City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Commission, 13 Jun 2022

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From YouTube: 6.13.2022 Police Commission

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6.13.2022 Police Commission

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Why don't we get started.

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I believe commissioner shaheen uh chair shaheen is um is coming in from new york city.

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All can you hear me yes,.

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Good evening, everybody.

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You get started right away and call the meeting of the portsmouth police commission.

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On june 13th to order at 5 38 and begin by rising to say the pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to.

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The republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Thank you, and now I request a motion to suspend the rules.

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And move item number one: un under the police commission's agenda and the chief's agenda.

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Swearing in and recognition ceremony up to the top of the um meeting I some move second and on a roll.

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Call vote commissioner sure aye, commissioner coyle yes, and I vote yes also, so, chief take it away.

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Good evening, everybody welcome first we'll like to swear in our first.

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Our newest police officer, william johnson, come on up blind, don't be shy.

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This is officer blaine johnson iii, he's a lateral transfer from nypd comes to us from.

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East northport new york, where he worked um in the 75th precinct in new york city.

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Blaine earned his bachelor's degree from saint anselm college in manchester.

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And has recently joined our police department, so I'm going to swear you in look at me.

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Raise your right hand and repeat after me, I blane johnson, the above named appointee.

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Do some we swear? Do you swear that it will faithfully and impartially.

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I will faithfully discharge and perform all duties incumbent on me.

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As a police officer constable and night watchman police officer of said city of portsmouth, sub-city.

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Enforcement according to the best of my ability, according to the best of my ability, agreeable.

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To the rules and regulations of the constitution to the rules and regulations of the constitution.

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And laws of the state of new hampshire, the laws of the city of new hampshire, so help me god so.

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Help me, god, by virtue of the authority vested in me, through the police, commission and rsa 105-c.

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Trusting in your integrity and fidelity do hereby constitute and appoint you a police officer.

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Constable and night watchman of said city of portsmouth, with all the power and.

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Authority and subject to all the duties and liabilities provided by law. Congratulations.

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Congratulations. Thank you got a picture.

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Next, we will work move to a recognition of three of our employees, reference to an incident that.

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Happened on the high-level bridge in 95., the first will be a life-saving medal for detective.

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Rachelle jones I'll read the certification. This is the certified detective rachelle.

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Jones has been awarded the poison police department, life-saving medal for her actions.

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In the morning, hours of may 5th 2022, as per the following, the police department, received a call.

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From an out outside agency, with a report of a male walking on the I-95 bridge, the bridges.

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Closed the pedestrian traffic and is known as a known location for suicide attempts officers.

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On seed made contact with a male who quickly climbed down the supports, underneath the bridge.

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The loud noise generated by most motorists made communications effort efforts difficult for the.

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Maine state police negotiation team, so a decision was made to temporarily shut down the roadway.

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To facilitate their negotiations, despite their.

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Efforts the mail refused to cooperate or communicate with the officers on scene.

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After some time, the mill told the police that he would only speak with a black officer.

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Sergeant kranz contacted detective jones, a newly trained crisis negotiator to come on scene to.

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Attempt to de-escalate the situation and get the mail to safety once on scene, detective jones was.

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Briefed by the maine state police negotiation team and without pause started a dialogue with a male.

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Another officer held her duty belt, so she could lean over the bridge over the edge put herself.

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At risk, in order to effectively communicate with the individual detective jones was able to.

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Develop a rapport with a male and gain distrust within minutes. The male decided to climb up.

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The side of the bridge onto the travel portion without police intervention, detective drones drove.

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The male to the hospital and stayed with him until he could be evaluated by hospital staff detective.

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Jones exhibited quick thinking, compassion and a solid implement implementation of training.

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With change which changed the course of this call within minutes and ultimately save the male's life.

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The lace, life-saving medal is presented to any member who distinguishes him or herself by.

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Performing an extraordinary physical act when the employee's direct actions result in the saving of.

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A human life with disregard for personal safety or renders life-saving techniques using exceptional.

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Knowledge and behavior in the preservation of human life. Congratulations! Michelle.

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Next will be a letter of recognition for one of our dispatchers edward walsh. On thursday may.

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5Th 2022 the same incident, along with uh the assistance of the portsmouth fire department,.

