City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Commission, 27 Feb 2023

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 2.27.2023 Police Commission

Description

2.27.2023 Police Commission

A

February portsmouth police commission meeting.

A

And with that, I'm going to ask lieutenant aubin to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Please.

A

Thank you and we just for the viewing public at home. We have commissioner coyle participating.

A

Virtually so we will do all of our votes by roll call. So I'd like to make a motion or I'd like to.

A

Request a motion to accept the minutes of the 2022 meeting held on both january well. This is january.

A

17Th we had a motion uh so moved and second on a roll call vote. Commissioner sure aye, commissioner.

A

Coyle, yes and I vote yes also and then a motion to approve the minutes on february 15th, so moved.

A

Yeah and- uh and I will so honorable commissioner aye commissioner coyle yes and I vote yes also.

A

Okay, so those two minutes have been approved um and I guess those there's a mistake on the agenda.

A

It says the 2022 meeting minutes, but it's actually the 2023 meeting minutes from january and february.

A

Okay, now I like to open it up to public comment, although I don't see anyone in the room looking.

A

To request to make public comment- and I don't believe anybody's online, so we will close the.

A

Public comment period and before we get into the agenda items under the police commission agenda.

A

I'd like to make two statements: no did you ever. Oh, I was gonna, make a motion to move things up. Oh.

A

Yes, so we don't have to ask lieutenant aubin to sit here through the whole meeting. So can.

A

I request a motion to suspend the agenda to move item number one. Community survey and accreditation.

A

Briefing under the chief's report up to the top of the agenda so moved. Second, on a roll call vote.

A

Commissioner sure aye commissioner coyle yes and I vote yes also so come on up lieutenant aubin.

B

Good evening, everyone good evening, uh as you just said, commissioner, I'm here to talk about a couple.

B

Things first, the unh survey that we just did in uh the fall of 2022, which was the second survey.

B

We've done utilizing their services, we did one in 2018 as well and at the conclusion of that.

B

I'll speak about the on-site kalia, assessing that we had at the beginning of this month. So most of.

B

The packet that I created as you'll, see, if you flip through it real quickly, includes uh mostly.

B

The graphs and stats that was compiled out of 250 plus pages of a survey that unh put together for.

B

Us, but what I wanted to do was just quickly go through some of the more important topics um and.

B

Answer any questions that you guys may have so um eventually, probably sometime this week, the entire.

B

Survey other than some of the redacted statements of the uh comments that people could make when.

B

They did the survey will be on our website for anybody to view, um but the survey was sent to 5.

B

000 randomly selected portsmouth addresses the recipients that uh got the surveys were uh asked.

B

To either fill it out, the paper survey and return it or they were given a link to the survey online.

B

Between october 1st and november, 7th of those five thousand, a total of 659 surveys were completed.

B

Which is a response rate of 13 percent, which was almost half of what we got back in 2018, which was.

B

uh 24 of the time so uh unh says that that's an expected number and actually back in 18. We were.

B

Pleasantly surprised, with the amount that we got for a response: uh the demographics, real.

B

Quickly of the respondents of the 659 90 of the respondents were caucasian. uh The age group of.

B

18 to 34 was the highest age group to respond to the survey at 29 percent. 38 of the respondents.

B

Have a college education, 26 of the respondents of a household income of less than 50 000, while 24.

B

Of respondents have a household income of 100 to 150 000. 77 of the respondents have no children.

B

In their household and 53 of the respondents have lived in portsmouth for 10 or fewer years.

B

Some of the key findings that I was able to pull out and looking at the survey uh was.

B

The majority of residents felt very safe in their neighborhoods and in the downtown during.

B

The daytime, I was slightly changed at night, where they were a little less uh feeling of safety than.

B

They do during the daytime, but it was still a high percentage of persons who felt safe, walking around.

B

The city of portsmouth 62 percent said that they never limit, nor do they change what they do in.

B

Town to uh stay away or not be a victim of crime, that's not something that concerns them. They feel.

B

Comfortable enough to do what they would normally do, 16 percent of people think that crime has.

B

Increased in the past year, but out of these 16 67 of them feel that portsmouth is still a community.

B

That has less crime in other similar sized towns and cities. We have a three percent uh respondents.

B

Believe that crime has decreased, so it's a smaller number than the 16 of the increase. 73 percent of.

B

The respondents believe that the police department, addressing their safety concerns uh regarding.

B

Specific crimes that were mentioned in the survey, which were vandalism, burglary, sexual harassment,.

B

Sexual assaults or physical assaults- they all 73 of those- consider that we are handling that.

B

Somewhat or very well, as that was the way the options were listed as they could choose from.

B

um Problems that the respondents identified the most serious ones they uh they identified.

B

As mental health crises, homelessness, impaired and unsafe, driving and internet related scams.

B

um I can tell you I'm sure, as chief newport can as well those numbers matched what we.

B

Know as the police department to be with the increased number of mental health calls that.

B

We've had in the last couple years, specifically after covid, as well as the large increase in our.

B

Dwi related arrests and accidents, and also as many people can attest to as well the internet.

B

Scams or scams in general are through the roof, so not surprised to see those numbers uh and and.

B

Those identified as our serious problems that be what they are in regards to those specific.

B

Items most respondents believe that the police handle those with somewhat or very well uh and.

B

20 percent believe that the homelessness impaired driving that we don't handle well or very well.

B

um Personal experiences with police officers based on the respondents, majority of them did.

B

Not know a portsmouth police officer personally and what they learn, of course, with pd. They do so.

B

Through the media, 66 percent report that some of the interaction with an officer that they have.

