the unit demonstrated and believed we should have it here. He stayed at it and never let it go and it came into fruition. He stated he was one of the recipients of the call regarding the missing boy. He wasn’t happy about being woken up at 3:14 A.M., but had it been his child he would have wanted as many people to be contacted as possible.

We made a significant drug arrest from a motor vehicle stop with our street crime unit. We recovered some stolen appliances from a remodeled duplex, which also led to significant seizure of crack cocaine, cash and counter-surveillance equipment.

Our computer crimes detective conducted an excellent seminar for students and parents at the St. Elizabeth Seton School dealing with MySpace issues, protecting children on the Internet, what parents can do filter information and make sure the children are safe. We know the computer is a great tool, but people out there will take advantage of children. In June we put on a seminar through I-SAFE, a program that teaches children how to be safe on the Internet. This has been one of our focuses in FY06 that will carry over to FY07.

We investigated a suspicious death of a 16-year-old boy at a local motel in Rochester. We made three arrests that night. A couple of days later there was a stabbing that occurred at the Shell station on Route 11 and we made an arrest for first degree assault, and two days after that there was a robbery at Walgreen’s and through the use of technology, and Crimeline, we received a tip that was investigated and an arrest was made in that case as well.

The Crimeline Board of Directors has authorized rewards this month alone in the amount of $1500.00 (one thousand five hundred dollars). This is an outstanding team effort between the officers and staff getting the Crimeline information into our press releases. This is a benefit to the community.

Comm. Dumont asked about the status of the evidence locker. Capt. Callaghan responded that the locker is doing pretty good. Our prosecutor is doing an excellent job of notifying the evidence technician when issues are resolved in district court by plea that we can dispose of or return items that have been held. We still have to preserve evidence past a person’s right to appeal, so in some cases we have to keep items longer. For the past three months, for every piece we have taken in, a piece has gone out. We hope to apply more technology to the process, which will streamline our efforts.

3. Executive Report: Deputy Chief Allen reported that the monthly report, our last two months, not all items have been posted, but it appears we will have a significant surplus to return to the City. We have done a good job in this area. We did have some overages in our energy and overtime lines.

Deputy Chief Allen noted that although the budget passed the previous evening, the Department did have additional cuts made. We will survive those cuts however; losing two of the vehicles from the vehicle plan throws a curve ball to our replacement plan.

When we developed the plan, we studied this from a strategic standpoint, long term in terms of getting our replacements accomplished so that we don’t spend huge amounts of money just to keep cruisers running. These are back line cars, but we are doing that now. Cutting the two vehicles puts a handicap on our plan. That cut is not a huge dollar amount, but in the long term towards the end of this fiscal year, it will have a significant impact on our vehicle maintenance line. The funding we cut initially from our vehicle maintenance line was not put back in the line after these cuts were made. I wanted to let you know now of this potential impact. We will continue to dump huge amounts of money into our back line fleet to keep it running. We need those vehicles in order to provide the level of service that we do to the public.

Chairman Flanagan commented with the major investigations that we had and issues with natural disasters (flood) the Department did a wonderful job with the funds allotted to us last year. Deputy Chief Allen agreed and gave credit to the two bureau commanders who worked very hard to keep our expenses in line controlling our overtime.

The lecture hall received the new furniture. It came out real nice and it will be a much more fitting room to use. Also in equipment, we have our new laptops and stands and we are in the process of converting all the cars over through Project 54.

2. Funding for Specialty Positions. Chairman Flanagan inquired into School Resource Officers being funded through the schools. He asked, “Does the school kick in any funding for this?” Chief Dubois responded that they haven’t, but we haven’t asked either. We are aware that other communities are exploring this issue.

Chairman Flanagan also mentioned the Housing Officer in the same vein. Chief Dubois stated that Housing does pay for one full time officer for the Department. Chairman Flanagan indicated with the growth population, there may be too much work for only one officer and if at some point we consider additional officers for such positions, is there other funding available to off set that?

A. Appreciation and Recognition: Off. Keith Mackenzie is thanked by a motorist following a traffic stop. Capt. Scott Dumas is thanked for his coordination of the Citizen’s Academy. Off. Daisy Troop 919 thanks Jerry Murphy for tour of the building.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to enter a non-public session at 6:10 P.M. for the purpose of personnel and legal matters. SECOND by Chairman Flanagan. The motion PASSED by roll call vote, Comm. Dumont-yes, Chairman Flanagan-yes. The non-public session closed at 6:40 P.M. on a MOTION by Comm. Dumont, SECOND by Chairman Flanagan and PASSED by a vote of 2 - 0.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award merit increases, based on a passing evaluations to the next step in the contract for the following officers: Justin Livingstone, Joshua Ouellette, Michael Lambert, David Loconte, Theresa Lustwerk. The Motion was SECONDED by Chairman Flanagan and PASSED by a vote of 2 - 0.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award the merit lump sum bonus, based on passing evaluations to the following officers: Off. Thomas Blair, Off. Mike Mundy and Off. George Cahill. The Motion was SECONDED by Chairman Flanagan and PASSED by a vote of 2 - 0.

Comm. Dumont MOVED to award the merit increases to the sworn non union officers, based on passing evaluations to the following officers: Lt. Gary Turgeon, Lt. Jeffrey Taylor, Lt. Paul Toussaint, Capt. Scott Dumas, Capt. Paul Callaghan, Deputy Chief Michael Allen and Chief David Dubois. The Motion was SECONDED by Chairman Flanagan and PASSED by a vote of 2 - 0.