The Chief of Police has decided to add police patrols on the harbor. He has written a couple letters to the Select Board explaining the rationale and the effect on the police budget and manning. You can find them here and here.
For some reason, the Waterways Management Commission is concerned about the Chief's plan. Their letter to the Select Board is here. My reply to their letter can be found here.
My take is that the police are tasked with patrolling and preventing crime in the entire town. The Chief has said ...
What do you think?
... that there are crimes occurring in and around the waterfront. He believes he can accommodate these patrols within his available budget and manpower. I am reluctant to have the Select Board or anyone else, except the police department, make decisions on how to effectively police the town. While the Select Board are the police commissioners, it is the Chief of Police and his staff that should be making operational choices. It is my belief that injecting politics into police operations is not a wise course.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Termpest in a teapot or category 5?
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58 comments:
Bill,
You said : " ... it is the Chief of Police and his staff that should be making operational choices. "
You are absolutely right. In fact Sec 3-2b of our Town Charter specifically prohibits the Select Board " .. from becoming involved in the day to day administration of any town agency." Department heads area paid a lot of money to run, and know how to run, their respective departments in a manner designed to accomplish their mission. That said, we do have the right to demand that they not institute programs that would exceed their appropriation. Town Meeting voted $250,000 for Police Overtime. By State law it is a criminal offense to knowingly exceed the funds allotted for that purpose by Town Meeting.
In the letter you posted, the following statement is made ; " Officers will work overtime on specified dates and times based upon the parameters set forth in the IMPACT program." The question that immediately arises is ; " Is there enough money in the overtime line item to pay for this program without exceeding the appropriation ? "
I did an analysis of actual Police overtime spending going back to FY 2004. In 2004 [ 57 officers ] it was $258,008 and hit a high of $298,487 in 2006 [ 53 uniformed officers ] to a low of $221,391 in 2009 [ 63 officers ] for an 8 year average of $251,123. For all of 2010 we are presently looking at $ 250,945. In spite of a Police budget that is $826K higher than it was in 2004, 7 additional officers and the normal ravages of inflation, spending is level and would suggest that this amount is what is actually needed to sustain current operations. Level spending over 8 years is actually a cut in spending in real dollar terms. This begs the question : Where will the funds come from to pay the harbor patrol if it is to be done on an overtime basis ?
This needs to come before Fin Com with a proposal that includes the number of hours anticipated, costs and a showing of exactly how this will be accomplished within their existing budget.
I applaud Chief Lee for thinking outside the box and I agree that if he can accomplish this within his available budget it is his call and his alone. If this will trigger a demand for additional funding ... well, that is a seahorse of a different color.
Greg Lynam
Fin Com
The chief's letter makes a lot of sense. This problem is probably teenagers getting into mischief, but causing damage to others property. I think if the police are on the water, the teens may think twice. Good idea.
I would think the people who own expensive boats would be happy to have this added security. If the chief is responsible for the crimes that happen on the water, he should be out there.
Indeed, the Select Board is expressly prohibited from interfering with day to day operations by the Town Charter. I intend to follow that proscription.
The Finance Committee is not in the executive branch at all but rather an advisory board to the legislature, the Town Meeting. They can recommend acceptance of departmental budgets (or not) to the Town Meeting. Town Meeting can decide to follow their recommendations or not. They have control of the Reserve Fund which they can use to supplement budgeted funds that have run low or not. The Finance Committee's role is not to decide how the budgeted funds are used within a departmental line item or to make operational decisions in any department, be it the police, public works, or any other.
I believe "impact" is a separate item funded by a grant. If these monies are used I can't see a Fin-Com issue.
DPD overtime hovers around 250,000 per year because many employees opt for comp time instead of pay for many hours of accrued overtime. IF.... there is not a new contract on the horizon I expect many of the members of the PD and DPW to start taking pay instead of comp time (like 2004). That is not a reflection on the new harbor patrol costing money, it is a frustrated group of people making the town pay with dollars instead of time off.
I think a harbor patrol is a great idea and the chief is correct in his two letters to the BOS. Good job Chief Lee.
After reading the letter from the chief, he says he has a grant and a donation to cover expenses this year. If he is unable to obtain another grant, he may have to discontinue this patrol. This will not have anything to do with patrols on our streets.
The chief stated that he wasn't going to stop boaters and look into coolers, so everything is good. haha
There seems to be a growing feeling in town that certain issues should be exempt from the purview and recommendations of FinCom. This notion is ridiculous. Every decision the town makes has some sort of financial consequence. Even a grant, which most people believe is free money (we pay for it one way or another), has future costs. The youth advocate is a perfect example. I believe this position began by being privately funded. Those funds are long gone and the town is now paying for it.
