2009 POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT

The Danville Police Department, with a current sworn staff of 5 full-time police officers, 4 part-time police officers, 2 part-time animal control officers, and a full-time secretary, provides a complete range of public safety and community based services.  These include emergency response, criminal investigations, motor vehicle enforcement, animal control, juvenile services, and a wide array of community focused crime prevention programs.  

In 2009 we noted a dramatic increase in calls for service (CFS), which were up nearly 30% when compared to the previous year.  Tougher economic times have likely contributed to the increase in certain types of CFS, i.e. domestic disturbances, restraining orders, and burglaries.  While I am hopeful we will see a gradual improvement in these areas, as a community, we need to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as it unfolds.  Please do not dismiss any observations as “non-reportable” as insignificant as they may seem at that time. 

Below is a partial summary of our calls for service:

The police department performed 548 Security Checks last year.  If you’re planning to be away from your home for any extended period of time, please let us know and we will do our best to safeguard your property while you are away.  Security Check Request Forms can be obtained at the Kimball Safety Complex or by downloading the form at http://police.townofdanville.org/pdf/Security%20Check%20Form.pdf. 

The police department also has begun using the popular social networking site Twitter, which we hope will help us keep in touch with the community in real time.  Twitter allows us to post short 140-character blurbs, or "tweets" as they are known, which will alert residents to breaking news, police activity, announcements, and community concerns.  Our “followers”, or subscribers, will be able to receive updates from the police department on their computers or through text messages on their cell phones.  To join the Danville Police Department’s Twitter page, visit http://twitter.com/DanvillePolice.

I am pleased to announce the police department was awarded two grants last year.  On January 14, 2009, we received $32,000 of equipment awarded by Project 54, which is a collaborative research and development effort between the University of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Department of Safety and is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.  The Project 54 system allows officers to interact with equipment such as lights and siren, radar, etc. using speech input and feedback.  The Project 54 system also integrates police cruisers into statewide data networks.  On August 18, 2009, we were awarded $9,265 from the Recovery Act: Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to purchase Vehicle Radio Repeaters through the Communications Enhancement Program.

This past November, along with the Danville Recreation Committee, we co-sponsored the town’s 10^th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.  The event was very well attended and as always, a memorable way to kick off the holiday season.  In addition to the usual “elves” that contributed so much to help make the event so enjoyable, I’d especially like to recognize Al Hess, Charlie Lucas, and the Bielecki family who give so much each year.  Sadly though, we were without Dawn Weston, who lost a courageous battle with cancer last year and whose presence was dearly missed.  She was with us from the onset and no one will question she was our “Angel”.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of the police department’s efforts.  I pledge to provide the best, most cost effective police services possible.  Lastly, congratulations to Officer Raymond Berube and department secretary, Judy DeRusha, for 10-years of remarkable service to the town.

As always, my best wishes to all of you for a safe and happy 2010.

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