Police Panel Considers Goals And Objectives For 2010

By Andrew Gorosko

Police Commission members are reviewing two sets of proposed goals and objectives for the coming year, one which would set some targets for the commission itself, and the other that would specify tasks for the police chief.

Commission members discussed the topics at a March 2 session. Commission Chairman Duane Giannini stressed that the proposals discussed are in the “draft” stage and are subject to revision.

Mr Giannini urged panel members to review the proposals and provide suggestions.

The proposals list four major categories for the Police Commission: crosswalk safety; a clarification of the relationship between the police department and the town’s animal control unit; improving labor/management relations at the police department; and creating improved monthly reports on police activity for the commission.

The chairman proposes that the commission create a formal crosswalk safety plan by the end of this year.

Traffic flow has continued increasing locally and residents are concerned about public safety, especially about pedestrian safety, according to the draft proposal.

The commission would work with the police department’s traffic safety unit in formulating a crosswalk safety plan.

Also, the chairman proposes that the commission work to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the police department and the animal control unit in terms of local animal control. Toward that goal, the panel would analyze the current situation and possibly make some recommendations for changes.

Mr Giannini also proposes that efforts be made to improve labor/management relations at the police department.

“The cornerstone of effective community service and employee retention is a sound foundation of employee relations. The [commission] recognizes that there exists an opportunity for improving relations between the command structure of the [police department] and the men and women who professionally serve this town,” according to the draft proposal. Toward that goal, the commission would develop a strategy to improve labor/management relations.

Additionally, the commission would seek improvements in the design of the monthly set of reports that it receives concerning local police activity.

Police Chief

Police Commission members also are reviewing a set of proposed goals and objectives for Police Chief Michael Kehoe.

There are four major goals listed in the draft proposal.

A prime goal is having the police chief pursue better facilities for the police department.

The prospect of constructing a new police station to provide increased and improved working area for police has been in the talking stages for years.

Toward that long-term goal, Mr Giannini suggests that the chief attend all town Capital Improvement Plan meetings to stay aware of town spending priorities; that the police chief and police captain develop a computer-based presentation on police space needs; and that the police chief create Internet-based content on police space needs.

Also, Mr Giannini recommends that the police chief oversee the full implementation of the police department’s computerized system that handles computer-aided dispatching and police records management.

Additionally, the chairman recommends that the police chief work toward having the police department achieve both Tier 2 and Tier 3 accreditation as a law enforcement agency. The department now holds Tier 1 accreditation.

Also, the chairman suggests that Chief Kehoe work to improve labor/management relations at the police department. Achieving such a goal could involve receiving training in labor/management relations, developing a survey to understand labor union issues, evaluating that survey’s results, and developing a plan of action based on the survey’s results.