B

Had within the last 12 months are typically at a community event or simply seeing a police officer.

B

You know downtown or wherever and having a conversation with him or her.

B

um 33 of respondents know one or more person uh police officers. Personally, while 64 don't.

B

Know anybody at all personally here at the pd uh perception of the respondents, by of the ppd 75.

B

Percent of respondents rate us as excellent or very good on our overall appearance competence.

B

Courtesy and helpfulness and breaking that down you'll see that 66 respond percent of.

B

The respondents give an answer of excellent or very good about how courteous officers are 63.

B

Percent say excellent or very good in terms of their helpfulness. 61 felt officers were.

B

Excellent or very good at their approachability 45 percent found that officers were excellent.

B

Are very good with their ability to solve the respondents, problems and 63 percent found the.

B

Overall, competence of the police officers to be excellent or very good, ten percent of our.

B

Responders reported feeling hesitant to call the police because they don't believe that we would.

B

Do anything, and although there was less than 50 percent of the respondents who would know how to.

B

File a complaint against an officer of those 50 percent, 80 percent would be comfortable doing so.

B

86 percent of respondents said they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with portsmouth.

B

Pd with only 3 percent saying that they have no satisfaction or very little satisfaction at all.

B

Speaking of the the survey in 18 in 2022 and tried to compare some of the numbers.

B

um 14 of respondents, uh when they're listed about certain crimes that they're worried about uh cited.

B

That vandalism to a car or a stolen vehicle is it's the highest amount at 14 percent. uh The.

B

Other crimes that included burglary harassment, assaults or robberies or sexual assaults that.

B

They asked about all increased, except for burglary, that remained the same percentage as being very.

B

Wetness or various somewhat concerned with state at 34, otherwise the other numbers went up slightly.

B

uh Numbers are down slightly on how well respondents believe police are addressing.

B

Their safety concerns very or somewhat well went from 79 in 18 to 71 in 2022. So.

B

A little bit of a dip there, there was only a one percent increase and uh respondents.

B

Feeling that either not very well and not well at all are our responses from 18 to 22.

B

um Interestingly, where I found it, interestingly, there was a huge difference in the uh respondents.

B

Opinions on the drug problems in portsmouth uh in 18.

B

35 percent of the respondents found this to be a very serious concern, whereas in.

B

22, only five percent of respondents found the drug and opioid problem to be a very concern.

B

um Not surprisingly, probably for most, they were more concerned with affordable housing.

B

uh Traffic issues than they were with with other more criminal, related issues.

B

And, like I spoke about a second ago in regards to the scam, there's been such a preponderance of.

B

Scams and victims of scams that there was a bump in the percentage of very concern for that as.

B

Well, which doesn't surprise us with the amount of reports we've seen specifics to drugs when asked.

B

How they felt how very very or somewhat easy for people to obtain illegal substances in portsmouth.

B

You can see that I listed the five drugs that they noted um everything went down, except for marijuana.

B

That stayed relatively the same. Respondents felt it was very somewhat easy to get marijuana in 18.

B

It was 58 and 2022 60. The rest of the numbers go down. As you can see, heroin goes from 39 percent in.

B

2018 to 23 percent cocaine goes from 37 percent to 27 percent. Prescription opioids goes from 41.

B

To 27 and methamphetamines goes from 35 to 23, so a pretty drastic decrease in four of the five drugs.

B

There this also continues this thought process of this trend when asked about how they feel it is.

B

For access of children to get drugs in portsmouth and in 2018 73 of those respondents said very.

B

Well, very or somewhat concerned that number decreased to 64 percent in 2022. in 2018 17 of.

B

Respondents felt the level of substance abuse in portsmouth compared to other new hampshire.

B

Cities was much or slightly higher, while in 2022 that number drops down to seven percent.

B

um And when asked what the police department could do to more effectively address substance abuse.

B

Concerns that number actually stayed the same in 18 and 22 and that 18 percent the highest amount.

B

Of uh and emphasized, treatment and treatment for for people with drug issues uh second highest.

B

Percentage listed as an answer was harsher enforcement at 13, but both 18 and 22 continue.

B

To have the desire and want of uh treatment for drug users and, lastly, the areas of improvement.

B

Have asked to the responders for the police department or ways that make them feel safer.

B

To what we can do greater enforcement, greater visibility, greater presence in neighborhoods.

B

More patrols, more approachability and better communication with the public.

B

B

Increased acceptable on patrols that went from seventy percent in 2018 to 11 in 2022 the biggest.

B

One that jumped out at me is that in 2018 be more friendly, slash, approachable, only four percent.

B

Found that, as a way that they would like to see the pd improve upon, where in 2022 that jumped.

B

To 27 percent um 17 listed that they feel happy with the police services and they feel safe in.

B

The community and don't have a suggestion as to improve our pd here um and just in the end, uh a.

B

Couple of my personal opinions and looking through it and working in the community for several years.

B

Now I believe that four percent to 27 percent with more approachability does touch a little bit on.

B

The covid times when we had a lot less interaction with people, obviously designed so because of the.

B

Medical concerns. I think that, where, on the other side of that now, and I believe that as.

B

We continue to move forward and use the community policing oriented pd that we are that. That number.

B

Again with if this survey happens again, I think that number will will greatly decrease.

B

And then now that we're back to our our pre-coveted style of policing, uh the.

B

Better communication uh that went from 18 15 in 2018 down to eight percent in 2022, meaning that.

B

We've improved our communication again, I think that's a sign of the times with social media and.

B

Less people are reading a newspaper to find out what's going on than they are following.

B

The pd's instagram and facebook and that's how they're aware of the everyday goings on here at.

