not be asked during the first polygraph test. Chiefconducted, and individual is placed on a list by numerical scores
obtained through the testing process.
This entire process takes about nine months; and, once this process is finished, candidates are selected and have to attend an academy that is through the State of Connecticut (20 weeks). Following the academy, they go through an FTO program (16 weeks). From start to finish, it takes about a year and one half before they are on the street doing any type of regular police work.
Chief Tyler then explained that there are three different watches: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. After calculating days off, vacation time, sick leave, injury leave, holidays, mandatory training, and other miscellaneous loss of time, an assignment availability factor is reached. In South Windsor that ratio is 1 to 1.89, which means that for every person assigned to a given watch, they have to assign 1.89 or 2 people to actually fill that 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
Based on the number and percentage of calls for service on each watch, it was determined that a sergeant and two officers are needed on the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. watch; a sergeant and four officers are needed on the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. watch; and a sergeant and five officers are needed on the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. watch.
There were 24,383 calls for service during the 2001 year. A call for service is any call requesting a police officer for any reason (theft, burglary, medical assist, etc.). Priority 1 crimes are the most serious crimes, such as rape and robbery. Burglaries have dropped drastically, and that is attributed to directive patrol and having enough people on the streets to utilize directive patrol. Larcenies have increased slightly and disturbances have decreased. Narcotics investigations have increased.
The group previously known as the Tri-Town Narcotics Team has increased in size with the addition of another town, Glastonbury. That brings the total number of towns involved to four. This cooperative narcotics unit has been active for about 15 years. South Windsor has had one person assigned, and recently another individual was added to supervise the unit. Vernon has two people assigned, and Manchester has carried the bulk of the load with five people.
Drunk driving arrests and motor vehicle accidents have decreased slightly, but these fluctuate from year to year. Safety belt inspections and child seat inspections have been increased. Various programs, such as the elderly driving program, have been instituted in an attempt to reduce the accident rate.
Medical assist calls have increased greatly. As more retirement communities have come into Town, and as equipment (such as defibrillator units) has been added, more calls are being handled and more saves are being made. Generally two officers respond to medical assist calls.
When asked about staffing levels, Chief Tyler said that every time elements are added (such as the defibrillator units or shopping areas like Lowes and Target), there is going to be an impact on the service level for that given area. Officers have responded to calls at Target 415 times during the past year and to Lowes 270 times. When Stop & Shop opens, there will be an additional impact on the delivery of service.
The Police Department is currently at the tail end of the testing process, and there is one opening. There are several viable candidates and several are testing for other towns. Chief Tyler stated that he would like to be able to fill the one position and also hire a couple more officers to have them through the training process by the time Stop & Shop opens.
Continuing, Chief Tyler indicated that the Department loses about two people per year, while trying to maintain their authorized strength. Councillor Delnicki noted that the concept of staffing stabilization, which would keep the Department whole, had been discussed previously. He asked what the cost would be if that were initiated prior to the end of this budget year. Chief Tyler stated that if it was done from this point to the end of the fiscal year, it would probably cost $35,000 for both officers.
Councillor Pelkey noted that, during the last negotiations, new language was added so that the Department could hire experienced officers. Chief Tyler said that if they can find certified officers, they can hire at a higher rate, rather than at entry level rate. They have not done that yet. They have looked at one or two certified officers, but they did not meet the Department's criteria.
It was explained that South Windsor handles all of the calls for Lowes. Chief Tyler said that, since Manchester has such a small portion of the building and the parking lot, we have worked out a cooperative agreement with them that we would take the calls up there….
Chief Tyler explained that it is not a budget constraint for the one officer they need to replace, but he is asking to go beyond that and have stabilization so that they can catch up those two positions that they historically lose each year.
Much of the testing process, explained Chief Tyler, is required by the State.
When asked whether part-time or retired officers could be used to fill the gap, Chief Tyler explained that, because of the mandated training required by the State, it would not be very cost effective. They have used part-time people in communications and with the community service officer position, but the training is not as rigorous as it is for a sworn police officer.
Councillor Havens asked what the Police Department had requested in the budget, and Chief Tyler said that they asked for five officers and they have been granted two starting in January. The Councillor, while recognizing the time involved with training an officer, was not willing to have money taken from Contingency for anything. He said that he was in favor of waiting until the full budget was available so that the Council could see the full impact of everything being faced by the Town.
Because of the time period involved in the training of an officer, Councillor Delnicki felt the Council should consider acting prior to the budget cycle.
Concluding, Chief Tyler noted that there will be numerous individuals coming up to retirement status within the next two or three years.
7. Executive Session - None
8. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made at 7:50 p.m. It was duly seconded and was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
