Board of Police Commissioners Regular Meeting Agenda

Town of Waterford, Connecticut, Police Commission Meeting Agenda
Training Room at the Waterford Police Department
8/12/2024 5:00 pm
Call to order and establish quorum:
Pledge of Allegiance:
Public input:
Presentation on speed enforcement cameras by Staci Noto of TrafficLogix
Acceptance of minutes: July 8, 2024 Regular Meeting
Correspondence:
a. Thank you letter from Captain John Perry of the Norwich Police Department
b. Thank you letter from Chief Michael Macek of the East Lyme Police Department
Traffic Commission Review:
Chief's Report:
a. K9 Reports for July
b. Youth Report for July
c. Investigative Services Report for July
d. Training Report for July
e. Support Services Report for July
Fuad
Patrol Report for July
g. Animal Control Report for July
h. Community Engagement Report for July
Old Business:
a. Recording of Commission Meetings
New Business:
a. Retail Theft Initiative
b. Discussion of Survey Results

MINUTES
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
July 8, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Commissioner J. Dimmock, Commissioner C. Gamble, Commissioner T.
Sheridan
ABSENT: Commissioner R. Brule, Commissioner M. Gelinas
DEPARTMENT: — Chief M. Balestracci, LT D. Ferland, LT N. VanOverloop, Traffic Officer
M. Devine, Officer M. Sylvestre
CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM:
Commissioner Dimmock called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the General Meeting Room
of the Waterford Police Department. A Quorum was established.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC INPUT:
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:
MOTION: Made by Commissioner Gamble and seconded by Commissioner Dimmock to
accept the minutes from the June 10, 2024 Regular Meeting. Commissioner Sheridan abstained.
Motion passed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Correspondence was reviewed.

TRAFFIC COMMISSION REVIEW:
Traffic report was received. Commissioner Sheridan noted a line of sight issue at the corner of
Seabreeze Drive. Discussion ensued. There was additional discussion regarding beach traffic
and the possible need for more speedbumps. Commissioner Sheridan also expressed concern
about the presence of unleashed dogs at the beach. Chief will follow up with Rec & Parks
regarding unleashed dogs.
CHIER’S REPORT:
a. K9 Reports for June
June report was received.
b. Youth Reports for June
June report was received.
c. Investigative Services for June
June report was received.
d. Training Report for June
June report was received.
e. Support Services Report for June
June report was received.
f. Patrol Report for June
June report was received.
g. Animal Control Report for June
June report was received.
h. Community Engagement Report for June
June report was received.
OLD BUSINESS:
a. Recording Commission Meetings — The new furniture warped and peeled and was
removed to be fixed. The project is moving forward but there has been some delays.
b. Armed Security Officer position (BOE) — There was a total of five eligible candidates.
The Police Department and the Board of Education agreed on hiring the following two:
e Richard Morgan
e Michael Masucci

MOTION: Made by Commissioner Sheridan and Seconded by Commissioner Gamble to
adjourn the meeting at 5:28 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by:
inns © Sydney
Diane E. Driscoll
Recording Secretary

(& City of NorwicH
ounce CONNECTICUT 70 THAMES STREET
Sie NORWICH, CT 06360
PATRICK J. DALEY POLICE DEPARTMENT (Peg Bee o8e!
Chief of Police
Chief of Police Marc Balestracci
Waterford Police Depariinent
41 Avery Ln
Waterford, CT 06385
Dear Chief Balestracci,
I hope this letter finds you well. On behalf of the City of Norwich and our community, I wanted
to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and your department for the invaluable assistance provided
during the July Sth fireworks event.
The dedication and professionalism demonstrated by Lieutenant Ferland and Sergeant Avdevich
was truly commendable. Their presence ensured a safe and enjoyable event for everyone in
attendance. Their expertise and cooperation were instrumental in maintaining order and
managing the crowd effectively.
Please convey my gratitude to your officers who joined us. Their willingness to support our
community exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and public service that is so vital in ensuring
public safety during large-scale events.
We look forward to the possibility of working together again in the future. Thank you once again
for your department's outstanding support.
A ge
Captain John Perry fo
of
iy
Norwich Police iatirent

Town of East Lyme
Connecticut
POLICE Police Department
277 West Main Street, Niantic Connecticut 06357
Michael K. Macek
Chief of Police
Chief of Police, Marc Balestracci
Town of Waterford Police Department
41 Avery Lane
Waterford, CT 06385
Dear Chief Balestracci,
I want to sincerely thank you for your assistance in answering the call for mutual
aid officers to the Town of East Lyme for the annual Celebrate East Lyme Day,
2024. As you are aware, countless planning goes into these events with security
measures being a top priority.
One of our goals is to maintain a safe environment for the vendors and over
20,000 citizens that attend this event. We could not satisfactorily meet this goal
without your assistance. Officer Christian Charron stepped right into his role
without hesitation and was very professional.
Again, your support is greatly appreciated by the East Lyme Police Department
and the community. I look forward to working with you again in the future.
Respectfully,
ZZ
Michoel K.
Chief of —