B

The police department, um so I think we do a great job and continue and approve upon how.

B

We deal with our social media and using that as a tool to both ask for community help with.

B

Problem solving, but also with keeping the community up to date, with what we're doing.

B

uh And just lastly, my personal opinion, uh I think, as long as we work together with the.

B

Community, as as we believe and have for years, and as for the support of our residents, that we will.

B

Continue to have success here, as a pd, I think, is the majority of the the survey uh indicated.

B

Any questions on that yeah I have a few and I hope that I'll ask commissioners sure in coyle to weigh.

A

And also so, for the benefit of folks at home. Again, the full findings will be posted to the website.

A

By the end of this week and there's a lot more data to dig into here, so I mean obviously it's as.

A

Lieutenant aubin is going through the highlights. Data is sometimes hard to track on. You know from.

A

Point to point, but it's worth digging into and taking a look at because, for example, um what was.

A

Highlighted today about the demographics of people who responded was not all of the detail. Relative.

A

To men versus women relative to the neighborhoods that responded, so all of that will be available.

A

For people to look at online just a few questions about the methodology you mentioned at the outset.

A

That the response weight rate was considerably lower than it had been in 2018, but yet consistent.

A

With what the survey center expected for this type of survey, can you just speak to what was done by.

A

The survey center to get people to respond, I mean- was there any follow-up? For example, when we see.

A

You know 90 90 of respondents were caucasian. Is there any additional follow-up that could be done.

A

To get other, you know people of color or folks who are not caucasian to respond. That maybe is.

A

Different method than they, we have spoken to them about that the nature of sending it out to the 5.

B

000 random people we requested or made sure that that it wasn't it targeted all neighborhoods in.

B

Portsmouth that it wasn't just specific ones or more on one side of town and they're like that.

B

Was something we had spoken about and they did one of the follow-ups they do is after they send the.

B

Initial survey to that residence they'll follow up with a like a postcard or something saying: hey.

B

Please don't forget to send this out so outside of trying to make sure that that um that respondent.

B

Group is more diverse, I'm not sure what else they could do to ensure that the the answers come from.

B

One diverse communities in town and did they attribute did they give an explanation? I mean I.

A

Know we were pleasantly surprised in 2018 because the rest rate was much higher. Is there did they.

A

Give any explanation as to why they thought it was lower this time around. No, they didn't, and I.

B

Haven't had a chance to check with them to see if they have a thought on that, but um no they didn't.

B

But I looked at the 2018, they were very happy with that response. I remember it was above what.

B

They expected- and this was more about what they typically see in this size survey gotcha, okay,.

A

um The other thing I I was interested in when you out when you enumerated the problems that were.

A

Identified by respondents of the survey um there was a reference to impaired and unsafe driving.

A

And then later on, there was, when asked um you know the most important problems within the city.

A

One of the bigger concerns was traffic issues and I know just anecdotally what we hear is.

A

The concerns people have about speed of travel on the roads, so I'm wondering did that I mean. Is that.

A

Sort of lumped in impaired driving and traffic issues yeah, it didn't break it down specifically.

B

Into what you're speaking a commission of speeding, stop sign violations, hands-free.

B

It was just the generalization of traffic of traffic, impaired driving, distracted driving.

B

um Gotcha, more of those, the larger terms, the larger categories. Okay, that makes sense.

A

um And then I'm also curious in the drug related question. You know: we've we've seen our neighbors.

A

In maine in massachusetts, legalize marijuana use and obviously we're right on the border.

A

I mean anything else that got at you know: people's perception of access to marijuana or.

A

Confusion over laws here relative to marijuana enforcement versus maine or massachusetts.

B

Nothing that was survey related. I can speak to just from my personal experience. That is.

B

Oftentimes um that people who are either in maine or massachusetts, believe that it's legalized in.

B

New hampshire, when it's not right, um so we deal with that a lot um with people, not understanding.

B

That marijuana is not legal here yet yeah, um but there was nothing specific to the survey.

B

uh One of the numbers I didn't put in here because it was a smaller amount when asked.

B

What we could do to better improve our our work against drugs, one of them. I remember.

B

I believe it was like maybe six percent in 2000- no sorry, three percent in 2018, six percent in 2022.

B

Simply said, ignore marijuana like interesting. It's accepted by a lot of society uh as a drug.

B

That's not worth enforcing so, but I would have anticipated that number being bigger actually, but.

B

It was small enough that I didn't even include in here, because um I think it's just off a lot.

B

Of people's radar yeah, okay, great commissioner, do you have any follow-up questions uh just a couple.

C

um In terms of the demographics, um you talk about 26 percent having household income of less than 50.

C

000 and 24 between 100 000 150 000., do we and and the other demographics did.

C

The survey center do any comparison to what the overall demographics in portsmouth actually are.

C

um That is, 26 percent of the respondents had an income household income of less than 50.

C

000, do we know what percentage of portsmouth right now? It's not in the survey that I saw, commissioner.

B

That they compare it to what you're asking with the overall demographics of the city itself and.

B

This is just specific to the people that responded. Yeah. um Is there any the last question.

C

It's a suggestion, question. Is there any uh uh thought to uh putting out the availability of this.

C

Survey on social media, so I know some people never go to the police department website, uh but they.

C

Follow social media just letting people know that this survey- oh absolutely yeah. No, I agree. That's a.

B

Great idea, I think the chief and- and I and others have spoken about that and putting it or at least.

B

A link or something on our instagram page, our facebook page so yeah um so there's other ways.

B

That people can come across how to look at it and it's a it's, a lengthy, lengthy document. But it's.

B

Demographically, like you guys, are asking it breaks it down a lot further, just in the essence of time.

