Yearly 2007 report
BELMAR POLICE DEPARTMENT
2007 YEARLY REPORT
OPERATIONS
Our operational philosophy has remained the same, to treat every contact with respect and fairness. Our expanded responsibilities in the summer strain our resources and management is especially challenging. In order to facilitate proper command and control, various regular officers are detailed to be officers in charge to aid in the effort to supervise our walking beats and shifts. We have used bicycle patrols as a force multiplier to augment our foot patrols. We have seen a decrease in noise calls during the summer of 2007. The posting of an officer outside D’Jais appears to have a dramatic impact on assaults and disorderly conduct in that area. Our deployment of officers and schedules enabled us to maintain a physical presence in this traditionally problem area. New problems are arising in the north end of Main Street due to the popularity of 507 Main and Connolly’s Station. These establishments are cooperating and have posted what are called Shush Patrols in the neighborhoods surrounding the bars.
Patrol Activity: During 2007 our department issued the following summonses: 7397 motor vehicle summons of all categories, and 2072 Borough Ordinances. In addition, we investigated 427 motor vehicle accidents. There were 603 arrests effectuated, among these were 43 DWI arrests. Officers in the patrol section also assisted in the background investigations of applicants for special officer positions within the department. In all categories, Calls For Service numbered 21,814.
Explorers: PO Darian Vitello and PO Todd Lee are the advisors for the explorer post. Under their leadership a once defunct post has been active and thriving. This is an extra duty assignment. They have participated in every special event the Borough has had where extra people were needed. They have also participated in explorer activities such as the Police Explorer academy and have assisted other jurisdictions as well.
Personnel issues: During 2007 our 21 regular officers used 83 sick days, and 4 dispatchers used 50. There were zero workman comp days used and 30 days were used for FMLA.
Technology: During 2007 we started the process to transition from a CPLIMS non-windows based database to a New World database, which is windows based, for mobile and wireless reporting. This will enable officers to do reports in the patrol car on laptops and wirelessly transmit them to their supervisor and eventually the database with no paper. The system also enables silent (computerized) dispatch depending on the priority or life threatening status of the call. It also enables information sharing with other jurisdictions that use New World under the County umbrella which greatly assist our officers on the street. We also went to a computerized radio system called Tektron. For dispatch, this is a windows based application and it governs emergency services, police, fire, EMS, and municipal building alarms and entrances.
Overall Department Training: Due to budgetary restraints, no additional training was done within the uniform branch. The basic firearms and required training, i.e., First Aid/CPR, as mandated by the NJ State Attorney General was conducted.
UCR: The Uniform Crime report showed a decrease in almost all categories of the 7 index crimes:
Category 2006 2007* Difference %______
Homicide 0 0 0 0
Rape 0 0 0 0
Robbery 3 2 -1 33% drop
Assault 134 89 -45 33% drop
Burglary** 37 71 +34 52% increase
Larceny*** 284 256 -28 10% Drop
MV Theft 16 9 -7 44% drop
* These are based on our generated UCR reports not NJSP.
** We had a rash of car burglaries, which drove this rate higher.
*** Includes beach larcenies bag grabs etc.
Violent Crime is defined as the categories of Murder, Forcible Rape, Robbery and Aggravated Assault, which are the top 4 categories, reflects a drop of 53%. Violent crime by definition does not include simple assaults, which in comparison of these two years resulted in a 27% decrease for 101 incidents in 2006 to 74 incidents in 2007.
K-9 Activity: This past year we instituted a K-9 program. Officer Darian Vitello and
K-9 Kai, attended a 14 week course on K-9 handling and drug detection. Since that time the K-9 unit responded to 44 requests for its use; 31 arrests were made as a result of the K-9 usage; by assisting other agencies the K-9 unit detected 3 subjects through a track and they were arrested for multiple car burglaries in Avon; and there were 5 narcotic arrests in other jurisdictions due to K-9 performance.