I was surprised to read that there are so many crimes happening on the waterfront. This is not the responsibility of our harbormaster. If so, it would have been addressed before now.
If the police have the funds for this marine patrol, they should try it out for this year and see how it goes. It is not a cost to the town.
My understanding of the responsibility of the fin com is to study the town meetings articles and recommend or not recommend to town meeting members whether an article is in the best interest of the town financially. Many times, the town meeting votes for articles even if the fin com is not in favor. I do not think the fin com is suppose to study each department's spending and make decisions ongoing. When the budget is voted at town meeting, each department head manages that department and the fin com doesn't get to weigh in on that. That is why we have department heads.
I agree with Mr. Lynam and also read the letter from the police. Chief Lee said this would not cost the town and he would halt this patrol if he could not fund it. Don't forget, this is not a year round patrol or a daily patrol.
If you had 25-30 crimes in your neighborhood for the past 3 months, would you want the police to pay attention to it?
To Anon June 9, 2010 7:41 AM
Chief Lee just got here, so we need to cut him some slack. He is doing a great job of assessing Dartmouth's strength's and weaknesses and addressing each - no complaints.
Had he gotten here sooner he would have proposed this change to the Select Board and with their blessing it would have been incorporated into the FY 11 Police budget. The Fin Com would have required man hour estimates and cost estimates along with the probable impact on the overtime line item. A budget would then have been recommended to support the department within our financial ability to do so. Other cost areas would have been adjusted accordingly to compensate for any additional costs, if any, and future projections adjusted. My point being that we would "Know" what the costs are likely to be and will have planned for them.
You are right, the Fin Com never, ever tells a department head how to run their department - that is their job ... they have the expertise, we do not. That said, we do study each departments spending throughout the year in order to insure budgets are not overspent. Such overspending is illegal unless truly 'unanticipated or of an emergency nature' and even then only before the fact - not after the fact. This is the reason for the Reserve Fund which is administered exclusively by the Fin Com. It can not be used to do an end run around the budget approved by Town Meeting.
If excessive amounts of the overtime budget are used up during the summer a shortfall will materialize over the winter that will have to be funded from the Reserve Fund or some Police activities will stop.
This procedure is important because, if followed, it allows for future planning. Monies spent unexpectedly from the Reserve Fund are monies suddenly not available in the fall to address previously identified capital needs. Unexpected permanent increases in operating budgets after the years budget has been set throw off future projections and jeopardize commitments already approved.
Maybe this will have no impact at all on the overall Police Budget ... maybe it will. The fact that we do not know is poor management.
I get the sense there is a belief that things are getting better and that we can return to our old sloppy ways. Things are not getting better, in fact they are getting far worse. Just yesterday we were informed of a possible $680 mil shortfall in the State budget that would likely result in further significant cuts to local and school aid. Of course there is always the threat of mid-year 9C cuts.
The only reason Dartmouth is pushing ahead when others are failing is because of the very tight controls, policies and procedures we put into place to manage the budgets and plan out future expenses.... the very controls I see as slowly being abandoned because of a naive sense of prosperity.
Harbor patrol or no harbor patrol is not important. What is important is that we follow the very management policies that brought us out of the mire and into the light. More and more I am getting the uneasy feeling that we about to go 'back to the future'.
Greg Lynam
Fin Com
How many of those crimes were on the water as opposed to at the dock? We'll never know because our new chief believes he is above the law when it comes to answering questions about his budget.
MGL Ch39 sec16
"Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars SHALL, and any other town may, by bylaw provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, WHO SHALL CONSIDER ANY AND ALL MUNICIPAL QUESTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING REPORTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TOWN;"
Watson is clueless when it comes to the responsibilities of FinCom. What Watson sees in the FinCom is a group of well-informed individuals and that SCARES him. It's all about his ego.
You've got to give Watson a gold star for his Monday night DCTV performance. Along with Trimble, and our girl Lara Stone, they didn't leave much to interpretation when they told Joe Michaud that the fincom has too much authority, and supported the police chief's harbor police patrol. Joe Michaud, in his usual role of delay and destroy, wanted the fincom to put a monetary value on the chiefs police harbor patrol. Mr. Watson went off like a fourth of July firecracker. Lara Stone batting third, sent a few pokes at Joe, while commending the chief for thinking outside the box. One of the selectmen was about to motion a move to accept the police chief's police harbor patrol, when our chairman, Bill Trimble made it clear that no motion was needed, that the chief has the authority to enforce violation through out the town and this included the harbor. Shaun McDonald agreed with the majority. Joe Michaud had his first set back. The other board members couldn't see Joe facial expression.