C

And perhaps the commission at some point in the future could talk about authoring a article for.

C

The portsmouth herald about these the results overall results. You know in an objective way.

A

Commissioner coyle, do you have follow-up questions? Yes briefly, do you think that we got sufficient.

D

uh Statistically, sufficient data to look at historically marginalized groups in portsmouth.

B

I think it's difficult to say: um yeah, you could look back at the 2018 survey and see what the.

B

Demographics of the answers, the respondents then are and see if it's drastically different from.

B

What we had- and maybe that explains a little bit of the numbers difference, um but I think back to.

B

Navy what commissioner shore was just saying if we make it more known by making it available for.

B

People to look at in the future, when more than likely, we do it again, maybe there'll be more.

B

Of a response or people being expecting for it to come out and in the future, I think maybe we could.

B

I want to say advertise it, but let it known that hey this is coming out in the next couple months.

B

Please check your mail, please check just to let people know that it's there and maybe we'll get.

B

A higher response, and then we can get better into the demographic questions yeah. I do believe I mean.

A

We've the university did this survey obviously, and they did the same one. They did one in 2018, but I.

A

Believe that commissioner ornasco, at the time who was the chair, did a lot to promote both because.

A

He was at the university and because there was a long lead up to getting the survey out so that.

A

Could also help account for the higher response rate and maybe in in future, we can do more to.

A

Promote yeah, I think, that's a great idea. The more people know the more willing they might be to do.

A

It yeah, commissioner quill to your point. I think it would be really useful and I think this speaks.

A

To what commissioner, but also to map the general demographics of the city against the respondents.

C

Yes, just to see, if you know, if 90 percent um you know the the split of men versus women of people.

A

Of color versus caucasian, if it's aligned with the general population, it would be less.

A

Concerning but if it isn't then obviously, yes, you got to do more, make sure you're better to target.

B

Specific groups so that we get in more diverse answers, yeah other questions, I'm sorry keep going.

D

um Just that we could take with the data we have taking a look extrapolating from.

D

It based on either area geographic areas or socioeconomics or any other. You know any other.

D

um Demographic to draw out are there any data points that are salient compared to.

D

The overall you know is there any departure from the overall um results that we found.

B

um I'm not entirely sure how to answer the questions for sure.

D

Well, yeah, I don't think it's necessarily a question, but it's just. Are we going to try.

D

To draw out from the data more so going forward, you know keep.

B

um I think that the the easy draw that we make is- and I could I'll go back to the percentage.

B

Of what people said for approachability with officers, that's to me that's a tangible thing.

B

That we, as a police department, can improve upon uh and make sure that our officers are.

B

Are approachable that um that our residents are our visitors, the community feel comfortable.

B

Speaking with officers, so I think things like that I think, are very tangible and very easy for us to.

B

Follow through with and have conversations as a police department and try and be better.

A

Well- and I think commissioner coyle to your point, because this data is literally fresh.

A

Off the presses and we're all just seeing it for the first time in the last few days to me this.

A

Is a start of understanding what's here and we got the benefit of lieutenant aubin's overview.

A

And the key findings, and then I think incumbent on the commission to really dig into what to.

A

The richness of this information and figure out what, how else, what else we can use it for yes and.

A

Making sure I mean we've already identified a few today, making sure it's on the website making sure.

A

It's available through social media making sure we understand how the respondents map against the.

A

General public and then you know, as you noted commissioner coyle, really digging in to make.

A

Make it clear we we understand what's here, along with the highlights that were emphasized today,.

A

So this is the start of understanding. What's in this report, and these you know this, these.

A

Survey results but, but only the start, any other questions for lieutenant I've been on this topic.

A

Okay, next, you want to give us an update on the accreditation yeah. That's what I'll do.

B

um [music] So, between february 6th and very ninth of this year, we had our uh on-site.

B

Assessor for uh kalia, which is the commission on accreditation for law enforcement agencies,.

B

Every four years they come to our agency and do an on-site assessment of the agency as a whole.

B

um What happens between those every four years is that we have over 400 standards as part of.

B

Our kalia we're an accredited, I'm sorry, an advanced accredited agency, which means we go.

B

Above and beyond your typical accreditation, which means we have more proofs to prove or standards to.

B

Prove and the point being that we're willing, as an agency to be better than than basic or we want to.

B

Be better than that, we want to be the you know advanced. um So what happens is that every year.

B

Between those on-site visits is that there's a 25 review of our standards um done so 25 25.

B

20 25. they at the end of the four years, they've reviewed all of our standards and then said: okay.

B

We're ready to go on site and and see what the pd is talk to the public talk to officers. Talk to you.

B

Know, civilian staff, everybody, um so that's what happened this year. First and foremost, our four.

B

Years that we had for the assessor looking at the 25 of each one of the standards we were, we were.

B

Great with we had no issues with anything that we have to uh fix, or we couldn't prove or we had.

B

Standards that we weren't meeting, everything was great. So what happened is that chief mark scott.

B

He is the chief of police in americus georgia. He was our on-site assessor. He was here for those.

B

Four days at wichita and he spent the majority of those days in the pd and some of it outside the.

B

Pd talking to some community members, but most of it was inside so when he came in on monday.

B

The 6th he was brought inside, he met with all of the command staff. Briefly told us what his.

B

uh His week was going to look like chief made his introductions and then once we split from.

B

There, the accreditation manager, carrie waring, who unfortunately wasn't able to be here tonight. She.

B

And I then took chief scott and we did an entire tour of the building and we stopped.

B

Anywhere, where what they call actionable items where, basically, they have a list of things that.

