Notes In A Nutshell: Police Commission

This is the information that was discussed at this month's Police Commission meeting.

Incidents

In November 2011, there were 42 criminal arrests, 329 traffic tickets written, one commercial burglary, three stolen motor vehicles, one recovered motor vehicle, 24 larceny cases, 101 accidents, 2,670 total calls and 513 written reports.

The commercial burglary took place in early November at the Sprint store where the unknown suspects forced entry into the building at 11:30 p.m. and took cell phones from the display area.

Residential Burglaries

Residential burglaries were reported on Marble Road in which the suspects forced entry into the home and took jewelry and electronics.
Three incidents were reported on Nov. 15 — one on Herbert Street with forced entry and nothing appeared to be missing; Wheelers Farm Road, with forced entry  and jewelry was missing; and the third, also on Wheelers Farm Road, with forced entry and the residence was ransacked.

Records Revenue

The Records Department brought in $598; $218 for reports, $335 for permits and $45 for fingerprints.

Tickets

During the meeting, Commissioner Roy Cuzzocreo asked why the number of traffic tickets seemed to spike in November over the previous months.
Chief Robert Gagne answered that there has been a more aggressive police presence lately - especially around holiday weekends.

Expenditures

In early November the Livescan maintenance came to fix the fingerprint machine. Originally homeland security funds took care of this expense, but now it falls on each town. This wasn't budgeted for this year but it will be in 2012-13, according to Gagne.

Police Officer testing, new Road Job Uniform with Turtleneck and or long sleeve polo shirt and Knit cap, which will be worn  for cold weather at the discretion of the supervisor

Budget Balances

Gagne said the budget is still in good shape, but he is keeping a close eye on it, for example, the uniform budget for police officers and the dispatch overtime money are getting close. but, both are still okay.

Hummer

The Hummer obtained throughout the The National Guard 1033 program had a soft top, but the department was looking for a hard top.
They found a newer one with hard top and less miles that they will get for the department instead.
The vehicle will be outfitted with a submersion kit and armor plated doors.
Gagne said it is a work in progress. "This one is better than the one we took delivery of," he told the Commissioners.

AAA Award

The AAA gave the Orange Police Department a traffic award for two consecutive years without a pedestrian fatality in town.
In 2010, the department received a one year award.

Thank you

Chief Gagne told the commissioners that a woman wrote a letter regarding Officer Jeremy Dexter.
He said the woman was shopping with her three grandchildren, all under the age of six, when her purse was stolen.
In her letter she commended Officer Dexter for the gentle and caring way he handled the investigation in the presence of her grandchildren.