Date: Fri 07-Jun-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-commission-grant

Full Text:

Police Commission Seeks Grant For New Officer

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Police Commission members have approved seeking a $75,000 federal grant to

cover the majority of expenses for a new police officer for a three-year

period.

Acting Police Chief Michael Fekete told Police Commission members June 4 he

learned recently the town is eligible to apply for a $75,000 grant which would

cover the salary and benefit costs for a new full-time officer for three

years. The town would cover the remaining 25 percent of costs. After the three

years, the town would be responsible for covering all costs for the officer.

Seeking the grant would require approvals by the selectmen and Legislative

Council, according to Chief Fekete.

The town now has 36 police officers.

Police Commission member William Meyer said police officials must determine

how many officers the police department will need in the coming years.

"Somewhere along the line, we have to determine how many officers we need," he

said, urging that staff planning be addressed.

The town eventually will have to cover all costs for the officers which it has

hired using the federal grant assistance, Mr Meyer said.

In 1988, former Chief Michael DeJoseph projected that the police department

should have 40 officers on duty by the year 2000.

Police Commission Chairman Carol Mattegat said the commission will have the

new police chief which it hires address the topic of future police officer

staffing.

The Police Commission's plan to seek a grant to hire one new officer is part

of a federal program which would provide $4.7 million to 27 Connecticut

municipalities to hire 63 new policemen statewide.

The grant funding proposal will return to the Police Commission for additional

action later this year.

In another grant funding matter, Police Commission members endorsed seeking a

federal grant to allow the town to buy computer equipment for police cars.

Under the federal COPS MORE program, the US Justice Department would provide

$30,000 which the town would match with $10,000 to buy 10 portable computers

for police cars.

The town already has purchased three portable computers for police work, Chief

Fekete said.

In another matter, the Police Commission approved allowing Patrolman Gary

Wheeler to work a secondary job as a patrol officer for the Lake Lillinonah

Authority. Officer Wheeler has worked for the authority's marine patrol during

past summers.

In other business, Chief Fekete told commission members that the police

officers' training with their new Smith & Wesson .40-caliber Sigma pistols is

now complete. Detective Richard Stook and Training Officer Joseph Joudy

instructed the officers in how to use the new weapon.

The police officers like their new sidearms, Chief Fekete said. Police

formerly used 9-millimeter Glock pistols.

Police Commission members amended the police policy concerning handguns,

secondary weapons, and off-duty weapons in light of the new weapons and

holsters now carried by police.

Also, Chief Fekete said he notified the State Traffic Commission that the

town's official traffic authority is composed of the members of the Police

Commission and the police chief.