The Waterford Police Department
Traffic Officer Report
July 2024
SUMMARY OF COMPLAINTS/REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE:
There were approximately 25 requests | received during the month of July involving parking
issues, line of sight issues traffic safety issues during the month of July. Some of the requests are
highlighted below. Officer Diogo assisted with traffic officer duties while | was away during this month.
Officer Diogo was able to be onsite to coordinate the recalibration of radars and lasers at the PD when
the vendor arrived and assisted with moving the message board signs to multiple locations.
LINE OF SIGHT ISSUES:
- Previous complaint about bushes at the Avery Lane Post Office exit. The bushes have been
trimmed.
- Line of sight issue at 1 Ave and Niantic River Road. The area was trimmed by DPW and the
sight line has been greatly improved.
- Complaint of a sight line issue at Seabreeze Dr. and Niles Hill. Made contact with one resident
who referred me to the owner, but have not been in contact with the owner at this time.
DOT RELATED ISSUES.
- None to report at this time
PARKING COMPLAINTS:
- Zoning forwarded a complaint about a second tractor trailer parking on Devonshire. Reportedly
a long haul trucker and is there sporadically. Multiple checks of the area resulted in no contact
with this vehicle or operator.
- Parking complaint on 3" Ave. Complaint that vehicles are parked too close to Niantic River Road
on the side that parking is allowed. Vehicles parked in this area have been in compliance with
state law.
ENFORCEMENT RELATED COMPLAINTS:
- Two separate complaints regarding people running stop signs at the intersection of Woodlawn
Ave and Kestrel Ln. and the intersection of Kingfisher Way and Kestrel Ln. Some time was spent
in marked cruiser at beginning of month monitoring the location. Additional time will be spent
there and a member of the neighborhood has offered up their driveway to assist.
- Request for a speed sign to be placed on Huntsbrook Rd, prior to the Waterford Country School
to combat speeding. | am working with DPW to have a temporary speed radar sign put on one
of the sign posts in the area.

The Waterford Police Department
Traffic Officer Report
July 2024
REQUESTS FOR SIGNS OR CHANGE OF ROADWAY FEATURES:
Parking complaint on East Bishop St. Complainant feels that parking on East Bishop is extremely
limited do to parking on one side of street and the side which allows parking, has little space for
parking due to large driveways. DPW indicated that changing the parking to the other side of
the street would require other changes in the area and would affect plowing and trash
collection. It is not recommended at this time.
SPEED TRAFFIC SIGN DEPLOYMENT:
The two solar powered speed signs have remained in place at the below listed locations.
a
Niantic River Rd. in the area of Old Niantic River Rd, facing southbound traffic. The data shows
that vehicle traffic during the month of July 2024 was at or below the speed limit approximately
12% of the time. Approximately 75% of the vehicles were traveling between 31 to 40 mph.
Leaving the remaining roughly 13% traveling at 41 mph or higher. Similar to the previous
month. This posted speed limit for this area is 30 mph and the vehicles are traveling downhill in
the area where the speed radar sign is set up. The total traffic count for southbound traffic was
43,569
The Willets Ave sign at the old Bank of America building, facing westbound traffic. The data
shows that vehicle traffic during the month of July 2024 was at or below the 30 mph speed limit
approximately 41% of the time. Vehicles were traveling 31-40 mph approximately 56%. 3% of
vehicles were traveling above 41 mph. This posted speed limit for this area is 30 mph and the
vehicles are traveling downhill in the area where the speed radar sign is set up. Total traffic
count for westbound traffic was 111,228.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Received State Highway Use Permit for Terri Brodeur walk
Received State Highway Use Permit for Jack O’Keefe Road Race
Processed Highway Use Permit request for Mikes Harley Davidson Gift Run
UPCOMING EVENTS:
John Kelley half marathon scheduled for August 3, 2024
Waterford Day Parade scheduled for August 10, 2024

The Waterford Police Department
Traffic Officer Report
July 2024
MESSAGE BOARD DEPLOYMENTS:
Dates Location Message
07/01 to present Walmart We Put Shoplifters; On Social
Media
07/17 t0 08/03 Waterford Commons We Put Shoplifters; On Social
Media
07/29 to 8/05 Mago Point No Wake Zone
08/05 to present Rt. 156 at Town Hall Parade Saturday 10:00 am;
Expect Road Closures
08/05 to present Rt. 156 West of Great Neck Rd. Parade Saturday 10:00 am;
Expect Road Closures
Additional Activities:
Recertifying Officers on the Intox machine
Waterford Day Parade planning meeting
Jack Kelley half marathon planning meeting
Recertification of radars and lasers
Oop
UPCOMING ROAD CONSTRUCTION WITH CLOSURE:
No known large road construction projects are expected in the near future. The paving job on Route 85
north or Cross Road is a work in progress and has had some delays due to weather.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT:
5 infractions
4 written warnings

The Waterford Police Department
Traffic Officer Report
July 2024
Niantic River Rd July 2024
| 13% 12%
mTM<30mph
31-40 mph —
741+ mph
Willets Ave July 2024
mTM<30mph
31-40 mph ©
41+ mph