In the past week the DPD has caught 1 person breaking into homes and 2 youths redhanded tagging thousands of dollars worth of personal property.
You didn't read that in the papers did you?
You haven't read that moral is up under Chief Lee.
You have half the story of the good work the PD has done and continues to do. Yet most residents continue to thing the PD is always looking for more money.
P.S. those caught were Dartmouth residents, not those sneaking over the town line as some posters would have you believe.
"Any and all municipal questions" as in warrant article questions, not any and all activities of the town departments. You may've noticed the articles are put as a question, "Shall the town ....."
If there is money for road repair, the DPW can repair whatever road they want without going to the FinCom to ask. The police can patrol where and when they want and the FinCom has nothing to say about it.
How much is the Marine Patrol going to cost? Nobody can answer that question. The Police Chief refuses to answer that question and others. Those are the facts. It is the FinCom's responsibility to ask these questions and the Chief's responsibility to answer them. I wish he would.
Greg is a perfect example of "power corrupts". Give a man a little power and he thinks that he is the assistant Mayor of Dartmouth.
Greg, you are a member of an ADVISORY Committee, nothing more. Stop trying to control the purse strings of the town.
Continue to recommend Yea or Nea to the real governing body of Dartmouth.... Town Meeting.
Sometimes I get the feeling that Town Meeting just wants to pass things because everyone wants to look like a good guy. You have to wonder if maybe they don't consider it their money, just someone else's they're spending.
When there is no money, what happens? We'll be asked for another override.
POLICE OFFICERS
Chapter 41: Section 97A. Police departments; chief of police; powers and duties
Section 97A. In any town which accepts this section there shall be a police department established by the selectmen, and such department shall be under the supervision of an officer to be known as the chief of police. The selectmen of any such town shall appoint a chief of police and such other officers as they deem necessary, and fix their compensation, not exceeding, in the aggregate, the annual appropriation therefor. In any such town in which such appointments are not subject to chapter thirty-one, they shall be made annually or for a term of years not exceeding three years, as the selectmen shall determine, and the selectmen may remove such chief or other officers for cause at any time after a hearing. The chief of police in any such town shall from time to time make suitable regulations governing the police department, and the officers thereof, subject to the approval of the selectmen; provided, that such regulations shall become effective without such approval upon the failure of the selectmen to take action thereon within thirty days after they have been submitted to them by the chief of police. The chief of police in any such town shall be in immediate control of all town property used by the department, and of the police officers, whom he shall assign to their respective duties and who shall obey his orders. Section ninety-seven shall not apply in any town which accepts the provisions of this section. Acceptance of the provisions of this section shall be by a vote at an annual town meeting.
People, this is a three month part time patrol. Chief Lee has said he has the funds for this patrol and if he doesn't, he will stop the patrol. It is his responsibility to keep Dartmouth safe and that includes our waters. If crimes are happening on the water and the DPD is getting charged with them, Lee has every right to try and curb the crimes. These are probably teens, fooling around, but they are in some cases causing damage to expensive boats. Go for it chief!
JUST TEENS FOOLING AROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO EXPENSIVE BOATS.
What a left wing liberal few describing willful and malicious damage to personal property. Kids fooling around my ass.
Several years ago a large sail boat worth several hundred thousand dollars disappeared from the harbor and never located. Must be a few teenagers just fooling around or one large insurance fraud. Each year the harbor boats fall victim to breaks, larceny of property, and fires. Some years ago a large cigar type boat was found abandon at the town landing. This boat is worth several hundred thousand dollars and used to smuggle marijuana. A Ford F250 with attached tailor was used to transport the cigar type boat found abandoned at the town landing. Each year the harbor is used to transport illegal contraband
I personally believe this is the harbor masters job and not the police officers. Most emergencies occur on land and on land is where I feel our police officers should be on patrol.
Is this good public relation ....yes it is.......did the chief come up with a great idea......yes he did......
As Lara Stone mentioned, the chief is thinking outside the box. It's about time we found a chief who is thinking.
Let's say you own a business with financial advisers. Do you tell those advisers that they should only analyze certain areas of your business or do you want them to look at every aspect? I would want them to have all information and make recommendations accordingly. I don't have to follow their recommendations but I want them just the same. Well this town is a business. It collects revenues and provides services. We have very dedicated financial advisers who we don't even have to pay. They are known as FinCom. As a taxpayer I am thankful for their hard work and I want them to have full access to our budget. I also want their input throughout the year and not just at town meeting. They are called the finance committee for a reason. There are certain people who would like to circumvent or silence this committee to suit their own adgendas. I just hope Dartmouth can survive another round of special interests and credit card sprees.
The Fin_Com has no authority to require the chief of police to answer any questions unless he is requsting money, even Greg will agree with that.