B

They make sure that we have in the building fire escapes plans. uh You know fire extinguishers or.

B

uh Emergency buttons in the booking room that say emergency button, so that you know it's.

B

Not a guessing game like those are all part of the kalia standards, so we took them through to.

B

Dispatch center to the booking detectives through our three evidence rooms, uh the records office.

B

um Where he went through all of these either speaking with carrie and I or.

B

Sometimes we brought in people who are more uh that's their their area of expertise.

B

um And after that he concentrated more on interviewing people uh kalia itself as an.

B

Agency has adopted a different policy of how they're doing these now and it's less about.

B

Those actionable items I just spoke of, and it's more about talking to people both inside and out.

B

Of the pd um as to how their making sure that we as an agency, are not just writing this stuff down.

B

On a piece of paper, we're actually doing it and following it so members of the pd that he.

B

Went and spoke with at length were obviously chief newport, deputy chief maloney. That was the overall.

B

Pd as a whole, he spoke with captain kevny who's in charge of the investigative division sergeant hood.

B

Is our juvenile prosecutor and juvenile sergeant detectives? He spoke with brian about the juvenile.

B

Aspect of police work. He also spoke with brian, because brian was an explorer post advisor for.

B

Years and years uh captain cummings spoke about the patrol division. We chose four focus areas.

B

That we wanted him to speak with somebody about that. We're very proud of that. We do here in one.

B

Of those areas was with detective jones for our community relations, so she spoke with him with.

B

Length what she does as our community resource officer, we also chose bill werner, who is one of.

B

Our canine officers as one of those focus areas so bill met with the chief for an extended period of.

B

Time to cover everything that our k-9 units do and the other two focused areas were with lieutenant.

B

Benson and officer stacy lieutenant benson is the lieutenant in charge of our personnel and training.

B

Division and officer stacy is the training officer that works with lieutenant benson. They focused on.

B

P t as a whole, specifically in regards to hiring and retaining of officers, seeing that's such a.

B

Issue right now in law enforcement, but they also spoke specifically about our active shooter policy.

B

And that's something that we worked on and and done a good job with. So that was something we.

B

Were proud of and something that we wanted chief scott to hear about, so those were our four focus.

B

Areas so he met with each of them at length, but also along the way he did a ride along.

B

With officer kennedy he went to portsmouth high school and not with lynn thomas rsro.

B

um He did uh went back into evidence after our initial tour and sat down with chrissy maya one.

B

Of our evidence, texts and learned from a to z how we intake evidence what we do with it, how.

B

It's cataloged where it goes to how we release it. um You know, with amanda person from records.

B

Division, he spoke with detective witherstrom about our unions. They don't have unions down south. They.

B

Don't have collective bargaining, so he was curious about that spoke with police. Commissioner shaheen.

B

And he also spoke with prosecutor de london in the court office, so those were and obviously he.

B

Had little tidbits here and there speaking to anybody that he could find in a hallway or two.

B

um But overall those were the majority of people that he sat down and interviewed to to be able to.

B

Write his report outside of the pd and community members that he met with and interviewed with.

B

uh Was maureen sullivan from the child advocacy center will arvello from crossroads dean carucci.

B

Who's, the ceo of portsmouth regional hospital and then on his last day. He had a chance actually to.

B

Go out to a rotary meeting which he belongs to down where he he resides. So he was actually very.

B

Happy to be able to go on his day of leaving to go talk to some numbers of the rotary club, so.

B

um That encompassed monday, tuesday and wednesday and then thursday morning before he he flew back.

B

South he met with the command staff and some of the points of his results that he shared with us.

B

Were that um he was very, very impressed with our evidence room. His words were squared away.

B

And the evidence text works were quote, unquote, phenomenal and what they do. He actually had told.

B

The group as a whole that he wished his agency was half as good as we were in terms of handling our.

B

Evidence so very impressed with what uh chrissy, meyer and elena blaze do in the evidence, room.

B

About the tour in itself, he said everything was fine in terms of all the actionable stuff. There.

B

Was nothing that we could be dinged on facility is what it is, but he said it meets what our needs.

B

Are right now, so there was no problems there. He was impressed that our prosecutor's office.

B

Are right in building because we can easily go and speak to one of the two of them instead of.

B

Having to play phone tag or email tag be able to get some opinions and thoughts on cases.

B

um Very impressed with what lieutenant benson hannah, evans and pnt and what officer stacy are.

B

Doing in terms of retention and getting candidates, he said that.

B

He's obviously been all around the country doing what he's doing as an associate with.

B

You chief correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he said roughly 20 years on top of his 30 plus year.

B

Police career he's been doing the assessing for kalia, and he said that we're way ahead of the game.

B

In terms of what he's seeing with other agencies and our ability to get people to apply in hire.

B

Here so the work that those three are doing to continually try to fill our open spots was was.

B

Well, recognized by himself also very impressed with our active shooter and some of the equipment.

B

That we have in our cruisers for that stuff and our overall plans for that type of scenario.

B

Very very impressed with rochelle. As a matter of fact, I think he offered her a job before he left.

B

But very impressed with the programs that she does and, as a matter of fact, I believe I don't know how.

B

Many he took, but he took at least a handful of programs that he said he was bringing down to his.

B

Place and probably going to put into his community and with his pd some of the stuff that she does.

B

Here, all the time, and as far as with bill with bill werner, the canine he so he told us, there's.

B

Always one thing that he likes to learn when he goes to all of these assessments and after meeting.

B

With bill for 30 seconds, he already had purchased the k-9 program we use, which allows us to.

B

Track all of the trading that the k-9 officers do but, more importantly, it allows us to be able to.