Accreditation: Officer Tina Scott continues to work on the accreditation process. When successfully completed this accreditation will result in not only a reduction of insurance fees for the JIF but the recognition will further add to the professionalism the police department, which every resident and visitor expects. As a result of her individual efforts the entire written directive system has been overhauled and brought up to date.
All officers have been trained through roll call training on the contents or all policies and orders. Accreditation consists of compliance with 146 best practice standards as identified through CALEA and the NJ Accreditation Program. It is detail intensive and requires focus. Officer Scott has worked on this project 3 days a week, as well as work the road on her normal shift on the other two days. Currently we are anticipating completion of this project in the May/June time frame. During this there will be a public announcement and public session, a telephone session for public input on the police department, inspection of the department, and overall evaluation of our policies and procedures
Calls for Service Analysis/Comparison:
2006 2007 Percentage
Forgery 10 8 -20%
Fraud 29 17 -41%
Stolen Property 9 14 55%
Malicious Mischief 214 170 -20%
Weapons-carrying 18 11 -38%
Sex Offenses 21 18 -14%
Narcotics 51 52 1%
Family Offenses 5 9 80%
Drunk Driving 42 47 11%
Liquor Laws 381 259 -32%
Disorderly Conduct 682 820 20%
Other offenses 591 445 -24%
Noise Calls 596 519 -12%
Juvenile 103 115 11%
General Police 371 334 -9%
Fire Calls 85 202 37%
Deaths 32 29 -9%
Animal Complaints 263 218 -17%
Traffic Accidents 429 435 1%
Traffic Enforcement 3988 3509 -12%
Traffic Services 737 690 -6%
Public Assist 6257 5964 -4%
First Aid 642 681 6%
Assist Other Agency 828 651 -21%
Local Warrants 194 179 7%
Other Warrants 138 108 21%
Department Service 1223 1597 30%
Administrative 1266 2076 63%
Total CFS 21356 21814 2%
DETECTIVE BUREAU
The Detective Bureau currently consists of a Lieutenant who oversees the day-to-day operations as an extra duty assisngment and also all major crime investigations. At the present time, there are two detectives assigned full-time to conduct criminal investigations. In November of 2007, Patrolman John Garrecht was temporarily assigned to the Detective Bureau to work on the evidence vault. As a result of his efforts many pieces of evidence were destroyed which cleared room for the future. Although the workload was large, our clearance rate of major crimes still remains high.
The following officers were assigned to the Detective Division in 2007 (an asterisk denotes full time assignment):
*Detective Mark Walsifer
*Detective Sean R. Pringle
Patrolman John Garrecht
Workload: For the Year of 2007, both detectives actively investigated a total of 460 cases. Of these cases handled, the breakdown of major offenses reveals that the detectives investigated 4 Homicide/Suspicious Deaths, 8 Sex Offenses, 3 Robberies, 7 Assaults, 23 Burglaries, 13 Thefts, 20 Stolen Beach Bags, 20 Stolen Bicycles, 4 Auto Thefts, 3 Arson/Suspicious Fires, 3 Forgery, 2 Narcotics and 1 Liquor License Transfer.
Of the 460 cases handled by detectives, 111 fall into the previously mentioned criminal categories. The remaining 349 cases were general investigations. These figures include Firearm Applications, Fire Department Investigations, Taxi License, Peddlers, ABC Employment, Bar Checks, School Investigations, and other investigations. This list does not include Juvenile, Domestic Violence or Mental Health Issues. The detectives executed a total of 4 Search Warrants both consensual and non-consensual.
During the 2007 calendar year, detectives also conducted 5 Public Safety Employment background investigations.
A COPS IN SHOPS program was monitored through the Detective Bureau and the funding for this was received from the State of New Jersey Division of Highway Safety. A total of $1,600.00 was received and used for overtime to place patrol officers in liquor licensed establishments to check for false ID, underage drinkers, and persons attempting to purchase alcohol underage.
Detectives along with investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutors office Narcotic Strike Force, conducted several investigations into the use and dispensing of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and other drugs.