As I understand it, as long as the chief stays within his budget there is nothing the Fin_Com can do about it.
Let's not forget for the past 3-5 years Chief Pacheco was turning back tens of thousands of unused dollars to the town every year. Apparently this chief is more concerned with preventing crime than doing nothing and turning back money.
I am still wondering where the 7th cop from the override is. GREG how can the town ask for an override for 7 cops then only hire 6. It has been a long time since one of the candidates left the academy. Are you saying the town couldn't have sent someone to one of the last 6 academies to replace him?
I hate being lied to when voting for an override, yet we wonder what the new chief "may" do? I feel as though a larceny has been perpetrated by the BOS, Chief Pacheco and certain "committies" in town. Someone please look into this breech of trust by out town fathers.
The selectmen must take action to form an enterprise system for the town police department.
Dartmouth has a water enterprise, sewer enterprise, PAYT enterprise, waterways management commission. All of these enterprise systems are self supporting and all FEE'S/usage support each enterprise system.
When a motorist is find for violating a town speed limit, causes a car crash,operating while drunk, or any action where a police officer issues a citation. This money once collected, shall go into the police enterprise system. What say you....??
It find it amazing in this TOWN!!! when JOE was bellowing 6 months ago, about how the Police Department need a new direction, new and FRESH ides, and that the BOARD would hire a company to vet this person, and the BOARD would HIRE the best and most qualified CHIEF.
Well low and behold the BOARD did as they said, This NEW GUY Chief Lee seems to be that person, very motivated, articulate, And WELL RESPECTED by his Officers, just ask one of them.
Seems a few people in Town do not want the Police on the water, why? your guess is as good as mine.
I support the Chief and the Officers in this TOWN!!! Maybe other should too.
Wow, listening to the cops posting on this blog, it sounds like they've been learning their lessons from the teacher's union. I imagine these spoiled boys in blue will be about as popular as a mosquito bite with the townspeople before long.
Any crimes on the water are charged to the DPD and are their responsibility. NOT the harbor master's. Although, the chief has reached out to the harbor master already and the harbor master is 'on board' with this.
When the chief came before the SB, he said that he is well aware of his budget and the importance of staying within its parameters.
The fin. com has nothing to do with this. They can take it up during next year's budget if they feel it is a problem. It's the chief's budget now.
I imagine these spoiled boys in blue will be about as popular as a mosquito bite with the townspeople before long??
Really? I think the vast majority of townspeople know the cops job is NOT to be popular but to continue protecting LIFE and property.
In return for for being the people that run towards danger they expect to be fairly compensated for the risks they take.
I think OUR police do a great job day in and day out. I do not begrudge them wanting their salary to keep up with inflation, in fact if we had the money I would gladly give them a raise.
Policing has become more difficult and dangerous with the apathy of parents and drug issues facing our youth.
We seem to have millions of dollars for parks, schools, police stations and nice things but when it comes to compensating the men and women who work 24/7 to keep us safe we cry poverty.
We have hundreds of thousands of dollars for nation wide searches and new Police Chiefs and town administrators (who made more than their predesessors) yet for the employees doing the work we have NO MONEY.
The town needs to get off it's wallet and compensate the valuable employees who make these departments work so well.
Four words for you---
Freedom of Information Act
To 6:18
There are many, many people who are (or were) doing an outstanding job for their employers who got no raises at all. In fact, many had benefits cut (401k matching, more health insurance costs, etc.) or even lost their jobs altogether. Why are the police or teachers deserving any better than what the average person has to settle for?
There are many, many people who are (or were) doing an outstanding job for their employers who got no raises at all.
Were any of them willing to take a bullet or fight a drug enraged man to protect you and your family? The DPD were I have seen it.
When the C&S variety was robbed at gunpoint yesterday 6 cops raced to scene to make sure she and everyone else around were going to be fine. Name for me if you can 10 other people willing to put their personal wellbeing aside to protect others.
These people are not asking for a raise they are asking to keep pace with an economy that has passed them by for the last 5 yrs when they got little or no cost of living increase. Last year Social Security went up 6.9 percent, our boys and girls in blue got 1.5 percent. Do the math.
Not only are we experiencing a salary freeze within our company, but we are also facing a 14% increase in insurance rates! We are actually losing ground.
I have no sympathy for the teachers and administrators. They have lost nothing, and are still grabbing for more while others suffer.
Shut up and pay up or we'll be pulling you over every time you leave your driveway. Go ahead and put your name on the post. I dare you.