B

Follow where they are, if they're, on a track for their safety and it's a program that he was didn't.

B

Realize it was in existence and said that he literally was going to buy it that day and bring.

B

To his own pd, so that was the one thing he said that he learned that he was happy to take home for.

B

Sure um you said, the training that we provide um is is fantastic and it's well above the standard.

B

That's required by the new hampshire state police are not state police, but the new hampshire police.

B

Stands it in training? He was impressed by that um he's very impressed by the longevity and the.

B

Continued interest in our explorer program. He said he hadn't seen one that it was as old as.

B

I was just that, usually that's something that kind of waxes and wanes and for us to have the.

B

Consistency outside of covid, with what we've had for the amount of years we've had. He said.

B

Was was impressive, um after speaking with both community members and members of the pd itself.

B

If his opinion that we were very community oriented policing agency, um he said that he.

B

Can tell that from the newest patrol officer to the chief of police that that's our focus and.

B

And also speaking with the community members that he did, that they agreed with with that assessment.

B

um The mere fact of the number of students that knew lynn's name at the high school was.

B

Impressive to him, he shook his head and said. I can't believe how many kids stopped when it was.

B

Either in between periods or something, and she was standing out in the hallway and said good morning,.

B

Officer, thomas hey officer, thomas, he was like this just doesn't happen, so he was very impressed with.

B

Her involvement in the school and her recognition by by the students there, um the one thing that we.

B

Have some potential to have to deal with is our staffing issues and the dispatch center.

B

um Fact that we are staffed low enough, that we have to use rockingham county dispatch on our.

B

Midnight shifts from 11 pm to 7 a.m um because of that they take over our communications, which.

B

Means they're supposed to follow our policies, our clear, related standards. They have to meet so that.

B

Is something that I'm assuming or I'm expecting in his overall report, which hopefully will be here in.

B

Another two three weeks or so that is something that we're going to have to address so we'll have.

B

To work with rockingham county sheriff's office in rockingham county dispatch to see what we can.

B

Do to prove that they're meeting our standards that we need for our advanced accreditation so.

B

That was the one hiccup overall, he said we're in a great place as long as everything goes good with.

B

Rockingham county dispatch. He had absolutely no reason to think that we won't receive our.

B

Re-Accreditation come july when we are at the uh the conference so overall it was very good.

A

Thank you very much for the report. Lieutenant I did appreciate the chance to meet with chief scott.

A

And I can share that. I know you offered to get him lunch and he was so careful about any appearance.

A

Of impropriety he was not going to get lunch from you and he ended up at the same place. I happened.

A

To be for lunch, uh and there was no interaction after the interview, so he was very careful about.

A

Trying his best to be as objective as he possibly could be in his interactions with the department.

A

Commissioner sure any follow-up questions, uh nothing. Thank you, commissioner. Coyle. Well, nothing.

D

Thank you for your efforts. Lieutenant you're welcome yeah. This is uh again, I think one of the.

A

Critical differentiators for the portsmouth pd to have advanced accreditation and so for the.

A

Entire team that works tirelessly to make sure we can continue to achieve this standard and hold it.

A

We owe you a debt of gratitude, so thank you. Thank you very much happy to do so. Anything else for the.

A

Lieutenant before, if I get a status like, thank you john and kerry as well for the time and effort you.

E

Guys put in to not only the unh survey but also to the accreditation, and you know these are positions.

E

That are kind of behind the scenes in our department is a lot of work that goes on behind.

E

And you know some people may wonder what they do, what they do a lot and when we come up for these.

E

Accreditations, we had all our ducks lined up and uh I think we, as he stated through that report, we.

E

Impress the successor that came through here and we'll find out at the at the upcoming conference.

E

uh When, hopefully, we're awarded our re-accreditation, but I just want to thank you.

E

Again, no problem happy to do so. Thanks for being here all right. Thanks have a nice night. You too.

A

Okay, so now we will go back to our standard agenda items um and.

A

Back to the police commission agenda items and uh before we we do that. I want to make two.

A

Comments one as people at home may be watching and noting jackie burnett is not here tonight. She was.

A

Involved in an incident over the weekend that is currently under investigation by the state police.

A

And there's an intern internal investigation underway as well, given the nature of both of.

A

Those investigations- the commission- will not be making comments at this time and we will wait.

A

Until the investigations have run their course, um I also just want to commend the department.

A

For aggressively and uh deliberately investigating the hate crimes that this community experienced.

A

Over the last week, those investigations are underway, they're ongoing. They will continue.

A

And, as we have said, as the chief has said loudly, as the commission has said, hate crimes.

A

Have no place anywhere, they certainly have no place in portsmouth and we very much hope the.

A

Investigations will lead to our ability, as a community, to I address the crimes that were.

A

Occurred and persecute the person who committed those crimes, a person or people. So anyone with any.

A

Information related to those crimes is encouraged to come forward. Please and help us solve this.

A

Matter and make sure it doesn't happen in this community again so with that we'll move on to the.

A

Regular agenda items, first facilities, update and start with restoration, and, as you heard.

A

From lieutenant aubin, the restoration efforts have ensured that the space is safe. It's not.

A

Especially effective use of space, it's becoming safer every day, but with that chief, you want to.

A

Update us on an update on that uh probably about 90 percent of the uh redemination is.

E

Done we are the only x section left of the police department. To finish is our dispatch.

E

Center but due to our current staffing issues and some issues that we came across with our.

E

um Backup dispatch center over at station two, uh we had to delay the remediation until we.

E

Can fix those problems so once we have those addressed, then we'll uh finish that final step.

