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Town of Bennington 1998 Annual Report

BENNINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Statistics

In 1998, the Bennington Police Department received and responded to 8195 calls or incidents. A comparison with 1997 would be impractical, since 1998 was our first full year on the CAD/Spillman System and some forms of record keeping were consolidated or changed. However, for 1998, a small breakdown of our statistics is as follows:
Motor Vehicle Accidents 691
Arrests and Citations 887
Traffic Tickets 1751
DUI 121
Domestic Violence Offenses124

Personnel
1998 was a year of change for the Department. In April, Chief Woodin retired and in May, Richard Gauthier was appointed Chief of Police.

Lt. Steven Brookman was advanced to the position of Deputy Chief.

The position of Detective Sergeant was created, and Sgt. Michael McGarrahan was recruited to fill that post.

Cpl. David Dutcher was promoted to Sergeant.

Officers Doug Wright and Lloyd Dean were promoted to Corporal.

Cam Grande joined the Department as the newest police officer.

Activities/Training
The Bennington Police Department is committed to the concept of community policing and we intend to increase our involvement in that area. Members of the Department are already involved with the following organizations in the area: Project Against Violent Encounters, Bennington County Diversion Program, Bennington Rescue Squad, Bennington Housing Authority, Bennington County Crime Victim's Emergency Fund, Bennington County Association Against Child Abuse, Bennington Fire Department, and the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run. Officers also volunteer their time for special projects benefitting the community.

Sgt. Ron Elwell and Officer Dave Rowland, using training acquired with grant money last year and donations from area service organizations, established a crime prevention office at Willowbrook. This office is staffed on Sundays and Wednesdays. In addition, Sgt. Elwell and Officer Rowland made presentations to various community groups and businesses on topics ranging from shoplifting prevention to elderly abuse.

The Bike Patrol Program was expanded with the addition of a third officer, and coverage was increased to include the daytime hours.

We are sending an officer for certification to become a School Resource Officer, a liaison between the Department and area schools.

Facility/Equipment
The voters decided that the former Federal Building would make an appropriate police station, and gave the Town the final approval to move the project forward. We are looking forward to moving in during the summer of 1999.

In October, the Department received a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant of almost $69,000. Much of this money will be used to purchase new furniture, an upgraded dispatch console and a closed circuit camera security system for the new police facility. The remainder will be used for enhanced training and crime prevention supplies.

During 1998, the Department added three. new computer workstations to the network already in place. A digital camera and re-writeable CD-ROM were also added, with the goal of easing photographic and document storage needs.

Respectfully submitted,
Richard Gauthier, Chief of Police

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