To 9:23
We all appreciate (or should) the job a good employee does for the town, whatever their job may be. But that changes nothing about the economic realities most of us face for the foreseeable future. The risks and benefits of any job one undertakes are quite obvious to most of us. Police and teachers in our town are well compensated compared to their peers in this area. Asking them to share a common burden is not unreasonable to the general public.
Police and teachers in our town are well compensated compared to their peers in this area??
Westport is the police department making less than Dartmouth and they have a much better health insurance rate.
That is a fact and you can check on it.
Shut up and pay up or we'll be pulling you over every time you leave your driveway. Go ahead and put your name on the post. I dare you?
You are so clearly not a cop and just looking to cause trouble. Please get a life.
Westport police get 50% health just like Dartmouth.
I want to take a moment to thank Bill Trimble, my most logical thinking selectman, for taking his time and energy to evaluate all postings prior to appearing on the Dartmouth Hitching Post. This edited public outlet has allowed me to become the stick poker. It's truly amazing how posters become so opinionated and in some post, down right nasty. Within the past couple of months, I've noticed that even Bill Trimble has offered an opinion or two. Most legitimate posters have their name attached to all post, but where would we be with out the anonymous posters. LOL
This outlet serves a purpose for people to vent, praise, condemn, en-lite, or just read and laugh. Bill Trimble enters a post and people feed off the new post with nothing to add to the subject posted but go off into some unknown subject that has no relation to the post.
I can not suggest any improvement to what is certainly a tremendous blog. I've been educated to many town issues from wind turbines, to Greg Lynam input into fincom business. Police issues and teachers needs all seem to play an important part in Dartmouth politics, along with the stick poker. The two most important elected offices are the select board and the school committee. Each control approximately 50% of the towns total budgets.
According to state laws, the selectmen who have no authority over school issues. Town meeting, our legislative body, shall support the school committee's approval for salary increases, or face the unfair labor clause, finds, and penalties. All other town departments, under the control of the selectmen, have no such clause or laws.
Westport police get 50% health just like Dartmouth.
But their plan and hence the rate they pay is less. No one said anything about the percentage.
A further note to Bill and this blog. One can only imagine some of the stuff Bill must have to read and obviously decide it is not "post worthy". Having said that, I agree that a wide variety of important issues for Dartmouth get a good airing out here. Thanks Bill.
Last evening the eight grade graduation was held at Dartmouth high school. It was an enjoyable moment for the students, parents, grandparents and teachers. It was a very warm evening and the gym was filled to capacity. Mr. Jones, vice chairman for the school committee, was talking but I didn't notice too many students or parents listening. In the opinion of the stick poker, the students, teachers, and parents, just wanted to see their students, child, grandchild, receive their diploma and return home to clelerbrate. The principal did an excellent job keeping things moving and I'm sure everyone was appreciative.
I began to think about how the schools are so much different then our other town departments. While most town departments provide a service, the schools provide a product called education. This observation was like a bolt of lightening striking my stick poker. I have now become a pro-active advocate for education, as the way to improving leadership, and hopefully world peace. I don't know how many students fell through the cracks, or didn't graduate, but I can only hope that a safety net is in place.
In my observations, I didn't see any future street gang members, house breakers, or drug dealers, receiving a diploma. Were my observations wrong? All young people under the age of 16 years shall attend school. All students from the eight grade are under the age of 16 years. Three hundred and seventy students graduated. How many didn't graduate? Should the middle school have set up an empty names seat of the student(s) that didn't qualify for graduation? If not, why not? If we show pride for those who succeed, shouldn't we be concerned for any who did not?
Bill, back in September you wrote......Several years ago, the Police Chief proposed a new structure for the department. It went to Town Meeting for approval and a Special Act of the General Court was required to change the structure due to civil service law. Both bodies have passed the change. A graphic representation of the new structure can be found at this link. The proposed structure has a Chief and Deputy Chief who are not covered by civil service. The remaining command structure are a captain, three lieutenants, and 7 sargeants.
Here is the question. WHERE is the captain. If it took legislative approval to change the command structure, why is the command structure NOT being followed? What are the ramifications of such disregard for the law?
Town meeting, which runs the town VOTED in this command structure and it is being DISREGARDED. How can the BOS ignore the will of the towns governing body?
People (like me) take time out of work to attend these meetings and make our town a better place. I am more upset than you can imagine that the work we do is being ignored.
Is it because the WRONG people are on top of the civil service list?? Be honest please.
In my observations, I didn't see any future street gang members, house breakers, or drug dealers, receiving a diploma. Were my observations wrong?
YES, most drug dealers,house breakers and gang members graduate 8th grade. They were there, they just haven't been corrupted yet.