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
‘K-9 Activity Report
July 2024
K-9 Ozzy
Monthly Uses: 0
2024 Uses: 22
K-9 Tico
Monthly Uses: 5
2024 Uses: 27
K-9 Usage
Tico
¢ K9 Tico and Off. Surdo responded to Norwich to assist for an arti-
cle search for a possible firearm that was discarded when the sus-
pect fled from a motor vehicle stop.
¢ K9 Tico and Off. Surdo responded a second time to search for an
armed robbery suspect that assaulted (struck with a pistol) the
clerk. The suspect was later located as he rode his bike back toy.
the scene. :
¢ K9 Tico and Off. Surdo assisted the Groton Town Police Depart-
ment for an exterior open air sniff of a vehicle that was involved
in a violent crime the previous night.
¢ On July 15, 2024 Off. Surdo and K9 Tico assisted the midnight
shift with a track after the occupants fled from a stolen motor
vehicle, which was subsequently located in the driveway of a
home on Vauxhall ST Ext. The track took place in the Old Col-
chester RD / Old Norwich RD area. One of the suspects was
ultimately located by Det. Bonkowski running through yards on
Wintergreen RD. After a brief foot chase the subject was taken
into custody.
Monthly Training
¢ Monthly K-9 training was conducted on July 16, 2024 and July 30, 2024 in
obedience, tracking, article search, building search, area search, narcotics de-
tections, and apprehension work.

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
; Youth Office Activity
Report
July 2024
Off. Malbaurn and Off. Lane continue to support
the Patrol Division throughout the summer break ff
when dealing with students and juvenile matters.
Both Off. Lane and Off. Malbaurn remain in con-
tact with school administrators touching base on
any upcoming policy changes within the schools.
Off. Malbaurn worked with Principal Moore to
discuss/review bullying concerns with a parent
who had some concerns about her child.
On July 30th Off. Lane assisted with a parent /
student meeting to discuss the upcoming school
year.
During the school break Off. Malbaurn has
spent time in July maintaining and repairing
the Waterford Police Department’s five bicy-
cles which are utilized at various events to in- &
clude the summer concerts.
Off. Lane and Off. Malbaurn collaborated
with the patrol division and the Department
of Children and Families when dealing with a
Waterford Juvenile on a police call for service.
Pictured above is the 14 year old Water-
ford Babe Ruth State Champion team
Month at a Glance comprised of CLMS and WHS students.
0 — Home Visits
0-— CAD Report
0— Case Reports
0— Arrests
SRO Lane & SRO Malbaurn continue to meet and talk with students on a daily basis for school, personal, and social
related topics in an effort to develop lasting relationships between the department and the youth in our community.

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Investigative Services
Division
July 2024
In the month of July 2024 the Investigative Services Division worked or assisted with 12
investigations.
Current Active Investigations (20 Cases):
(These numbers do not include assist’s to the Patrol Division)
Homicide—1 Pistol Permits—S
Burglary—1 JV Sex Assault—4
Larceny—2 Violation of Protection Order—1
ID Theft—1 Shots Fired—1
Risk of Injury—1
Child Pornography—lI
School Threat—1
Untimely—1
Year to Date Statistical Report
Case Search Background Arrests Sex
Numbers Warrants heels Assaults
50 8 4 10 14
Ex-Parte's Auto Theft Burglary Unattended Robbery
Deaths
0 0) 0) 9 0

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Investigative Services
Division
July 2024
July 2024 Updates:
Investigative Services hosted the Regional Law Enforcement Intelligence sharing meeting for
the month. Several local agencies were in attendance.
Sergeant Avdevich attended a week-long Crime Scene Investigation and Forensics class
hosted by SIRCHIE and hosted by the Waterford Police Department.
July 2024 Investigations:
Detective Bonkowski was called out to assist the Patrol Division with a serious motor vehicle
accident at the intersection of Old Colchester Road and Bloomingdale Road.
Members of Investigative Services conducted surveillance and background work to assist
patrol with the identification and apprehension of a local organized retail theft group. Patrol
made two arrests and a search warrant was prepared by Detective Bonkowksi on one of the
suspects mobile devices to assist with this regional large scale investigation.
Detective Bonkowski’s search warrant for the Department of Corrections phone records
related to a Violation of Protective Order case from June was signed and executed. The
suspect in this case had contacted the victim over 800 times. This case remains active.
Detective Carroll investigated a weapons compliance case to ensure that the subject of a Risk
protection Order was in compliance with the State Firearms Registry.
Sergeant Avdevich and Detective O’Connell assisted patrol with a Firearms Risk Warrant at a
residence in town after the homeowner threatened a contractor with a firearm. The warrant
was signed and executed at the address with several firearms and ammunition seized.
Surveillance and other investigative tools were used to investigate a report of narcotics
activity at a residence. The complaint was unfounded.
Investigator Zaldivar was called out to assist with a report of shots fired on Old Colchester
Road. Evidence was recovered to support the report. The evidence was submitted to the lab
and this case remains active.
Detective O’Connell assisted the patrol division with the preparation of a search warrant for
cellular records requested by Part B court to assist with an on-going court case.
Investigator Zaldivar investigated a stolen purse case from Target in which the victim’s stolen
credit cards were used at local retailers. The identity of some of the people involved was
obtained as well as a confession from one suspect which assisted with other identifications.
Detective Bonkowski was called out to conduct an investigation into a juvenile sexual assault
complaint. Interviews and evidence were recovered to assist with this investigation.
Investigator Zaldivar responded to an untimely death investigation on Vivian Court.

