 |
2007 SHARON POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT
Joseph S. Bernstein, Chief of Police
The second snowiest December on record has just past and now, the second week in January we almost hit 70 degrees. The New Hampshire Presidential Primary has concluded with all the candidates promising change. Dependent on ones perspective change can be good or bad. Some look at the warm weather as a plus, while others want the snow to keep coming. From a law enforcement view change can be good and/or bad. Some issues we can try to control, while others we can not. We can prepare based on historical data and analysis, but neither is a perfect science, nor can we predict the future. Last year I chronicled technological changes and implications over the last few years from FAX machines, to cell phones and the internet; how they impact law enforcement and the safety and well being of
our community. Most recently we have learned of terrorists, criminals etc., utilizing IPODS to store criminal initiatives, records and plans for future actions, enterprises and ideas. As fast as these technological advances are developed to make our daily routines easier and more interesting, they provide avenues for the criminal environment to take advantage of others. Policing continues to become more complex, requiring more expertise from your law enforcement community, but at the same time we must continue our traditional efforts such as: traffic enforcement, routine patrols, responding to various emergencies and maintaining a rapport with our citizens to foster trust and maintain lines of communication. Every day in the news we hear of events throughout the world, which impact on our daily lives, and well-being. Your safety and feeling of security are items you have, in general, entrusted to your local public safety agencies. All of us at the
Sharon Police Department honor that trust, and do everything we can to serve you better. Whether it is the continued threat of terrorist acts, traffic issues, threats to your property, the members of the Sharon Police Department remain committed and attentive to the responsibilities entrusted to us. We continue to evaluate programs and initiatives, making adjustments, as needed, to best serve our community, ensuring that front line traditional policing initiatives of answering emergencies are not sacrificed. We only wish we could provide other needed services if economics would allow.
Some programs we continue to offer on a limited basis are those being more critical for the times, such as R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense), “Project Lifesaver”, which helps locate wandering Alzheimer patients, the “Are You O.K. Program” to check on the elderly, and “A Child is Missing”. Our affiliation with the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (Metro-LEC), a contingent of approximately forty local law enforcement agencies and two Sheriffs’ Departments formed to promote greater public safety and protection within local communities, through the sharing of resources and promoting greater capacity which exceed the capabilities of any one single agency, continues. Through this Law Enforcement Council many initiatives have been accomplished, well beyond the means of individual
agencies, including the web site, Massachusetts Most Wanted (www.massmostwanted.org), which has been very helpful in identifying and solving numerous crimes, including those in our community. Metro-LEC also maintains a forensics computer lab which includes state of the art equipment and specially trained police officers from various member agencies which have assisted us with various investigations including sexual assaults, identity thefts and illegal drug activities.
In 2007, as in past years, we aggressively pursued outside funding to augment Town resources for equipment purchases and additional officers in the field. Monies for individual agencies has been very limited as it appears that regional initiatives such as Metro–LEC and our regional drug task force are where monies are being allocated, which indirectly help us. However, specifically to the Sharon Police Department, we have received grant monies which assisted in: training personnel in the use of a new enhanced 911 Emergency System; the purchase of a specialized night/heat sensitive vision system; purchase of ballistic vests; pay for officers to conduct extra patrols; Independence Day festivities; and, band concerts. Some grant monies were used to support our first Junior Police Cadet Course. This two day
program was developed for middle school aged children to provide them an opportunity to see the inner workings of law enforcement in the Town of Sharon. Kudos goes to Lieutenant McGrath for overseeing/organizing, Officer Hocking as the lead instructor and various other personnel for their assistance with instruction and demonstrations. Again, we received a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau to address safety belt usage, driving while under the influence and other traffic safety concerns.
The Town-wide radio communications interoperability project is just about complete. All Town Departments, including Schools, are able to communicate utilizing this upgraded system and we have injected redundancy, so if one area fails, we have a back-up system in place. All of the original project expectations as approved in 2004 and more were met, for approximately $150,000 less then anticipated by pursuing grant monies, working with other public safety agencies outside of Sharon and with the assistance of numerous people who provided expertise to control costs.