Anonymous 7:01
I want to clarify a couple of comments concerning what was approved by TM and sent to the state house as special legislation. The chief of Police/BOS supported an article approved by TM to remove the Deputy chief position from civil service. The command structure has nothing to do with legislation. The state house voted to remove the deputy chief position from the protection of civil service. This is politics at it's worse.
It won't be long before all members of the Dartmouth police department will be removed from the protection of state civil service. The department no longer has a police captain the chief is looking to make Bob Zsala the new administrative officer. Sergeant/acting deputy chief/acting lieutenant Bob Zsala is not on the civil service list for promotion. The chief/deputy chief didn't want any of the three lieutenants to become captain. It's all political.
The selectmen just approved Bob Zsala as the new acting lieutenant. Now the department has four lieutenants. It's all political.
The command structure includes a chief, deputy chief, one captain, and three lieutenants. WHY IN THE NAME OF BULL MANURE DO WE NEED AN ACTING LIEUTENANT??? IT'S ALL POLITICS.
Chief Lee appointed Gary Soares as deputy chief, Gary Soares was the police captain. All three lieutenants are on the promotional list for captain. The selectmen should appointed a captain. Sergeant Zsala/ former acting deputy chief/ now acting lieutenant would have become acting CAPTAIN but civil service would not allow the SB to appoint an acting captain while three qualified names are on the captains list. The three lieutenants are also on the list for captain.
The SB want to appoint acting lieutenant Bob Szala to a higher position but civil service is the problem.
I've got the answer...the selectmen should appoint two deputy chiefs. Change the command structure, to include one chief, two deputy chief's, three lieutenants, no captain and a bunch of sergeants. YES WE CAN!
Once upon a time, all Dartmouth police officer were appointed from a state civil service list. The list was established by candidates who applied for and passed a rigid written civil service test. The state civil service/department of human services held a candidate test every two years. This state test covered areas of knowledgeable facts and educational standard set by the state department. It took approximately four hours to complete the test. Each candidate received a score that established the civil service list.
When a city/ town, which accepted the rules of civil service, Dartmouth accepted civil service for the police, wanted to appoint a police officer(s) the town would request a list legible names from the state department of human services. The list of names would be sent to the town/city with several candidates. The candidate with the highest score will be the first to be chosen and the list continued with candidates name and score. The town selectmen shall appoint the candidates as ranked on the civil service list with the highest score.
“The department of civil service was established for the protection from political “hacks,” who try to control the people employed in law enforcement by political favors. The town of Dartmouth accepted the state civil service rules and regulations to protect the town from hiring political hacks and to maintain protection for those police officers who became threatened by town selectman. As recent as the last couple of years, all police officers appointed to the Dartmouth police department, promoted in rank, including the chief of police was done by completing and passing a state civil service test and receiving a passing grade. The selectmen shall chose between the three top candidates.
Several years ago, our Dartmouth selectmen asked for special legislation, to remove the police chief, and deputy chief out from the protection of civil service. This action was taken with no resistance from the police union, or town meeting members.
The leadership of the Dartmouth police department is now under the selection control of our elected selectmen. Each chief receives a three year contract and a set of goals. The standard is now set by the selectmen.
All the members of the Dartmouth police department, except the above mentioned, are under the rules governing civil service. Now that the police departments leadership has been decapitated, the selectmen, will attempt to remove all police officers from the protection of civil service?
This is a good example....several years ago, Bob Zsala was appointed to sergeant. Zsala has been a sergeant for a very long time, and he has not passed any other civil service test for higher rank. Sergeant Bob Zsala applied for the position of police chief, but the select committee found him unqualified.
As a result of Chief Pacheco notifying the selectmen of his intent to retire, the selectmen put a hold on the deputy chief selection and went on a nation wide search for a new police chief.. Gary Soares, who was recently appointed Captain, was appointed as acting (none civil serves) deputy chief, by our selectmen. Sergeant Bob Zsala was appointed by the selectmen as the acting deputy police chief. Acting chief Soares applied for the new police chief position but didn't meet the selection committee criteria for police chief. The new chief was located in Providence Rhode Island. The ( none civil service) Dartmouth police chief Timothy Lee was appointed by the selectmen. The new police chief requested and the select board appointed Captain Gary Soares as the new (none civil service) deputy chief. The selectmen appointed Sergeant Bob Zsala as a (provisional) lieutenant. This act is political in nature. This provisional appointment is valid only until such time as a civil service lieutenant test is offered in October.
What is a liberal? Answer: a person with a heart.
What is a conservative? Answer: A person with a brain.
And, unfortunately, all the warm and fuzzy liberals want to give away the farm the rest of us conservatives had the brains and conscience to work hard for.
And what part of "illegal" don't they understand?
Bill Trimble is the select board chairman and I respectfully request answers to my concern and questions.