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAINING REPORT
JULY 2024
New Officer Updates
Hiring Process: The Waterford Police Department continues it’s efforts in
recruiting and hiring. Training is continuing with the new hiring process to fill one
current vacancy, and one more vacancy in the near future.
Recruit Status: Recruit Dylan Luce and Recruit Tanner Suplita continue their-
Field Training Program on patrol. Recruit Suplita and Recruit Luce have completed
Phase 2, and have started Phase 3. To date their Field Training Officers have re-
ported that they are doing well and are adapting well to our police department.
Recruit Boxley completed her thirteenth week at the City of New Britain Police De-
partment Satellite Basic Recruit Academy.
Recruit Maselli and Recruit Abram were sworn in and started with the department
on July Ist to conduct orientation and training prior to the academy. Recruit Ma-
selli and Recruit Abram are scheduled to start the Eastern Regional Police Acade-
my in August.
Recruit Jordan was sworn in and started with the department on July 8th to con-
duct orientation and training prior to starting her field training. Recruit Jordan is
a lateral transfer from another police department, therefore skipped the academy
and started her abbreviated Field Training shortly after being sworn in.

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAINING REPORT
JULY 2024
Sergeant Avdevich attended a five-day Evidence Collection & Processing Training
hosted by Sirchie. This training covered topics like hands on evidence collection
and processing, fingerprint theory, crime scene management and photography,
serial number restoration, firearms, ballistics, GSR, alternate light source, and
latent print processing powders and chemicals to name a few
The entire department was given a DCF Refresher roll call training. A DCF
worker gave a brief training on updates from DCF in regards to their require-
ments for officers being mandated reporters.
Officer Diogo attended a two week At Scene Traffic Crash and Homicide Investi-
ation training. This is the first of a sequel of accident investigation trainings that
allow Officer Diogo to eventually become an accident reconstructionist. Officer
Diogo is the newest member of our traffic unit, and will be investigating minor to
very serious motor vehicle accidents as part of this assignment.
School Resource Officer Winters attended a week long basic school resource officer
training. This training in an in depth training on the overview of the common re-
sponsibilities of a school resource officer. Some of the topics covered were mentor-
ing, teaching, creating partnerships, building relationships, and ensuring school
safety.
Sergeant Avdevich, Detective Bonkowski, Detective Carroll, and a few other offic-
ers hosted felony stop training for some of the newest officers in our agency. The
officers were trained on how to safely and effi-
ciently conduct felony stops, as well as how to
search a vehicle and how to safely remove sub-
jects from their vehicle. i
Officer Arpin, Officer Colkos, and Officer Robin-
son started the online portion of their Phleboto-
my School. The online portion of this training is
forty hours, and then afterwards there is a week
long in person training. This training is in prep-
aration for when police officers will be required
by state law to draw blood during DUI investiga- |
tions. ‘

Records Activity
FOI Requests
Warrants
Phone Calls
Walk in Assists
Background Checks
Protective Orders
Officer Tasking Requests
Case Erasures
DCF Requests
Court Requests
Abstracts
Video Requests
160
32
CSO Activity
Adult Arrests
Juvenile Arrests
Firearms Transfers
Pistol Permits Issued
Walk In Complaints
Support Services Report
July 2024
20
0
oul
3
3333
* Records staff assisted the Montville Police
Department with establishing their fee
schedule for FOI requests. This was similar
assistance we received from various agen-
cies during our recent schedule updates.
* Records staff worked with the State of CT
Library on the process of scanning and re-
taining digital records, greatly reducing the
need for retaining paper copies for long
periods of time
* The CSOs covered 65 shifts during the
month, equating to over 500 hours of shift
coverage.
» Interviews were completed for new CSOs
and 2 conditional offers of employment
were extended and accepted. Both candi-
dates will proceed through the background
investigation process.
Fingerprints
Pistol Permits
Employment
Miscellaneous
Peddler/Precious Permits
Total Fingerprints

Patrol Report
Commissioners Activity Report
July 2024
FLOCK Hit: Patrol Response ends Organized Retail Theft Ring
On July 5, 2024 at 1730 hours WPD Dispatch advised patrol of a FLOCK hit on
the RTE | @ Willetts AVE camera. A black F150 had been entered into the
custom hot list as a vehicle involved in numerous (20+) larcenies throughout
Southeastern CT and Rhode Island. Off. Bunce and Off. Winakor responded
to the area and located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Ollies. Both
Patrol Calls for Service
Monthly Snap Shot:
Total Service Calls
2106
. . : Case Numbers 164
officers entered the store and the female suspect was detained. After a brief
foot chase the male suspect was arrested and taken into custody. Both Arrests 70
suspects had been involved in an organized retail theft ring which had targeted Juvenile Arrests 0
business such as Bj’s Wholesale Club, Lowes, Tractor Supply, Ollies, and ;
numerous others throughout the region. The male was arraigned in court and | L@rcenies 66
held on bond at Corrigan Correctional Facility. Arrest Warrants 19
Left and Right are items rol tc Violence if
which were seized as part nvestigations
of a joint investigation (with Traffic Crash Al
surrounding agencies) into
organized retail theft u ite DUI Investigations 3
items are associated with
the suspects from Water- EDP | Welfare 37
ford PD’s arrest. Checks
School Checks 83
Car Crash Leads to DUI Arrest pane Vehicle 367
On July 2, 2024 Officer Arpin responded to a MVACC w/ serious injuries tops
at the intersections of Bloomingdale RD and Old Colchester RD. It was Written Warnings 14!
determined that the vehicle traveling on Bloomingdale RD failed to stop at
the stop sign. The vehicle traveling North on Old Colchester then struck Infractions 157
the vehicle. Several people were transported to the hospital for
treatment of their injuries. Field Sobriety Tests were performed on one Verbal Warnings 98
of the drivers. That subject was taken into custody for Driving Under the
Influence of Drugs/Alcohol and Driving w/ a Suspended Drivers License. Misdemeanor 2
x SELF INITIATED MOTOR VEHICLE ACTIVITY BY BADGE NUMBER
a
Off. Diogo: 116 MV Stops
Off. Surdo: 31 MV Stops
Off. Reed: 21 MV Stops
a Off, Bushwack: 15 MV Stops
oe Dee hos 6
ee ee eg ep eee :
95 60 93 80 15 10 87 84 88 97 82 83 92 99 44 54 74 46 89 79 14 18