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Responded to this critical, the police department and the fire department responded to the pascatica.

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River bridge to assist the new hampshire state, police and main suite with an individual that.

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Climbed over the railing and onto the substructure of the bridge during the duration of this call.

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You coordinated all requests from command on scene for additional resources and station coverage.

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Additionally, you needed to coordinate fire and ems response to five other calls for service.

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Which require the use of mutual aid, given the disruption of the city and the call volume of.

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Other events, at the time you remain calm and composed in order to ensure the emergency services.

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Remain unaffected, you provide exceptional service and a duty of great responsibility.

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And importance to the department and the community, thank you for your many.

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Years of service as a portfolio dispatcher is a critical and challenging profession. Thank you. Ed.

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Third recognition would be for another dispatcher letter of commendation for tory bemis on thursday.

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Same incident may 5th 2022 assisting the police department, along with the fire department to.

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The squadron river bridge to assist the new hampshire state, police and maine state police.

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uh With the with the incident with the person under the bridge during the duration of this.

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Call you were assigned to work in an emergency communications center as a police dispatcher after.

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Some time the subject's first name and photograph captured the person police drone unit was provided.

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Hold on after some time, the subject's first name and photograph photograph capture, the porcelain.

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Police drone unit was provided to dispatch. You were able to possibly positively identify the.

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Subject and recognize that that he had passed interaction with the porsche police department.

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After searching through uh records for the previous year for subjects with the same.

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First name as the subject on the bridge, you were able to narrow down the search results.

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And compare the photograph provided against the department of motor vehicle photos from prior.

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Arrest subjects: this information was relayed to the officers on the bridge.

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That were interacting with the mail. This information provided instrumental in bringing the.

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Incident to a successful conclusion tori, I commend you for your exceptional service and duty of great.

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Responsibility importance to the department and the community graduate congratulations.

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Thank you chief, and I know I speak on behalf of the entire commission when I say.

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How grateful we are for the extraordinary work that was done to save a member of the greater.

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Seacoast community's life truly exceptional police work and we're we're lucky to have such.

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Fine folks here doing such terrific work so with that I will move to ask that we accept.

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Accept the minutes or propose any changes to the minutes from the meeting held on may 17th.

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Oh okay, I thought you made the motion. I moved to accept the minutes uh of the may 17 2022 meeting.

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Second, on our roll call vote, commissioner sure aye, commissioner coyle. Yes,.

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And I vote yes also, so the minutes are approved and now I would like to open it.

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Up to public comments, anyone in the audience still who would like to make public comment.

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There does not appear to be anyone in the audience. It's not appear so, okay. Well with that.

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We will close the public comment period and move on to police commission agenda items and started.

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Already with the acknowledgements, so thank you. Thank you again for that. Chief um in terms of the.

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Facilities update I'd like to preemptively open the facilities update with their request that we.

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Make a motion to encourage the city council and the city manager to form a working group.

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Now that the budget has been approved to move the planning process forward,.

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For the space needs of the department- so perhaps maybe we just just to make it official make a.

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Motion to send a request to the city manager and city council for the formation of a working group.

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To to move the planning process forward for the public safety facility, I moved to.

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Make a recommendation to the city council to form a working group to move forward with.

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The next steps in uh uh public, safe public safety facility planning, nice, second, that great and on a.

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Roll call vote commissioner shirt aye, commissioner coyle yes, and I vote yes also. So our minutes for.

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This meeting will reflect the request, then we'll follow up with the city, manager and city council.

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um With that uh turn it to you, chief for an update on the restoration.

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How things are going with the current space.

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So uh up to date, where we are today, detectives bureau is almost complete. Most of the construction.

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Has been done now we're just in the process of moving all the furniture in and we are.

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In the planning stages for the next phase, which goes into the basement,.

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And lining up all the contractors and dates and coordination of.

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When things need to be moved and make the occur, appropriate accommodations for that phase of again.

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Okay, any questions, commissioner coyle none from me. Nor do I have any questions.

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Okay, so we'll move on um to the community priorities.

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I know, uh commissioner quill, do you want to report out on the tracking document? Yes, so the tracking.

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Document is now up on the website for everyone to access, um so you know again just an effort towards.

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Great more transparency, so the community can see where we're going and what's we anticipate, we will.