E

Of the remediation dispatch and that process will be completed in light of that, there's just some.

E

Small renovations that we're completing now and some dealing with some uh heating and hvac system.

E

Updates that will continue to work forward towards the spring great and then updates on the public.

A

Safety facility planning and where we are today on that, so we have selected a design company. We.

E

Were actually supposed to go meet with them last week, but do the snowstorm on thursday that got.

E

Canceled so we're in the stages of this finalizing the contract with a selected design company, and we.

E

Will progressive we'll be progressing uh rapidly from the commissioner coyle? Do you have anything.

A

You want to add on that particular topic. Oh no, the chief summons up well! Thank you great.

A

um Anything else on the facilities update, okay, community priorities.

A

uh A couple things just for people's benefit: we are still working to assemble in a road map. If you.

A

Will this measures and steps that have been taken in portsmouth of following the murder of george.

A

Floyd to ensure transparency, access and make sure people that the community policing is reflected in.

A

The way this department goes about its business and that the community feels like it has access.

A

To the department and that work is ongoing, we're working to compile it in a report for.

A

The benefit of other municipalities, and so we look forward to sharing that as we get a little closer.

A

Other things we want to highlight on the community priorities topic, commissioner, sure um very briefly,.

C

uh Conversations continue at the state level and uh going forward at the local level in terms of.

C

Sorting out the uh perhaps confusing messages between the 988 suicide prevention line and the.

C

Rapid response number uh we're making some progress and we hope to have that resolved.

C

um In a couple months, great commissioner coil anything else on the community priorities.

A

You'd like to highlight today, I think just the excitement of getting that survey back, that we.

D

Can now really start digging in the commission can really start digging into some of the data.

D

With respect to marginalized community members and something that we've been uh hoping to work.

D

Towards so I think that will help in the overall scheme of um our all of the community action items.

A

Agreed, I'm looking forward to that as well and invite everyone at home uh by the end of this.

A

Week take take the time to review the results and the findings feel free to share questions with all.

A

Of us, as you do so it'd, be great to have as many eyes on the data as possible. The last thing that.

A

I wanted to highlight, under the police commission agenda only because it's time sensitive uh didn't.

A

Didn't make it on the formal agenda that was online but adding it here under other business.

A

Thanks to the work of officer werner, who you heard about a little earlier from lieutenant aubin and.

A

Sergeant tundral, we have been successfully able to work with senator lou d'alessandro.

A

To put forward a bill called max's bill in honor of canine max uh who those in the community may.

A

Remember died following a training related injury, one of the things that is a reality for the care.

A

And treatment of canine ins in service is that, should they get injured in the line of duty, emts.

A

Historically, have not been able to administer immediate or emergency treatment before the.

A

Transport to a veterinarian and many states around the country have been working to address this to.

A

Make sure that in the event an animal on duty gets hurt that things like a tourniquet could.

A

Be applied and an animal could be transported to the appropriate care. So that's what this.

A

Legislation enables it's called max's bill, it's being introduced in conquered before the committee.

A

I believe next week and just want to give a shout out to officer warner and sergeant tundralt for.

A

Bringing this to our attention and for your leadership efforts in getting this put forward.

A

And we'll look forward to working with the um legislative team in this district to get the bill.

A

Passed, it was also supported by the manchester pd, which is part of why senator d'alessandro.

A

Was gracious in sponsoring it, and with that I will turn the agenda over to the chief. Thank you.

E

Commission the committee survey that lieutenant auburn went on the results of that, I think, are.

E

Showing at least in the community's beliefs that we're doing the right things and.

E

Making the right positive steps to build a partnership and collaborative working relationship.

E

With our community with that said, I think we're working to even improve upon that and and make.

E

It better like one of the things that stuck out is our approachability and I think maybe that.

E

Was related to covid, but we've taken additional steps since this survey to build relations with.

E

Our communities, by having officers get out and taking directive patrols in neighborhoods in.

E

Different areas across the city just to speak to people. So hopefully, when this survey comes.

E

Out again and we'll see a dramatic change in that on the approachability of our officers.

E

Just in community relations again, since we've already talked with that copy.

E

Commissioner shaheen has already spoken about the recent hate crimes that we had last week.

E

We are using all of our available resources. We are working with the.

E

Attorney general's office working with the federal entities also involved to help us.

E

Investigate these hate crimes that occurred last week and we continue to press forward.

E

And hopefully uh solve this pro solve the crimes that occurred here in the near future.

E

That said, we have one grant that is up from the department of justice, the crimes against.

E

Children icac grant for 377 882 dollars. I had asked for approval by the commission. I moved to.

C

uh Accept the grant and the amount of 377 882 dollars for the new hampshire internet crimes.

C

Against children task force and forward it to the city council for their action.

A

Second, on a roll call vote, commissioner sure aye, commissioner coyle yes, and I vote yes also.

A

And and for a reminder for those at home who may be watching uh the portsmouth police department.

A

Is the home of the statewide internet crimes against children task force? We have a tremendous.

A

Benefit as a community here and having this work done here and obviously in light of.

A

Young people's access to technology today and heightened even more as a result of covid.

A

Incidents of internet crimes against children are only up sadly, and we're.

A

Grateful to have these resources available to continue doing this critically important work.

E

Generally, we move on to the monthly traffic stats. Unfortunately, we don't have those today.

E

At deputy maloney is not here and he's part of the park and traffic and safety, and he does a.

E

Phenomenal job about creating all those numbers so we'll have those at our next next meeting.

E

So our next report will be the financial report we'll turn over to karen santa claus. Okay, for the.

F

Period ending january 31st 2023 we're still tracking about five percent below the cap.

