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nomic conditions we need to stay the course in the
<br /> Report of the transformation of the police department, the retention
<br /> Police Department of our personnel, and to provide the budgetary capa-
<br /> bility to obtain the newest technology.
<br /> To the Honorable Board of Selectmen The ebb and flow of crime is an ongoing, cycli.
<br /> and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee cal process, and the downturn in serious crime in
<br /> Mashpee has been mirroring the national trend of
<br /> I hereby submit the annual report of the Police reduced crime rates. The on-going debate between
<br /> Department for the year 2003. academicians and criminal justice professionals over
<br /> why crime increases and deceases will continue with
<br /> This is the third annual report published during no definitive answer. However, all parties participating
<br /> my tenure as Chief of Police of the Mashpee Police in the debate agree that more police officers,increased
<br /> Department. This report provides the community with crime prevention efforts, proactive law enforcement
<br /> the particulars regarding the many activities and ser- operations, taxpayer support of the police budget, a
<br /> vices that the men and women serving in the police relatively stable economy and unemployment rate,a
<br /> department have been involved in during the year declining population of juvenile offenders, longer
<br /> 2003. Statistics explained further in this report make prison sentences, and community policing activities
<br /> obvious the major increases of proactive police work are all key factors in driving down the crime rate.As
<br /> that has been accomplished by the dedicated men and
<br /> an illustration, the Part I Offenses violent crime and
<br /> women serving in the Mashpee Police Department major property crimes) decreased overall by approxi-
<br /> during the year. Moreover, statistics illustrate just how mately 25%, while Part II Offenses (all other crime)
<br /> busy the police department has been in providing tra- decreased overall by approximately 21%. However,at
<br /> ditional police services, including answering calls, the close of 2003, the Police Department's request for
<br /> conducting criminal investigations, and performing services and reported incidents totaled 30,968 an
<br /> other diverse crime prevention functions to the com- increase of 3,363, (12.18% increase), over last years
<br /> munity. total of 27,605.
<br /> We have worked very hard over the past three Mashpee officers continue to be proactive in
<br /> years, with the strong support of the Board of their traffic safety/enforcement duties. During 2003
<br /> Selectmen,Town Administrator,and the town meeting the officers of the Mashpee Police Department issued
<br /> voters,to bring the police department to as close to full 786 traffic citations and 1,791 written warning for a
<br /> staffing as possible. That effort has translated into variety of motor vehicle offenses. Officers also
<br /> more officers assigned to law enforcement, criminal handed out 365 speeding citations and 1,690 warnings
<br /> investigations, and supervision of police personnel. for speeding violations. Additionally, the Massachu-
<br /> These efforts equate to deploying adequate resources setts Registry of Motor Vehicles indicates that over
<br /> where crimes are being committed, reduced response $27,000 in motor vehicle fines was returned to the
<br /> time, and more arrests. Putting the numbers in per- Town's General Fund as a result of officers actions,
<br /> spective over the last three years, and taking into This year, 98 arrests were made for drunken driving,
<br /> account our town's growth and population increases, an increase of 22.5%over 2002. It is important for our
<br /> Mashpee remains a very safe town. officers to continue their proactive motor vehicle law
<br /> enforcement because of its educational impact and
<br /> In addition, this report provides the citizens and positive effects on safety. This year our Accident
<br /> taxpayers of the community three graphs containing Investigation and Reconstruction Unit investigated
<br /> an overview regarding the percentages for each cate- two fatal motor vehicle crashes and assisted in many
<br /> gory of the police department operational and capital of the other 78 personal injury accidents. The total
<br /> budgets. An adequately funded budget is central to the number of accidents investigated was 325.
<br /> success of a full service police department to accom-
<br /> plish its mission, goals and objectives. Annual and The Criminal Investigation Section handled 386
<br /> Multi-year financial planning that allow for moderate cases requiring in-depth special investigations. Some
<br /> budget increases for quality personnel, state-of-the-art of the highlighted cases were two separate car-jack-
<br /> equipment, organizational expenses, and training is ings, a breaking and entering ring which committed
<br /> required to maintain and periodically transform a pro- over 35 motor vehicle breaks, a stabbing, a robbery of
<br /> fessional police force that will be capable of managing an elderly woman at Mashpee Commons, 51 drug
<br /> the complexities of policing a vastly growing, cultur- investigations, 19 sexual assaults, 32 credit card/check
<br /> ally diverse community in the 21st Century. fraud cases, 6 arsons, 123 larcenies. Detectives fur.
<br /> Regardless of the ramifications of the present eco- thered their training in response to domestic violence
<br /> 92
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