Seneca Falls Police September 2012
Monthly Report
Town of Seneca Falls Board Meeting October 2nd 2012
Submitted by: Chief Stuart W. Peenstra
September Statistics
In the month of September 2012, the Seneca Falls Police Department handled 781 calls for service. In comparison to September of 2011, SFPD handled 559 calls for service, which is an increase of 222 calls for this month between the two years. Of these 781 calls for service, 74 resulted in criminal arrests and 9 required extensive specialized investigation by an Investigator, some of which were turned over to other agencies. In addition, 12 extensive criminal cases were “closed out” during the month as well.
The Seneca Falls Police Department was assisted by outside law enforcement agencies on 28 calls for service and assisted other outside law enforcement agencies on 3 calls for service in the month of September 2012.
The Seneca Falls Police Department responded to 46 traffic accidents, 5 of which resulted in personal injury; 2 that were Driving While Intoxicated related, and 5 that were hit and runs. SFPD also conducted 82 traffic stops for the month of September, with 93 traffic tickets issued.
In the month of September 2012 the Town of Seneca Falls Police Department utilized part-time officers on 68 hours equaling $1,238.20. If these same hours were filled by a full-time officer’s rate, it would have cost an estimated $2,335.12. Seventy four hours of shift coverage were required to be filled by Sergeants and Officers as a result of Part-Time Officers being unavailable.
Beginning January 1st 2012 through September 2012 the Seneca Falls Police Department has saved $22,474.80 by utilizing part-time Police Officers in lieu of Overtime by full-time Police Officers and Sergeants.
Noteworthy Incidents
On September 1st and 2nd 2012 the Seneca Falls Police Department assisted the community at the annual St. Anthony’s Festival. Seneca Falls Police assisted with police protection at the event as well as the 5K run and Fireworks event. The Seneca Falls Police also provided “Safe Child” ID cards at a booth Saturday during the all-day kids ride event.
On September 18th, 2012 Officer James Chechak attempted to stop a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed on Lower Lake Rd. The vehicle failed to stop and a chase pursued. The pursuit ended at Rte. 89 and Rte. 318 when the fleeing vehicle struck a sign and a fence post. The driver was taken into custody and charged with DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st, Reckless Driving and numerous other vehicle and traffic violations.
On September 20th, 2012 we received a report of steel spreader bars and diamond steel plates being stolen off one of the Villager Construction vehicles. Officer Craig Reynolds located the subjects with the items and they were charged with Grand Larceny as the value of the items taken was $2,300.
On Saturday September 22nd, 2012 the Seneca Falls Police Department assisted the Patriot Guard Riders on a benefit motorcycle ride on Rte. 89 in the Town of Seneca Falls. The Motorcycle ride was in memorial of US Marine Cpl. Christopher Bordoni from Ithaca. Cpl. Bordoni died April 3rd, 2012 as a result of injuries sustained January 18th 2012 in Kajaki, Afghanistan.
On September 29th, 2012 our agency received information that 2 people were in possession of firearms that were reported stolen to our department earlier in the month. Officers were able to locate the vehicle that these 2 subjects were driving and initiated a traffic stop. Officers were able to recover the stolen weapons and the subjects were charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd-Assault Rifle, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.
Further investigation by the Seneca Falls Police Department into this incident resulted in a 14 year old male being arrested for the initial Burglary of these weapons.
Training
On the 11th &12th of September, 2012 all full time officers along with Part-Time officer Lichak successfully completed Taser Training which was held at the Seneca Falls Community Center and instructed by Chief Peenstra and Sgt. Calabrese. This training covered proper use and policy utilizing a Taser Weapon, as well as first-hand experience of what it feels like to be shot with this type of weapon. All Full Time Officers are now certified to use this weapon in the performance of their duties.
The following Members of the Seneca Falls Police Department have successfully completed an on line training through the Blueline Group website on the topic of Blood borne Pathogens.
Sgt. Hawker, Sgt. Petrocci, PO Chechak, PO Manheim, PO A. Mansell, Clk Capacci and Clk Sherman.
The following Members of the Seneca Falls Police Department have successfully completed an on line training through the Blueline Group website on the topic of Hazardous Materials.
Sgt. Petrocci, PO Chechak, PO Manheim, PO A. Mansell, PO Reynolds and Clk Sherman.