F

um Although that makes me happy the resulting reason isn't good. It's due.

F

To our vacancies- and I know that lieutenant benson is working very hard to fill all those.

F

So hopefully for the second half of the year, we might close that gap a little bit.

F

um In terms of grants, I just want to clarify on the one that you did accept today. That's.

F

Actually effective october 1st of 2022., our our our um approval process uh had to make it through.

F

The office of budget and management- and there was just a little glitch between the just grant system.

F

And their system and our budget kept coming up incorrect, so they finally got that fixed and um so.

F

Everything will be uh retroactive back to october 1st, um lieutenant kevny and detective jocks.

F

um 100 of salary, 80 of the salary will be able to retro that back to that date, we submitted two.

F

Grant applications one is the to the department of homeland security for the cert team. They were.

F

Pre-Approved for ten thousand seventy dollars for search and rescue equipment, lieutenant tundra.

F

Worked on this grant and the funnel be used for rescue carriers or they call them litters. I guess.

F

um And the applicable accessories that go with that. The other grant was one that the chiefs.

F

Sent over in reference to motorola's community outreach and they have a program that goes to.

F

Officer wellness, so we're hoping what we did is submit to uh hope offset costs for the mental.

F

Health pilot program that were hopefully going to start next fiscal year. The chief also forwarded.

F

More grant applications for potential funding. One was the safe and active grant that awards.

F

Departments bike helmets that they can distribute rochelle jones is going to take the lead on that.

F

And senator shaheen's office is accepting congressionally directed spending request.

F

For fy 24, as is congressman pappas's office, so we're currently reviewing those I'm going.

F

To look at our goals, objectives and projects to see if they fit within the scopes of those grants.

F

um Just wanted to update on the cad rms system, the legal department reviewed a binder that was.

F

Probably five six inches thick, it had the big documentation, it had individual meeting minute.

F

Notes it had summaries of the demo demonstrations that we had correspondence that we went back and.

F

Forth with the vendors um and basically the references for each vendor, uh we had.

F

To outline what our methodology for choosing the vendor was for, so we've gotten that approval and.

F

We're now moving into the contract negotiation portion. Do you have any sense of the timeline.

F

um I know that daisy contacted they just got their letters, the two vendors and daisy rit manager. She.

F

Just contacted the the vendor and I'd say probably within the next two to three weeks: we'll have a.

F

Contract and after that um review, probably two weeks and then legal, legal's final review, so.

F

um Definitely in the next few months, we'll have everything signed off on and started.

F

And then the strategic plan which keeps coming up we're close, I'm.

F

Currently, working on updating the statistics charts and the chief is.

F

Writing his message for the forward part of the plan and then we'll be ready to publish.

A

Thank you very much karen. So what else have you been up to a few follow-up questions? One.

A

um On the grant, the other grant opportunities that you referenced.

A

Can you go back to the motorola ex the motorola proposal in particular, and just give a little.

A

More detail for folks watching at home what what the pilot, what that might enable with the pilot.

A

um The pilot program, I believe, is we would contract with a specific therapist and she.

F

Would meet with every staff member uh once a year and do any follow-ups and recommend any follow-ups.

F

If somebody needs assistance, I think the chief yeah, so I can add to that. So we had just been in.

E

The process of creating a a more endowed wellness program for our officers, which include the therapy.

E

Program, this grant just came out in in the process of us trying to implement that which we're putting.

E

Towards our fy24 budget, this grant may be able to supplement some of the costs that will be.

E

Incurred with implementing that program, great and the program really is intended to help with.

A

Officer, mental health and well overall wellness, yes, okay and then the others you referenced, the.

A

Buy comments, those are opportunities you know are coming down. The pike and you're working to.

A

Respond right, I was going to say: yeah rochelle goes to many different events. Children's day.

F

And whatnot and she hands out helmets great, and I know we had the budget hearing the public hearing.

A

Chief, do you want to just report out on how that went and give folks at home a time line for how.

A

This process plays out so it was the first step in the budget process and it just was offering a.

E

Preliminary budget of what we're we're going to be asking the city council to approve.

E

That's the first step and then over the next several months, we'll work to redefine that the.

E

Only new position, I believe that we had in that karen was the the social worker that we asked.

E

For I know, there's been a cl, a lot of community requests for an additional sro or two or three.

E

um So that wasn't part of our budget presentation, but it was mentioned uh in our budget presentation.

E

As some add-ons that may be, the city council wants to adopt. So as we progress through this process,.

E

We'll see well, ultimately, what our final budget looks like so just again for people watching at.

A

Home the process is underway. If you have specific budget requests, please make sure you feel free to.

A

Share those with the department share them with the commission. I know having served on the city.

A

Council and been on the commission now people often are surprised when we're in the throes.

A

Of it, and and this is a process that takes many many months to pull together, so it's currently.

A

Underway now, if you have specific requests, you want to make sure we hear or get in you know, get.

A

Into this conversation now's the time, please let us know we don't want you to be surprised.

A

In june, when there's there's less time to to put forward new concepts or ideas, say the final city.

E

Budget, more than likely to be approved, probably in the early part of june. Yes, so early june is when.

A

It's all done now. Input session now is in the next month or two yes for uh starts getting paired down.

A

Exactly okay, any other follow-up questions on the financial report from commissioner sure.

A

Commissioner, coyle, no okay, anything else, chief, any other miscellaneous business.

C

None hearing, none I'll, remind everyone that the next regular meeting is tuesday march 21st. Please.

A

Check the municipal meetings calendar on the city website for any changes and we look forward to.

A

Hearing from you between now and then or at the meeting, then stay safe thanks, everybody good night.