Monday night , during the oppressive heat wave, I was sitting in my air conditioned den, flicking through several TV station when I came across the June 21 selectmen meeting. I've been out of state for the past couple of months and wanted to see/hear what is happening in Dartmouth. I didn't catch the first hour of this meeting but I did catch the two sergeant appointments. Don't know Officer Maynard but I've known Officer Lackie for a few years. It was nice to see the two officers promoted.
Now for the good part. After the select board approved the two sergeant appointments, I suddenly felt something catch me by the short hairs. David Crestman, our competent town administrator, advised the select board to vote on some issue that had not been voted during open session. Chief Lee requested, and the selectman granted a (lieutenant) appointment, assigned by the chief as the lieutenant in charge of dministrative duties and state accreditation.
I don't like the young whipper snapper Watson, but admit he quickly chimed in and wanted the police chief to announce to the watching public, where the monies are coming from. It appears, according to the whipper snapper, that several people have asked him about the selectmen spending too much money on police appointments. The chief articulated what I considered a money saving budgetary move that will reduce police over time. Something was still pulling on my short hairs. Why was the additional lieutenant appointment held in executive session? Why didn't the selectmen keep with the tradition of interviewing all police candidates for promotion in open session? Why did two sergeant candidates refuse the sergeant appointment? What ever happened to open government?Why are the selectmen spending over 80,000 thousand dollars on police promotions?
Bill Trimble is the select board chairman, and I demand the answer to these questions.
If you want to kick Chief Lee for his new ideas, the least you can do is complement him when his officers are doing a fantastic job.
Great job catching a reputed gang member who stabbed two people at Dartmouth Woods last night AND rendering first aid to a severly attacked woman while waiting for the ambulance to arrive!!!!!
Just another in the long line of fine jobs by OUR PD. Keep up the great work DPD and Chief Lee.
Seems like the "harbor patrol" didn't hinder the patrol function at all!!
We need police officers patrolling the town/streets of Dartmouth. Let the harbor master patrol the harbor, this is what he is paid to do. 100% of town residential property is on dry land.
Wednesday evening, while traveling to the town hall for the town charter committee meeting, I became involved in a minor fender bender and never made it to the meeting. Was this meeting covered by DCTV??
How frequently does the harbor master need police assistance? Why not just deputize the assistant harbor masters?
What about a citizen's arrest? Just thoughts on possibly saving $$$ and keeping our officers on the streets.
Police responsibility also includes protecting personal property as well as residential property. Many millions of dollars worth of personal property are floating in our harbor and the harbor master cannot enforce criminal law.
Some people cannot accept that the Chief is correct in patrolling the harbor as well as the streets.
Thank you to Chief Lee for thinking outside the box. It's hard for some people to accept change but I think the harbor patrol is a good thing.It looks like Chief Lee and the Dartmouth PD can patrol more than one area at a time! Kudos!
Dartmouth is in good hands!
The Dartmouth select board should sponsor an article to have town meeting members vote to remove civil service from our police department, and it's members. Our Dartmouth police department has an excellent group of qualified officers who can not or unable to pass civil service required test/exams. Civil service has become a hindrance for those police officers who are qualified, but unable to test well. Just because you test well doesn't mean your the best officer for promotion. This is why I believe civil service is no longer needed. Another issue I have with civil service is the protection given to police officers who should not be a police officers, but civil service allows them protection.
The select board have sponsored articles to have our town meeting members remove the chief and deputy chief from under civil service rules. Special legislation was passed and we now have a chief from outside the department and a deputy chief from inside the department. If the two positions were under civil service, the select board members could only chose a person who passed the civil service test for chief/deputy chief, from inside the Dartmouth police members. It's time to remove civil service from our town police department.
The only negative concern with removing civil service from our police department is the politics that come into play. The select board, according to political favor, could appoint police officers based on what have you done for me lately. I'm sure the select board didn't appoint chief Lee, a non-civil service appointment, through any political motivation. I'm sure the select board didn't appoint deputy chief Soares, a non-civil service appointment, through political motivations.
It's time to remove civil service from our police department. Police officers shall receive a three year renewable contract, based on merit, not political favors.
To the person who is saying, no to civil service protection, for Dartmouth police officers. First you must get your facts straight. Nine years ago, the police union and our selectmen, with no opposition from the police union, submitted an article to go before town meeting to remove the chiefs position out from civil service protection/rules and regulations. The selectmen and the police union leadership, wanted Dartmouth captain Randy Medeiros promoted as the Dartmouth police chief. Removing the chief position out of civil service allowed the selectmen to chose anyone from within the police department, or outside. Ccivil service protection/rules allowed the four most highest ranking police officers, eligible to take the police chief exam. The Dartmouth police chief position was removed from civil service. Wink/wink/psst...psst----
The select board, all smoke and mirrors, called for a nation wide search for the new Dartmouth police chief. A search committee was appointed by the S.B. and the best four qualified candidate were submitted to the select board. By everyone's surprise, Captain Randy Medeiros became the Dartmouth police Chief. wink/wink....Where is the beef??