6 Page 2 Patrol Report
EDP: Suicidal Male Rescued by Responding Officers
On July 20, 2024 Off. Krysztofiak, Off. Surdo, and Off. Jordan responded to an ad-
dress on Wilson AVE for a suicidal male that had taken prescription pills. Upon
officers arrival he had a noose around his neck and jumped off a retaining wall
into the water (Thames River). Officers quickly jumped into the water and were
able to remove the rope, which had tightened, off of the subjects neck. The male
was carried out of the water and transported by EMS to Lawrence and Memorial
Hospital.
Firearm Displayed Leads to Arrest, Risk Warrant, and Risk Protection Order
On July 12th day shift responded to an address on Vauxhall ST Ext for a threatening
incident. It was reported by contractors that had been hired by the Town of Water-
ford to clean up an easement that the homeowner had threatened them with a fire-
arm while holding an aggressive dog on a leash. Statements were obtained and the
suspect was taken into custody. The patrol division then worked with Investigative
services to obtain a risk warrant as well as a risk protection order. Numerous fire-
arms were seized from the residence.
Traffic Stop: Leads to Drug Arrest and Recovered Merchandise
On July 12th Sgt. Epps conducted a routine motor vehicle stop
on RTE 85 for an equipment violation. One of the occupants in
the car had a warrant held by the Ansonia PD for Domestic Vio-
lence charges. Numerous items, which were later determined to
be stolen from various stores, were observed in plain view. Up-
on searching the vehicle a quantity of crack cocaine was located |
inside of the vehicle. The narcotics were seized and later logged
into evidence. The stolen merchandise which was also seized
was transported back to the Waterford PD.

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Animal Control
Report
July 2024
On 7/9/2024 after almost 10 weeks at the animal shelter, the Belgian Malinois captured
in April was adopted. Malinois can be very difficult dogs so the ACOs worked with All
Bright Canines in Montville on giving her some training and manners before placing
her in a suitable home. =o
On 7/12/2024 ACO’s utilized traps, nets and kayaks
to capture an injured goose at the Waterford duck
pond, the goose was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator
for help, the bird had a broken leg, most likely from
a snapping turtle grabbing it from below.
On 7/22/2024 the ACOs responded to a call about a : : eee,
dog who was stuck inside an electric reclining couch. With the assistance of the Water.
ford Fire Department and their tools, the dog was safely extricated and was unharmed.
07/26/24 and 07/30/24, animal control had to make the decision to euthanize two dogs
that continued to show extreme aggression towards humans. Both dogs were found
roaming and never claimed by their owners, and presented too much risk and liability
to try to safely adopt into the public. East
Waterford Lyme
Calls for Service 118 56
After Hour Call Outs 5 5
Tickets Issued 0 1
Warnings Issued 0 0
‘Dog Bites ? 5
Animals Redeemed 8 9
Animals Adopted D 4
Animals DOA 1 0
Huthanized 1 1
Total Processed 1123 “|
Money Taken In 2187 $595
Donations $O7 $A95
"Speaking for those who have no voice"

THE WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Community Engagement Report
July 2024 inheal Od
Assistance to Youth Officers: Visited Waterford Parks & Rec Summer Playground and
Waterford Public School Summer Academy multiple times. Assisted the Patrol Division
with checking the Waterford Schools that have ongoing camps and programs. Visited
Waterford High School for Hodges to interact with student athletes and administrative
staff. Participated in Parks & Rec Summer Playground Touch a Truck.
Community Clean-up: Organized 30 kids from Camp Dash and Camp Cuheca to volunteer
to pickup trash along Miner LN. Waterford Youth Services, Waterford Ambulance,
Waterford Public Works assisted with the pickup. Organized a pizza party and a K-9 Demo
with Hodges, Chase and Percy to reward the kids.
Domestic Violence Follow-ups: Conducted 5 follow-ups with DV victims.
Rotary Club: Attended the first monthl
Clubs.
Interaction with Youth Services: Visited Camp Dash multiple times. Participated in Camp
Dash Touch a Truck and Fire Safety Fun Days.
Interaction with Senior Services: Visited Victoria Gardens, Mystic Apple Rehab, and
AHEPA Apartments. Attended the Senior Services Ice Cream Social.
K-9 Officer Hodges: Visited Waterford Public Works, New London VCA, and the Waterford
IT Department. Attended Waterford Library’s Morning Story Time and a Groton Memorial
Event for the passing of an ill child. Visited campers are June Norcross Webster Scout
Reservation and Camp Courant. Held a Read to Hodges at the Waterford Library.
Officer Wellness: Held an Officer Wellness/Peer Support Meeting with the new
Waterford Police Officers. Brought the new Waterford Police Officers to multiple
community policing events. Visited New London Superior Court and New London Adult
Probation Services for their wellness week. Interacted with families of fallen police
officers at Mystic Aquarium for a Connecticut Police Chief’s Memorial Event. Organized
Waterford Police to participate in the Hartford Yard Goats’ First Responder Night. Spoke
to officers about the facility K-9 Program at CABLE Peer Support Training.
Mock Traffic Stop Event for Newly Licensed Drivers: Organized event where newly
licensed drivers and passengers got to experience a routine traffic stop. The Groton Town
Police Department, Groton City Police Department, Montville Police Department, and
New London Police Department all participated. Had the CT Chief’s Association and CT
MADD partner with us for the event.

