DRAFT
MINUTES
DARIEN POLICE COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MARCH 10, 2010
1. CALL TO ORDER
The 2,202st meeting of the Darien Police Commission was held on the above mentioned date at Police Headquarters. Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Santarella, Chief Lovello, Sgt. Johnson, and Off. Moore were present. Jan Lesko (Recording Secretary) was not in attendance. Commissioner Harrel monitored the meeting via telephone but did not introduce or vote on any motion. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Santarella motioned to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 24, seconded by Commissioner Johnson. All were in favor. The time was 5:04 PM.
3. DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY
a. Chief Lovello advised that Channel 1 (the Department’s primary patrol frequency) was repaired on January 25, the day after an equipment failure took the channel off line. The repair and replacement equipment is covered by the service contract. The Department had immediately switched to Channel 2 and therefore radio communications remained uninterrupted.
b. Probationary police officers Christopher Jimenez and Theodore Garbera are undergoing basic recruit training at the Police Academy in Meriden with an anticipated July graduation. Both will then undergo at least ten weeks of field training with a Field Training Officer (FTO).
c. With a completed ‘Inter-Agency Memorandum of Understanding’ in place, Darien will be conducting a joint DWI checkpoint with the Stamford Police Department on March 19th on Route 1 in Stamford near the Darien town line. The next scheduled checkpoint, the date of which will be determined, is scheduled to be conducted in Darien.
d. A video illustrating the dangers of teen driving while texting, a cooperative effort of SADD, The Depot, and the Department’s Traffic Division was just awarded third place in a statewide competition, a significant accomplishment. The Commission made note of this achievement and applauded the efforts of all involved as indicative of the positive working relationship that continues to develop between the Department, The Depot, and SADD.
e. Chief Lovello updated the Commission on the arrest of a Rowayton man for the attempted burglary of Grieb’s Pharmacy on Post Rd. The subject had attempted to gain entry by backing his vehicle several times into the front doors during the overnight hours. Evidence at the scene and the earlier traffic stop by Stamford Police of the same vehicle led to the quick arrest of the individual.
f. The Youth Division is approximately halfway through the second annual Youth Police Academy, held at The Depot, with instruction on various police topics provided by Darien police officers and Asst. State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo of the Stamford Superior Court.
4. CORRESPONDENCE
a. An Award Nomination Application submitted by Lt. Vitone commending the work of the officers involved in the attempted burglary of Grieb’s Pharmacy was reviewed.
b. A follow-up letter to Connecticut Transit regarding the bus route in Noroton Heights, reviewed at the last Commission meeting, resulted in Chief Lovello receiving a phone call from Connecticut Transit advising the matter was under review with a written response to follow.
5. OLD BUSINESS
Police Department Building Project
While there has been no action taken by the Board of Selectmen in the recent past on this project, Chief Lovello reported that Ty Tregellas, our Project Executive from Turner Construction, had advised that eliminating the fueling station from the project should result in a savings of at least $150,000. Dot Kelly, in a phone call with Chief Lovello, advised that she had spoken to Erik Bodelson of Kohler Ronan, the project engineers, and requested to be given contact numbers for projects that are using geothermal to obtain accurate costs and savings associated with running these systems. Up to this point, most material received regarding the operating costs of geothermal for the Police Station project are based on projections and assumptions.
2010/2011 Budget
Chief Lovello advised that it appears only a small downward adjustment was made to the operating budget in the C-MED line. Chief Lovello is waiting for the Board of Finance to schedule their review of the police operating budget.
6. NEW BUSINESS
Traffic Issues
None reported.
False Alarm Fund
Chief Lovello advised that the False Alarm Account, as of March 4, shows a balance of $41,916.
Off. Moore, who presently administers the alarm billing, as well as serving as the Department’s Information Systems Manager, offered a presentation to the Commission requesting to use up to $25,000 from the Alarm account to purchase the ‘Cry Wolf’ software package to administer and streamline the alarm registration, tracking, and invoicing. The Department currently uses the Town’s MUNIS system for alarm billing, and owner/occupant data has been problematic, with the Department receiving an excessive number of calls from persons receiving a bill for a false alarm advising they no longer own, occupy, or reside at the address from which the alarm was received. Cry Wolf, a proven software package in use throughout the country, would alleviate a lot of these problems, allow for online registration of alarms, and would interface with our current VisionAir CAD/RMS software. The Commission was favorably moved by the presentation and on a motion by Commissioner Santarella, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, moved to allocate up to $25,000 to purchase the Cry Wolf software package. All were in favor. The time was 5:37 PM.
Sgt. Johnson then offered a written proposal to the Commission on behalf of Lt. Vitone, Off. Moore, and himself requesting up to $5,000 to purchase ‘Guardian Tracking’ software. The Guardian Tracking software is a performance documentation system allowing for supervisors to input information on individual officer performance, both positive and negative, into an easy to retrieve database that would offer a more robust and complete overview of officer performance. This information would be particularly valuable in completing more comprehensive and information-specific performance evaluations, allow for identification of officers showing advanced capability in certain areas, serve as an ‘early warning system’ to identify patterns of conduct that need to be addressed (part of our accreditation requirements) and would also allow officers to monitor what is being written about them, allowing for self correction of deficient performance as needed while also allowing officers to see positive notes about things that might not rise to the level of commendation eligibility. Sgt. Johnson requested up to $5,000 from the Alarm fund to purchase the Guardian software. Off. Moore, in his role as Information Systems Officer, advised that further verification might be in order to ensure the Guardian Tracking software could be loaded onto our existing network. The Commission was very favorably impressed with the proposal, but a motion to table was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Santarella, pending a definitive answer on the network question. All were in favor. The time was 5:51 PM.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to be considered, Commissioner Johnson motioned to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Santarella. All were in favor. The time was 5:55 PM.
Duane J. Lovello, Chief of Police