Chief Medeiros, a well known qualified police officer, with many years of experience, met with the select board to negotiate a new police contract. The regular membership received a 2% salary increase, while certain union regular members received a 5% salary increase. Hmmmm!
At the end of three years as police chief, Randy Medeiros receiving his three highest salaried years,and retired from the Dartmouth police department. It should be mentioned that chief Medeiros, had an associate degree in criminal justice.
The same old select board members began a search for a police chief. Deciding to hire from within the Dartmouth police department, the selectmen hiring an assessment center. Dartmouth police Lieutenant Mark Pacheco, a well respected police officer, was selected by the assessment center, and appointed as the new Dartmouth police chief.
Chief Pacheco served the town for five years, before retiring in 2009. During this tenure, the town went through many changes, including new select board members, new executive administrative, and a new town direction, led by selectmen Joe Michaud. Civil service position for deputy chief, supported by chief Pacheco, was voted to be removed from civil service. Once again the police union remained quiet. Rumor floated, that chief Pacheco may have decided on retirement after the select board refused to appoint the chiefs selection of a well known Dartmouth police officer, as the deputy chief. The new select board decided they wanted the option to chose a candidate from outside the town department, but all qualified candidates could apply.
The town police department has a new, out of state police chief, as it's leader. Prior to the appointment of Chief Lee, the select board promoted one lieutenant to captain, and three sergeants to lieutenant. All appointments made through the civil service promotional list.
Chief Lee has requested, and the select board have promoted a deputy chief from inside the department, four new sergeants, and one provisional lieutenant. All promotions, except the deputy chief, were made through civil service rules and regulation.
If the Dartmouth police department remains under the state civil service rules and regulations, a new civil service exam for lieutenants, and captains, will be offered in October of 2010. All qualified members are encouraged to hit the books, and study hard. According to the state civil service rules /regulations you must pass the civil service exam, if you wish to be promoted. Wink.....wink!!
How do you explain why the select board appointed sergeant Bob Zsala as the acting deputy chief, knowing the deputy chief search committee, at a town cost of 7,500 hundred dollars, didn't find him qualified? How can the select board by-pass a sergeant with more experience than Bob Zsala, and appoint Bob Zsala as the acting deputy chief?
How can the select board by pass a sergeant with more experience, and appoint Bob Zsala as a provisional lieutenant? Why did the select board by pass three lieu tents on the captains list, and appoint sergeant Bob Zsala as a provisional lieutenant? Why haven't the select board replaced the captain position, vacated by the promotion of captain Soares, to deputy chief?
This is an example of what happens when the select board remove civil service protection for certain police positions.
Dartmouth police officers, still under the protection of civil service, know sergeant Bob Zsala is a well known police officer with excellent qualifications and experience. This shouldn't give the select board, although they have the authority, to by pass other qualified sergeants and make provisional appointments, or acting deputy chief, with out meeting with or allowing other qualified police officers so same rank, to be given consideration. This is what happens when you allow civil service positions, removed from civil service protection.
We know the department of civil service scheduled a promotional examination, for October 2010. What we haven't been told is the examinations and test results may not count toward promotion(s) because there is a good possibility that the next position on the Dartmouth police civil service list may be removed from civil service.
What shall replace civil service? It's called stroking.
Civil service has become a hindrance for those police officers who are qualified, but unable to test well.
Civil service has worked for years, in this Town and all other Municipalities across the State. Those who "CRY" they can not pass the exam, should study more. You must be one of those, that thinks everybody deserves a TROPHY and nobody LOOSES, everybody is a WINNER, well not everybody can Win, the world needs DITCH DIGGERS TOO, and not everybody deserves to make Rank. As the saying goes do not fix what is not broken. Hey they even have a test for the post office!!
What is an aphid??
It's an insect that lives by sucking juices from a plant. When a police officer becomes like the aphid, he attaches to the select board members, for it's political juice. Civil service protection for all Dartmouth police officers is the pesticide that kept the so called political aphids, away from police promotions, and appointments.
Due to the recent removal of our Dartmouth police chief/deputy chief from of civil service protection, has allowed the Aphid to infect the entire police department, as it relates to promotions. There is no longer the need to study for promotional exams, just become like the juice sucking insect, and you can become a deputy chief, sergeant, or lieutenant. Try it, it works.......
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