Waterford Police Department Retail Theft Initiative
In response to the increasing challenges posed by retail theft in our
community, the Waterford Police Department is excited to announce
4 the launch of a new initiative aimed at addressing and combating
firecr crimes effectively. We understand that retail theft and associated crimes
not only impacts your business’ bottom line, but also affects the safety and well-being of
your staff and customers.
Why Join Our Initiative?
Our new program is designed to foster collaboration between law enforcement and retail
asset protection teams and/or store management. By working together, we can enhance
our strategies, share valuable intelligence, and implement targeted measures to reduce
theft and improve overall security.
Program Benefits Include:
Shared Intelligence: Gain access to a centralized platform for sharing information,
by way of monthly Zoom meetings where we will provide updates on retail theft trends,
patterns, and known suspects.
Employee Training: Monthly zoom meetings will feature training sessions covering
crucial topics such as counterfeit currency, fraudulent identifications, sleight of hand
and distraction scams, writing effective statements, and current Connecticut laws
pertaining to larceny and organized retail crimes.
Police Resources:
To further support our collective efforts, we will deploy a range of police resources,
including:
e “Decoy/Ghost” Cars: Strategically positioned to deter theft-related activities.
e Increased Business Checks: Regular walkthroughs of your stores by
uniformed personnel to ensure a heightened police presence.
e Signage and Message Boards: Deployment of visible signage and message
boards to alert potential offenders of increased surveillance and enforcement.
e Various Other Resources: Additional tools and resources as needed to
address specific concerns or enhance security measures.
We believe that by joining forces, we can create a safer retail environment and
significantly reduce the impact of theft on your operations, and we look forward to
collaborating with you to achieve these goals.
If your organization is interested in participating in this initiative, please contact
Sergeant Patrick Epps at pepps@waterfordct.org or Officer Andrew Reed at
areed@waterfordct.org or call (860)442-9451.

SOUTH CENTRAL CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION, INC.
675 State Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
(203) 946-6072 Fax: (203) 946-6066
August 7, 2024
Dear Chief:
Several months ago, SCCoP distributed a survey on retaining and developing police officers in departments
in Connecticut. This survey is part of ongoing research to identify and better understand factors affecting
sworn staffing.
Attached are the findings for your review. Please note that SCCoP is planning a second survey of police
personnel to learn more about officers’ feelings toward the job and what changes would increase their level
of satisfaction. It will be requested that the survey be completed anonymously but that respondents provide
their honest feelings about their work. This information will be used to supplement the present survey to
help create the best possible description of today’s workforce and staffing. It is anticipated that the second
survey will be distributed in the late summer.
Thank you for your participation in this endeavor. Should questions arise, please contact me.
Sincerely,
arles W. Sherwood, Sc.D.
Secretary/Treasurer
CWS/db
Enclosure

SOUTH CENTRAL CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION, INC.
POLICE DEPARTMENT SWORN OFFICER STAFFING
2024
PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH
The struggle for police departments to recruit, retain and develop police officers is well known. It is important
for chiefs of police to continuously review these challenges to their workforce and to evaluate emerging
strategies to address them.
Recognizing this, the South Central Chiefs of Police Association is conducting a study of municipal and
university police departments in Connecticut. The purpose of this research is to gather data that would improve
understanding of the factors affecting sworn staffing in police departments in Connecticut. The study is being
done with the assistance of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association.
Each department must devise and implement its own comprehensive strategy. There is no single answer to this
issue. This study seeks to provide information to assist chiefs in their decision-making.
METHODOLOGY - SURVEYS
Data collection will be performed through four surveys:
Survey 1 (Ongoing) — Retention and Career Development. What is the status of police departments in
Connecticut being able to retain police officers? What actions have been found to be effective in developing
police officers to increase their performance and satisfaction with the job? Are there other strategies that should
be considered?
The survey asked for data for the period January! , 2019- December 31, 2023. The results to date of Survey |
are presented with this report.
Survey 2 (Ongoing) — What are factors affecting the decision to apply to become a police officer?
Survey 3 (Planning) — Officers reporting level of satisfaction with their job. What aspects of the job, if
changed, would increase their level of satisfaction?
Survey 4 (Planning) — Students studying Criminal Justice ~ What are they seeking in a career? What are their
desires, concerns, aspirations? Are there other strategies to attract these students to policing?
The data from the four surveys will be analyzed, both individually and collectively. Additional reports will be
provided when the relevant analyses are completed.