Community Service/Juvenile Officer: The Community Service/Juvenile Officer is an extra duty assigned to Detective Sean Pringle who had a busy and productive year once again in 2007. Detective Pringle was assigned to follow up on all Juvenile and Domestic Violence matters that were investigated by this Department. There were over 50 Juvenile matters and over 50 Domestic Violence matters. Detective Pringle also performed over 20 Station House Adjustments where he met with the juvenile and his parents, and set up several programs during the 2007 school year for parents and students which included gang training, internet safety, Halloween safety, and cyber bullying.
Evidence Officer: The Evidence Officer Detective had a busy and productive year in 2007. Detective Mark Walsifer logged in over 200 pieces of evidence and sent in over 150 lab submissions to the NJSP lab and NJSP AFIS unit. Detective Walsifer also reviewed over 100 accident reports and also did several investigations for handicapped spaces.
Training: The detectives in 2007 attended several training schools and seminars which included “Keeping Children of Today Safe for Tomorrow”, “Internet Safety – Train the Trainer”, “Bias Crime Investigations”, “Gang Intelligence”, “Traffic Engineering”, and several other seminars. The need still exists for detectives to attend specialized schools and seminars to keep pace with our ever-changing society and new laws. Many seminars are given through MAGLOCLEN and The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office at little or no cost to this agency.
Confidential Funds: The Detective Bureau maintains a confidential cash fund. These funds are used to buy illegal drugs, pay informants, and conduct confidential investigations. In the year 2007 no funds were used for any investigations.
Megan’s Law: From January 2007 to the present, there have been 17 contacts with Megan’s Law registrants. These contacts range from new registration interviews to re-registration interviews. Also, some of the contacts were registrants advising the Department that they were moving out of town. As you know, a lot of registrants are transient. We currently have 8 Megan’s Law registrants in the Borough, all of whom are either Tier I – low risk, or Tier II – moderate risk.
ABC Investigations: During the summer months the quality of life issues and bar incidents affect so many residents in this town. The Belmar Police Department has taken a strong stance to make sure the bars are in compliance with their occupancy and other rules imposed on them, of which the detectives ensure compliance. During the weekends a detective will stop by the bar and check the occupancy and to make sure that everything is ok in the bar. We have also given a class to bar employees about liability and other issues. In addition, all bar employees are processed through the Detective Bureau to ensure no criminal records exist and proper identification cards are being issued.
Conclusion Detective Bureau: In 2007 the Belmar Detective Bureau was very productive. There was an increase in calls handled and there were more serious crimes investigated this year. The major cases this year in the Detective Bureau were the Saint Rose Investigation, 2 Robberies at gunpoint, 4 Aggravated Sexual Assaults, 2 Aggravated Assaults and the Fatal Fire at 1403 C Street. At this time, both the Saint Rose and the Fatal Fire investigations are still being investigated into 2008.
All of the detectives are encouraged to attend the M.O.C.I.B. monthly meeting, the Juvenile monthly meeting, the Evidence meeting, and any other meetings that distribute information on what is happening in our area.
Since the detectives have been receiving specialized training, certain detectives handle certain types of crimes and cases. This will and has helped us build better and stronger cases, resulting in a higher conviction rate. The Detective Bureau has a part-time secretary to assist this unit with the processing of reports, statements and computer records to allow the detectives to focus on the follow-up instead of paperwork, allowing better use of their time.
April 4, 2008
Mayor & Council
RE: Belmar Police Department – 2007 Yearly Report
Please find attached the 2007 Yearly Report. As you will see from reviewing the various statistics, our town has been successful in reducing the amount of violent crime. We have also seen a reduction in the amount of quality of life incidents, such as noise calls, in comparison with 2006. It is my hope that this trend continues as we step up our efforts to further enhance the quality of life and provide a high level of professional police services to our residents.
JACK W. HILL, JR.
Chief of Police
Department of Public Safety
JWH/ef
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