1998-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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federal and state grants over the past four years. We which are included for your review,continue to reflect will continue to aggressively seek out these funding that the Town of Mashpee is a safe place in which to sources which allow a quickly developing community live and work. Within the department, credit for con- such as Mashpee to transition into effective programs tinued success goes to our police officers "on the without adverse financial impact. At this point, your street", who work hard to provide the front-line Police Department is better staffed, trained and defense for us against crime in our town. equipped than ever before in its history,to better serve our citizens. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: During 1998, Officer Chris Kelsey resigned to accept a similar position with In the years to come,we will continue to strengthen the Barnstable Police Department. our partnerships with Mashpee's citizens that result in the most effective delivery of services in the true spir- COMMUNICATIONS: Our Public Safety it of"Community Policing". During the forthcoming Communications Center continues as the primary con- year we will continue to refine successful programs trol point for all Police responses for our community. and examine new ones that will allow us to facilitate The continued success of that very complex operation the best possible professional working relationship is directly attributed to the professional dedication and with those we serve. expertise of our Public Safety Dispatchers. SERVICE CALLS ACTIVITY: 1998 was another The Town is now in its fourth year of the use of the busy year for the department, as evidenced by our con- E-9-1-1 emergency number service,with our calls still tinuing high level of Calls for Service. Encouraging initially going to Barnstable County's decreases were noted in important crime categories Communications Center,where they are relayed to our such as Forcible Rape, Assaults and Drug Law Dispatchers. We receive about 50% of our total emer- Violations. After decreases last year, Breaking and gency calls through the new number and we will con- Entering,Larceny,Auto Theft and Vandalism returned tinue to try to educate citizens to call 9-1-1 in emer- to their average levels. We have made a significant gencies. Using 9-1-1 provides us with visual comput- commitment of personnel and resources to the reduc- erized displays showing caller's identification and tion of Domestic Violence in our community, which is location for better service from us. still too high. Our increasing number of Traffic Control and Directed Patrol statistics also reflect our Our efforts in negotiating with the Commonwealth commitment to solve problems through Community to enter into a partnership with them on a radio system Policing techniques and greater levels of assignments that will serve our public safety needs with little or no on a proactive and not a reactive basis. expense by us are nearly complete. The new commu- nications system should be completed by mid-1999 The level of automobile accidents reported to us and much of the equipment is already in use. We will decreased by 14%, particularly in the area of Injury continue to study a number of other high technology Accidents, and was favorable by comparison to other developments for possible implementation recommen- Cape towns. Throughout Mashpee,there is continuing dation if they prove to be of financial and logistical frustration with-the high cost of automobile insurance. benefit to the community. Although the formula for setting such rates by the Commonwealth is a complicated one, perhaps our SUMMARY: I continue to be gratified by the high ' continued favorable accident levels will prove to be of level of support and cooperation that I have received '; . help in that area. from our elected officials, other Town departments, the staff of the department, and from throughout the j; Intrusion alarms received remained at about the community. Together, I believe we have.made a same level through 1998, but we used the provisions marked difference in improving the quality of life in of our bylaw that permits fines for false alarm calls the Town and we will continue to work hard on behalf ^' that endanger officers and waste valuable time that we of all of the citizens of the Town. y� rr<$ could use much more productively on many of our ' Community Policing programs. Through that pro- The members of the Police Department welcome gram, a dramatic increase in revenues received for your input and your suggestions as to how we might such calls will be noted. better serve you every day in the forthcoming year. We know that through solid community partnerships, 41� I believe that our statistics continue to reflect a clos- we can continue to provide our professional services }' er partnership between the police and our citizens. In to the Town at the outstanding level that you have an improved partnership,citizens are inclined to report come to expect from us through the years. matters that they previously may have felt insignifi- cant to warrant calls to the police. Our statistics, 118