FINDINGS —~ SURVEY 1
Survey | was distributed to all departments in the South Central Connecticut Region as well as police
departments elsewhere in Connecticut with whom the office has worked closely.
There were 44 surveys distributed. The number of respondents was 32 (72.7%). There were 16 departments
from South Central and 16 from other regions. The breakdown of departments responding is provided in
Appendix 1,
The size of the departments responding was:
Less Than 40 Police Officers 11
Between 40-75 Police Officers 12
Between 75-150 Police Officers 6
More Than 150 Sworn Officers 3
Resignations and Retirements
Total Police Officer Departures From Responding Departments 859 Officers
Total Resignations (N=32) 447 Officers (52.1%)
Total Retirements (N=32) 412 Officers (47.9%)
Departures Less Than 5 Year Tenure 210 Officers (24.4%)
Departures Between 5-20 Year Tenure 308 Officers (35.9%)
Departures Greater Than 20 Year Tenure 334 Officers (38.9%)
Departures With Tenure Not Provided 7 Officers ( .8%)

Most Cited Reasons for Resigning (Rank Order):
--Move to Another Law Enforcement Agency
--Seek Career Outside Law Enforcement
--Family, Personal, Relocating
--Better Retirement Plan
--Leaving Workforce Completely
--Negative Public Image of Policing
--Concern About Health and Wellness
--Seek Better Work-Life Balance
Most Cited Reasons for Retiring (Rank Order):
--Seek Career Outside Law Enforcement
--Move to Another Law Enforcement Agency
--Other Reason

Retention Strategies
The survey presented several strategies that previous reports have suggested may have a positive impact on
employee retention (PERF, 2019; PERF, 2023). Participants were asked if they have implemented any of these
strategies and, if so, to offer a brief description. The responses are given in descending order, programs with
greatest number of positive responses to least positive responses.
« Employee Assistance — 29 departments have an EAP in place through the municipality or an outside
vendor. The remaining three departments stated that the program was not applicable.
« Recognition and Reward Systems — There were 29 departments who reported that they have an award
system in place with most having ceremonies to present awards on an annual basis. Many also have an
awards committee to recognize officer achievement. There were three departments who said that no
formal reward system exists in their department.
© Officer Input - Meetings With Personnel — There were 29 departments that reported having regular
meetings with staff where workplace issues are discussed. Most also reported an open-door policy for
personnel. Officer input is highly encouraged. There were three departments that stated that this
strategy was not applicable.
« Opportunities for Career Development — Of the respondents, 29 reported having opportunities for
career development, including specialized units. The number and type of specialized units was largely
correlated with the size of the department. Low staffing is affecting the ability of departments to
maintain these specialized units. There were three departments who indicated that this program was not
applicable.
" Officer Health and Wellness Programs — There were 28 departments that reported having some form
of health and wellness program. Some partner with the community to provide enhanced services. Many
have peer support teams. Departments also have various arrangements with mental health professionals,
workout facilities and other resources that support wellness. There were four respondents who reported
that a formal health program was not applicable for their departments.
« Monetary Incentives — There were 21 departments who responded that they have offered recent
monetary incentives to their officers. This has taken the form of college incentives or tuition
reimbursement. Some departments that have defined contribution plans reported strengthening the
town’s financial match.
Improvements in the form of contractual raises, increased longevity pay, shift differentials or other
compensation was reported by nine departments. For some, this was done in addition to the monetary
enhancements described above. There were two departments who reported that they were in
negotiations with their respective unions for improvements but that an agreement had not been reached.

Retention Strategies (Continued)
Mentoring Personnel - Some departments reported using mentoring strategies for personnel
(supervisors trained in mentoring, enhanced FTO programs, programs aimed at career development).
There were five who indicated that this program was formally organized and six who stated that this was
done more informally. Of the respondents, 21 said that a mentorship program did not apply in their
departments.
Flexible Work Hours - There were eight departments who have been able to change the work schedule
or who were just finishing negotiations with their unions to bring this about. The object was to improve
work time flexibility; however this has proven to be difficult. Options included implementation of 4/2 or
5/3 schedules. Many reported options are limited due to collective bargaining agreement and/or
resistance encountered in negotiations. There were 24 departments who stated that this initiative was
not applicable.