During the Month of September several Officers have completed training from NYMIR On Line University for Law Enforcement. There are 6 Modules of Training that cover the following topics: 1) Introduction 2) False Arrest 3) Pursuit & Civil Liability 4) Use of Force 5) Strip Searches 6) Employment Practices Liability.
PO A. Mansell, PO Manheim and PO Chechak have successfully completed all 6 Modules for a total of 13hours of training. Sgt. Petrocci has successfully completed module 1.
On September 18th, 2012 Officer Craig Reynolds attended training on Threat Assessment in Schools, which was held at the Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy. This Course covered Identifying students of concern, Assessing troubled students, How to manage trouble students and establishing threat assessment policies.
On September 20th, 2012 Chief Stuart Peenstra and Sgt. Timothy Snyder attended a “Table Top” training exercise at the Seneca County Office Building in Waterloo. This mock emergency training exercise was for the Seneca Falls Hydroelectric Project Emergency Plan.
On September 24th, 2012 Sgt. Timothy Snyder successfully completed on line training for Instructors in the Use of NIK Polytesting System of Narcotic Identification. Sgt. Snyder is now able to teach on the use of this testing system to make drug identifications.
Training Continued
On September 24th, 2012 Chief Peenstra and Sgt. Snyder attended a training session on Ignition Interlock systems. This was held at the Seneca County Office Building and was put on by Probation Officer Deb Rickerson and DA Barry Porsch.
On September 26th and 27th, 2012 PO Robert Mansell attended Active Shooter Emergency Response Training that was held at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center and put on by New York State Homeland Security. This course covered the need for rapid response, entry requirements, tactical approaches and techniques for clearing a school or office building along with neutralizing the threat in response to an active shooter type incident.
On September 26th, 2012 Officer James Checak and Officer Brandon Manheim attended DWI-Documentation and Testimony training at the Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY. This course is designed to train officers in detailed documentation procedures that will assist them in their court testimony when making Driving While Intoxicated arrests.
On September 27th, 2012 Chief Peenstra and Sgt. Snyder attended a Threat Assessment in Schools Training held at the Doubletree Hotel in Syracuse, NY and put on by NYMIR. This training covered threat assessment methods and strategies used by Law Enforcement and School Official in Collaboration, as well and how to implement effective threat assessment teams.
On September 28th, 2012 Sgt. Timothy Snyder successfully completed National Crime Information Center Training though the New York State e-justice computer program. Sgt. Snyder is now certified to run Criminal History's via the state and federal computer systems.
Staffing
September 8th, 2012 ended the 60 day temporary Special Police Officer appointments for Officer Bob Steele and Officer Scott Angotti. I would like to thank both officers for their professional service during their appointment and their services will be missed by this department and the community they served.
On Tuesday October 2nd, 2012 I am recommending the Town Board hire Part-Time Officer Daniel Jacobsen. Jacobsen would be hired competitively off the Seneca County Police Officer Civil Service List with a score of 85. Jacobsen is currently employed as a Part-Time Police Officer with the Watkins Glen Police Department and served our country for four years in the United State Marine Core.
Jacobsen will need to complete a brief transfer field training with this agency before being released on his own. Jacobsen started his career with Watkins Glen PD on April of 2010. Jacobsen received his NYS Police Officer certificate from Corning Community College. Jacobsen would replace Part-Time Officer Scott Angotti’s vacant position.
Grants
The Seneca Falls Police Department recently received notification from the New York State Department of State 2011-2012 Local Government Efficiency Grant Program Citizens Re-Organization Empowerment Grant that we have been awarded $50,000 on a grant that was applied for in April of 2012. The $50,000 will go toward the purchase of a new police vehicle; additional Taser’s; replace failing portable radio’s; and an alternate light system that will assist this department in locating finger prints at a crime scene.
On August 15th, 2012 the Seneca Falls Police Department received a reimbursement check from Seneca County worth $320.13 for Stop DWI Enforcement hours. The money from the Seneca County STOP DWI account comes from fines paid by previous Seneca County DWI convictions. This money goes back into the towns “general fund”.
On September 6th, 2012 Property Room.com sold the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria marked patrol vehicle that was declared surplus for $1,350 to an individual in Mt Kisco NY. The sale of this vehicle will be placed in the Seneca Falls Police Departments vehicle/equipment reserve fund.