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Update it monthly with any changes of so it stays current. Thank you to jackie for.

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Getting it up on the website for us, I think, in terms of progress, I'm going to pass it on to.

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Commissioner scherr, who had been working on a draft policy for regarding nda agreements,.

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Thank you. um I've circulated uh with the chief with the city attorney and.

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With the my fellow commissioners, a draft for a nondisclosure agreement that is.

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Nda policy, without going into the details of the policy, it basically recognizes that.

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There is a uh a preference uh uh among all those I've talked to which include.

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City council, this excuse me the police, commissioners, uh the chief uh and.

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The uh attorney for primax, uh the city insurer, so to speak, there's a preference for.

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Transparency and not having a blanket policy where there's always an nda in settlement.

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Agreements involving the police department, and so this policy seeks to implement that and have a.

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Case-By-Case basis uh upon which we make a decision as to whether there is an nda or.

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Not accompanying the settlement uh and it has a significant bias towards transparency and not.

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Having an nda yet it recognizes, there may well be cases in which nda is appropriate. It also.

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Has built into it uh the uh the requirement that, uh if desired, the uh victim of any.

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Claim against the police department uh uh may request, and it will be granted uh that there be.

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An nda or that their name be uh uh edited out of uh any uh any settlement agreement.

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For which there is not an nda, um that's a brief summary of the policy. My understanding is we'll.

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uh If we'll have discussion today, if any and then we will vote on this at our next meeting,.

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And, commissioner sure, can you let folks in the community know where they can access the.

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Draft policy, if they'd like to make comment, I believe, we'll make it available on the website.

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Great commissioner coyle, do you have any comments on the current draft.

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I don't, I think it um is definitely moving in the right direction of transparency, but also.

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Recognizing the sort of will and making sure we're giving victims if you will or.

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The opportunity to have their discretion in the trajectory of any settlement agreement.

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I share those sentiments as well. Anyone else want to comment on the working draft.

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Okay, thank you, commissioner, sure, we'll make sure that the draft gets posted to the website.

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And look forward to public comments at the next meeting, so we can move move this document forward.

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The other update on the community priorities that will be, I think, important for the community.

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To hear is a mobile crisis response will enter into about the halfway mark of the launch in july.

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As people may recall, starting in january, we began working uh long before january, but.

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Effective in january, uh we began working with uh second mental health as part of an emergency.

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Mobile crisis response that has been getting up to speed and we're hoping to have an update for.

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Everybody at the july meeting uh once once it hits the seven month mark um so stay tuned for.

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More information and report out on how that is going. But I know, as I've heard from then.

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Acting chief mike maloney and and others, we are actively partnering. We are actively responding.

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Together with ceco's mental health, and it's already making a difference, um I I don't know.

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Chief or or captain maloney, either of you want to chime in there. Well, I just reiterate what you.

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Already stated, we have a good working relationship with the mobile crisis response team.

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It's been coming along slowly but progressively and as time moves forward. It's getting better and.

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Better and we've uh worked several times together and had successful solutions to the situations and.

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Going forward, we only think it's going to get better as a working relationship.

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I would, I would also add that it's anticipated that, as of july 1st, uh the 988 number will be.

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Active that is it's a it's a separate number for a person in crisis or a.

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Relative or friend of a person in crisis to call uh and it uh there has been a lot of training.

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Training, the 988 operators uh to be able to refer to the right entities.

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And we anticipate that will make things run even more smoothly.

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Great um anything else on community priorities before we move on to.

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So the next item is about the the budget work session and really this is just an opportunity.

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To thank the council for the commitment made to the department and getting getting us.

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Moving in the direction we need to keep building toward and a sincere debt of gratitude to karen.

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Who has worked higher tirelessly on behalf of the department and the commission and the.

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Council to answer every question to provide as much detailed information as possible.

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um Including the imp, the impact and implications of uh four percent cola.

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Outside of contract negotiations, which uh was was an all-encompassing, time-consuming effort, so.

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Thank you karen for that outstanding work and sincere thanks to the council for.

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uh Stepping up and and doing what we need to do to make sure the department can continue.

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Building on on the success we've we've been able to just to see in the last few years.

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Any any comments or questions from my fellow commissioners on the.

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Budgeting process, uh none from me other than the second, your, uh your thanks to uh karen.