Officers Hired
Total Police Officers Hired (N=32)
Total Lateral Hires (N=30)
Total Comparative Hires (N=30)
Data Not Provided (N=2)
Total Hires - Department Providing Full Data (N=30)
Total Lateral and Comparative Hires of Departments
Providing Full Data
Number of Departments Where Lateral and Comparative Hires
Exceeded One Half of Total Hires
Number of Departments Where Departures Exceeded Hires
912 officers
211 officers (23.1%)
65 officers ( 7.1%)
629 officers
276 officers (43.9%)
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CONCLUSION — FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Summary of Findings
The data for this survey reveals that 52.1% of sworn personnel who left the department during 2019-2023
resigned and 47.9% retired.
Further, 24.4% of personnel who left had less than five years of service with their department and 35.9% had
five to twenty years of service. It seems likely that a substantial number of officers from that group also
resigned.
The most cited reasons for departing a police department whether through resignation or through retirement
were to move to another law enforcement agency or to change careers.
Departments in this sample have implemented several different approaches as described in national reports to
help retain officers. These efforts have met with varying degrees of success. The most difficult initiatives to
implement have been formal mentoring programs and establishing a more flexible work schedule.
Of the 32 departments responding, 30 provided data on the number of lateral and comparative hires for their
departments. The number of lateral and comparative hires comprised 43.4% of total hires.
There were 15 departments where lateral and comparative hires exceeded one half of total hires. In eight
departments, the number of departing officers exceeded the number of officers hired for the five-year period.
Implications
It seems apparent that maintaining an adequate sworn workforce remains a considerable challenge for many
police departments in the state. These retention issues, when combined with the myriad of recruitment issues
that departments are facing, are likely to make staffing a critical issue for the foreseeable future.
What are the most frequently used practices to improve retention and career development? Police departments
in this sample reported implementing several practices that larger surveys have found to be promising, including
employee assistance programs, wellness programs and recognition and reward systems. Ongoing meetings with
personnel to monitor workplace issues and personnel feelings also has widespread usage. These practices show
promise for improving retention.
Police departments in this sample have also used various specialized units to enhance service and increase
officer career development. Among these are canine units, school resource officer, regional task forces and
specialized investigative units. The number and type of units are dependent on the size of the department and
the nature of the community’s criminal activity and service needs. The ability to assign personnel to a
specialized unit is dependent on overall organizational staffing.
All departments in the sample reported improving their monetary packages for sworn officers or to be in
negotiations to that end. Contractual raises, longevity pay, shift differentials, college incentives and retirement
enhancements were all reported. It appears likely that these incentives will have to be continued.

Two retention strategies found to be most difficult to implement were mentoring programs and flexible work
hours. Effective mentoring by first line supervisors may be especially important to help retain officers.
Only 25% of respondents indicated that they have been able to bring about some type of schedule modification
to increase work time flexibility. The reason for lack of progress in this area is often reluctance to modify the
labor contract.
Some of the most concerning findings are related to the hiring of officers. This survey provides evidence that
departments continue to struggle to maintain adequate sworn staffing and that lateral or comparative officers are
increasingly being relied upon for staffing. There were 15 departments that indicated that lateral or comparative
officers made up most of their hires for the five-year period.
Eight departments, or one quarter of the sample, reported that the number of officers who left their departments
exceeded the number of officers who were hired. Despite continuing efforts to recruit new officers, they have
less sworn staff in 2023 than in 2019. Moving forward, this trajectory will likely become unsustainable.
Exit Interviews
There are two appendices to this report. Appendix | is a breakdown of departments in the State of Connecticut
who responded to the present survey.
Appendix 2 offers sample questions for use in an exit interview. These questions were recently published by
the Society of Human Resource Management. Exit interviews provide an opportunity to gain feedback from
officers leaving your department and to gather insights on culture, training and recruitment strategies. They are
included in this report as a resource for departments.
Future Research
Survey 2 - As stated earlier, SCCoP is conducting a second survey of applicants for the police officer position.
Each person who is present at the written examination states the factors that most influenced his or her decision
to apply to become a police officer. The data for this year will be compiled and analyzed for distribution in
2025.
Survey 3 — The survey for job satisfaction and job design will be completed in late Summer. It is anticipated
that it will be distributed soon thereafter. Again, this survey will be completed anonymously.
Among the questions that the survey will help answer:
--Why are officers making the decisions that they are making regarding employment and workplace?
--Which of these factors are specific to police? Which are found in the larger workforce?
--What aspects of the police job were satisfying? What aspects were not satisfying?
--Are there ideas for how the police job can be redesigned?

Survey 4 — The office is working with area colleges and universities to survey new students about their feelings
on becoming a police officer. If this moves forward, we hope to gain information on the following questions:
--What are young people seeking in work?
--Based on this information, what are the most promising strategies to attract members of this group?

APPENDIX 1 - RESPONDING DEPARTMENTS
South Central Region
Ansonia Naugatuck
Clinton New Haven
Derby North Branford
Guilford North Haven
Hamden Orange
Madison Seymour
Meriden Wallingford
Milford Woodbridge
Fairfield-Western Regions
Danbury
Fairfield
New Canaan
New Milford
Newtown
Redding
Watertown
Wolcott
Capital Region
Avon
Bristol
Coventry
Hartford
Plainville
West Hartford
Eastern Region
Ledyard
Waterford
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APPENDIX 2 — EXIT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
The questions below are examples of questions that can be asked during an exit interview.
--What factors contributed to your decision to leave?
--Is there anything that could have been done to prevent you from leaving?
--What is one thing that you would change in the department to make it a better place to work?
--How did you learn about the opening for your new position?
--What specific aspects of your new job did you find appealing?
--How satisfied were you wilh your experience with this department?
--Was the training that you received of sufficient quality for you to perform well?
--What did you most like about the department? What did you like the least?
--Would you consider returning to the department in the future?
--Would you recommend a friend or family member to work in the department?
--Were you and your supervisor able to work together effectively?
--Did you receive timely feedback from your supervisor?
--Please describe your feelings about the overall management style of the department.
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