Communication with everyone in our community is something we continually foster. Initiatives in this area include many of the programs listed earlier as well as: officers visiting the elementary schools; participation in reading programs at the elementary schools; and, our ongoing participation with various other civic groups; all in an effort to provide services and for our citizens to interact with officers in varied settings. In terms of services directed to our senior population, we have the previously mentioned “Are You Okay Program” which, in conjunction with the Sharon Council on Aging and Norfolk Sheriff’s Department, monitors at risk seniors on a daily basis and “Project Lifesaver. Please visit our web site through www.townofsharon.net to view additional information and informative links, including “Mass Most Wanted” noted earlier, Sex Offender Registry, Domestic Violence resources, Identity Theft resources and others, as well as the Police and Town General By-Laws.
We continually strive to develop our organization in an effort to better serve our community. Staff development and training are key components. Personnel have attended numerous training sessions to keep current and expand our knowledge with the goal of delivering ever improving quality of service and protection of the community. A wide variety of courses and seminars were attended by various personnel in addition to all officers’ annual attendance at a weeklong training program through the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council covering legal issues, firearms qualification, first responder certification, defensive tactics, and community policing. Additionally, we conducted live training within our schools to better prepare us if the need arises and continue to have two officers on a regional
specialized response team. Also, one officer has had extensive training through the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council in development of a regional team to respond and investigate child abductions.
The Police Department was involved in approximately 22,000 incidents in 2007, a decrease of approximately 500 from 2006, and the first decrease in my fifteen year tenure with the Sharon Police Department. Just looking back a few years, police involved incidents have increased steadily from approximately 14,000 in 2000, to 15,500 in 2001, 16,000 in 2002, 17,000 in 2003, 18,000 in 2004, 21,300 in 2005, and 22,500 in 2006. Officers responded to 386 motor vehicle accidents, of which, 288 required formal reporting and 30 involved personal injuries. Many times accidents can be avoided by drivers being more attentive and following the rules of the road. Over the last few years I asked for everyone’s assistance in monitoring their own driving habits, and the last couple of years advised that officers were going to
be more vigilant in addressing this issue, which they have, and will continue. Officers strike a balance in levels of enforcement action. They issued 1,794 written warnings, and 891 civil violations, both consistent with last years increased focus and considerably more then in 2005. The officers also issued 139 criminal complaints. As Sharon and surrounding areas continue to develop, the volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic continues to increase, therefore, I again ask for your attention and patience for the well being of all of us. We responded to 952 burglary alarms, of which almost all were false, weather related, malfunctions or operator error. Officers were called upon 117 times to assist citizens who locked themselves out of their vehicle and assisted in installing 84 children/infant car seats. There was 15 reported house or business burglaries, considerably less then 25 in 2006, matching a low of 15 in 2005. Reported larcenies fluctuate over the
years from 121 in 1998, to 59 in 2003, 60 in 2004, 68 in 2005, 91 in 2006 and in 2007 we have seen a decrease to 85. Many of these larcenies are from unlocked motor vehicles and 13 identity thefts. Senseless acts of vandalism increased to 84 from 70 in 2006, but much less then the 101 reported in 2004. Please remember that with your help we can continue to have a positive impact on criminal activity and again stress the need for all of us to become involved and report suspicious activity to include if possible; description of the people, vehicle, and especially the license plate number of the vehicle. The overall crime statistics for our community are very positive. They are reflective of the hard work and commitment of the men and women of the police department, and citizen vigilance, serving as extra eyes and ears for the police department.
As in past years, I will conclude by thanking all the people who have supported the Sharon Police Department. Many of you have spoken to me personally, and others sent notes of appreciation complimenting various members of the department. Again, as in past years, and especially during the holiday season many people dropped off baked goods, fruit baskets, and other expressions of thanks. Your thoughts and thanks are shared with all members and are greatly appreciated. If you have any comments or suggestions, which you feel would be beneficial to us in serving you, please let us know. You can telephone me at 781.784.1588, stop by the Police Station, or send us a note.
| |