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um I think uh at the at the last minute, some of the information she was able to provide.

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To the council made a huge difference and uh we really appreciate that.

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And I just echo those same sentiments really. I can't I said it to uh karen directly but uh really.

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It's nice to say publicly how hard she worked to um you know create, go through everything, create a.

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Document track the history: it was uh really really effective so and very time consuming. I'm sure.

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Agreed, if I could just add the to karen and captain mike maloney, who put a lot of.

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Time and effort into that, in my absence, uh they did a phenomenal job working with the.

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The us commissioners and the council and the manager.

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To get everything approved that we did and very appreciative of the support we received.

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Yes agreed, and I you you beat me to it chief, I was going to say the same thing about uh captain.

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Maloney not just his tireless efforts to help with the budget process and that planning work.

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That went into uh so much effort and time, but his leadership. In your absence. We really didn't miss.

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A beat and we're lucky to have him in that role. I think you know hours hours after your departure. We.

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Found out, the president was coming to portsmouth and, and the budget fell squarely in the middle of.

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Your of your time away, so uh captain maloney we're very grateful for your extraordinary leadership.

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And your tireless efforts and we're grateful that uh we we now have the one-two punch back with.

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The two of you uh in your roles, but we really do appreciate all the time you've invested over the.

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Last few months, in the chief's absence, um and with that we also have to before I turn turn the agenda.

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Over to you chief, I have to uh say a huge round of gratitude, appreciation and congratulations to you.

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For completion of the fbi academy and all the training and time and energy away from your family.

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That was spent over the last many months to put yourself in an even better position to help steer.

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The ship of this department and we're we're proud of you and glad you're back safely and.

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Glad it was such a successful experience and know that the department will benefit immensely from.

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Your your expertise and all the training you just received, thank you.

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And with that I'll turn it over to you for your agenda items.

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All right, let's gonna, move on to some letters of recognition from the community.

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First, one is to recognize officer, matt lorero, who we received a thank you from a resident.

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That was appreciative that barcelona responded to assist a woman on islington street that was locked.

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Out of her apartment, he responded and helped by contacting the police department to help this.

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Elderly woman, who was in distress, get back into apartment by having the police department come.

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And assist to open her door, her letters to says thank you so much her friend and god bless betty.

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The next letter is in recognition of detective jones reference to the incident that.

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She received her life saving award for from resident lisa wolford. Just writing to thank.

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Detective jones for her actions on may 5th news reports describe detective jones, bravery and.

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Skill in negotiating with a suicidal man during what was undoubtedly a frightening exceptionally.

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Intense situation, detective jones played a pivotal pivotal role in saving the man's life.

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And I'm confident that the department will commend and recognize her for her actions, sincerely lisa.

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Next letter of recognition is from former mayor bob lister.

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Conveying his great appreciation to acting chief mike maloney and chris cummings.

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For their support and presence presence of officers at the high school today for our.

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Bench dedication we had a very successful day and thanking them for their support. Bob lister.

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Next letter of recognition, recognition is in regards to.

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The incident around the aldi and the police's response to the public.

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And addressing uh our community and what we're capable of and prepared for it if the unforeseen.

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Incident were ever to occur here in portsmouth a letter states. Thank you for your excellent.

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Information provided in the communications to the school community. This was called for and.

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You delivered your preparations are understood, expectations are aligned, confidence is restored.

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I have kids in the school system. Attention to their safety is a prime concern. Keith wilkinson.

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That's all for uh letters of recon record recognition. The next step will be chief. Can.

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I add, and I had one that we received along the same lines relative to school patrols.

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From kirsten calkins, I wanted to reach out and thank the portsmouth police department.

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For increasing patrols around our city schools, after the horrific news out of texas.

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As a parent, the increased presence not only helps ease anxieties but also shows a commitment to keep.

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Our kids in school, safe. I also think the increased presence is a great opportunity to foster positive.

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Relationships between our youngest citizens and the officers that keep us safe, I know having an.

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Officer at every school all day is unrealistic. I'm hopeful this presence will continue into.

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The next school year, thank you again and she's a first grade parent at new franklin, school, okay,.

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Next, we'll move into the traffic stats for june 13th. uh Well, these are may stats the month of may.

