The Crime and Safety Committee of Project ACTION would like to sincerely thank all of the community members who came out in attendance Nov. 12 to engage in our forum to collect input on what the Springfield Police Department is doing well, what could be improved and what other needs there are in our community.
The committee has met to review the information collected and is in the process of working with Springfield Police Department administration to address the points brought up, and will have further updates for the community in the near future.
In the spirit of open lines of communication, the Crime and Safety Committee felt it was important to answer questions that they and the Department could, in a timely manner.
Several questions were brought up during the forum.
What does the Police Social Worker do?
The Springfield Police Department’s has a Community Support Specialist, through Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS). This individual is Donna Burns, who is also a member of the Project ACTION committee, and on the board and a volunteer of the Springfield Warming Shelter.
The Community Support Specialist position is split with the Windsor Police Department. Burns' time is generally split with 75 percent in Springfield, and 25 percent in Windsor.
Burns' position deals with a variety of issues including mental health, suicide threats, drug dependencies, issues with juveniles or other family issues. In addition to direct response to these types of issues, she also provides support and assistance with other matters, such as restraining orders, domestic violence issues, and connecting individuals to support services.
Do we have a K9 officer?
Yes! Daniel Deslauriers, an eight-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, and his partner, Indy have trained together and serving the Springfield community. One of the trainings that Officer Deslauriers and Indy have is narcotics detection.
What information can and cannot be shared with the public?
The Springfield Police Department utilizes press releases, as well as postings to their Facebook page, following arrests, and in events that require informing the public of potential hazards, such as a spike in particular crimes, traffic safety issues or other matters of community awareness.
Matters that are still under investigation, however, cannot be discussed with the public. Releasing details in ongoing investigations not only could jeopardize the case, but could be a very dangerous situation to others. Additionally, in matters that involve a juvenile, the name or names of the juvenile individuals cannot be released.
Is there a protocol for handling calls that involved mental health issues?
Mental health related calls are handled on a case by case basis. All officers within the Springfield Police Department have received mental health training. They work with HCRS and the Community Support Specialist when they can.
When officers go into a situation, they assess it, and work to de-escalate the individual(s). If they are a risk to their personal or public safety, and are unwilling to voluntarily receive treatment, if deemed necessary, an officer can detain the individual and seek an involuntary examination order from a judge. And they are examined by medical professionals and if they are considered a risk to themselves or others they are placed for treatment.
Another piece is individuals who are intoxicated on drugs and/or alcohol. If they are a safety risk to themselves, or pose a threat to the public, if they are unable to be released to someone who will be the responsible party, or if they cannot be released on their own recognizance, they may be taken into protective custody and transferred to the hospital for a screening. Once screened, they are transported to the correctional facility until sober.
What happened to the idea of surveillance cameras in downtown?
There had been past discussions on this topic. Police Chief Douglas Johnston has indicated to the Crime and Safety Committee that the topic will be presented in the Capital Budget portion of the annual Town Budget, which will be provided to the selectboard on Dec. 8, to begin the review process.
Can the selectboard get their packets through another avenue than delivery by the police department?
Selectboard members have the option of picking up their packets at the town hall once they are completed on Fridays prior to a board meeting. There has been some discussion around the topic including the idea of tablets in place of paper copies. Additionally board members may pick up their packets at the town hall upon completion, and emailing the document is also an option being looked at.
No comments :
Post a Comment
Please keep your comments polite and on-topic. No profanity