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We had 647 motor vehicle stops, 34 summonses, 59 arrests and 29, reportable motor vehicle crashes.

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Next, we'll move into the financial, could I.

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Do we have to, um uh I believe, there's an item on the agenda about a donation.

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Yes, donations, a donation was made in by an anonymous donor in the amount.

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Of five thousand dollars for the postal police, honor guard.

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If I could ask the chief of question, was this a solicited.

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Donation or unsolicited, this was unsolicited. We have people who contact my office on.

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Pretty regularly asking to make a donation to the police department and ask where the money could.

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Best be used, and my reply was at the time, was for the honor guide for this particular donation.

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I would make a motion to accept the unsolicited donation in the amount of five thousand dollars.

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For the portsmouth police, honor guard and forward that to the city council for their action. Second,.

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And roll call vote, commissioner sure, commissioner coyle yes and I vote yes also.

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So now we want to move on to the financial report. Yep, um we are finishing the.

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Fiscal year very well, um as of the end of may, we are about four percent below the cap.

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For this period, so I'm comfortable, we will end the year in the black and be able to return funds.

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um In the public session in one of the city council meetings, somebody had mentioned that.

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Returning funds means you didn't do your budget properly, so I just wanted to reiterate that.

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um You know it's our best projection full staff, all the other operating the overtime projected.

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It's our best guess, but as the year goes through, we have unexpected vacancies.

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An item will cost less than quoted, so we do return funds.

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But likewise, when you're going through the fiscal year, many things come up during our.

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Fiscal year that are unplanned unbudgeted and we do our best to absorb those costs.

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It's just all part of the budgeting process during the fiscal year, so we're hoping to.

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Return quite a bit of funds this year because of our vacancies. Fy 23 we're getting ready for that.

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As you stated, um they approved uh additional positions were returning the 69th position.

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That was cut during the economic downturn in 2008 to 2012. um we're restoring the 1770th.

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Officer which was cut back in 2004 and the crime analyst that was cut in about 2008.

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And then um in preparation for the opening of fight, 23 comes the close of fy 22, so we're also.

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Prepping for that and then in terms of grants, we just got the paperwork today from the state.

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For the 700 000 icac arpa funds that we're going to be submitting an application for.

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And then also, we met with a new icac federal administrator this week and the new icat grant.

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For the federal funds is coming out, probably within the next month. They don't know what they're.

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Going to be allotting us, but hopefully it'll be close to what we had last year and that's it.

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Any questions for the chief or caring commissioner sure no commissioner coyle no.

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um One note maybe jackie we can circle back on. If you don't mind just making a.

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Note in the minutes it would be terrific if we could um engage the icac uh folks.

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Just I've heard many things circulating about different schemes and scams and I think it might.

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I know that one of the things that task force does is informational sharing about things to.

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Be on the lookout and trainings, especially for parents, uh it might be helpful to get some of.

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That more current information posted on the website, I've heard I've received correspondence.

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From several folks recently, just about one of the same scams that keeps keeps circulating targeting.

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Young kids on social media, so more information we can provide and one of the benefits of.

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Having the task force for the entire state run out of portsmouth, is we have access to.

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This information in as timely a way as possible, so you can get some of that content up on the website.

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All right any other miscellaneous business.

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One thing I will note is that we may need to be pushed uh rescheduling. Our july meetings.

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So we'll make sure it's amply noticed, but it may be pushed to the following week. Looking at.

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July 26th, but that hasn't yet been confirmed, but it definitely will not be on july 19th.

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So stay tuned for more information on the data. The next meeting.

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Any other comments, questions miscellaneous business to cover.

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I don't think in closing I just I just would like to say that um you know the chief's participation.

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In the fbi academy, the acknowledgements tonight of uh folks, like detective jones and her outstanding.

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Work really enumerate some of the challenges people are experiencing in in our community.

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And the importance of training to adequately address the changing needs of our community and.

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I just want to thank you all again for that. That's outstanding work, it's a tough time for people and.

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And the department is needed more than ever and I'm grateful for the outstanding work. That's being.

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Done so thanks everybody. Thank you. How would that mention to adjourn move to adjourn? Second, we'll.

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Call vote commissioner sure aye. Commissioner coyle. Yes, okay, adjourned thanks, everybody.

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