Record-Journal
08-10-2007, 01:07 AM
MERIDEN -- The police department is planning to expand its Neighborhood Initiative program to cover the north end of the city. It is also looking to increase its presence downtown.
The department’s crime suppression unit, technology division and administrative arm may also see some changes.
Such restructuring was supported unanimously by members of the City Council’s public safety and finance committees Thursday, but the police department must seek City Council approval before making any changes because there is a financial impact.
There will be salary increases due to more responsibility and changes in rank, said Police Chief Jeffry Cossette.
“I’m looking to make a few promotions,” he said.
Three patrol sergeants will be named lieutenants and one detective sergeant will be promoted to detective lieutenant.
Cossette cannot make those appointments until the entire City Council adopts the resolution, he said.
Changes within the department will enable Cossette to assign two more officers to the Neighborhood Initiative, he said. One officer will work in the north and south areas of Meriden, while the other will be on bicycle patrol in downtown Meriden during business hours Monday through Friday.
Downtown business owners have been looking for more extensive police coverage, City Manager Lawrence Kendzior said.
The boundaries for the Neighborhood Initiative’s possible new coverage areas have not been determined yet, but Cossette said it would at least stretch north of City Park to North Colony Street.
While some responsibilities will change for certain police officers, the number of patrol supervisors will remain at 21, Cossette said.
Cossette began the Neighborhood Initiative when he became police chief in 2004. The program has been considered a scaled-back version of community policing.
Citing budget concerns, former Chief William Abbatematteo dismantled Meriden’s community policing program in 2003.
Thursday, the police department asked city councilors if it could use about $18,000 to give the four officers pay raises. The money will be found in an existing salary account for fiscal year 2007-08.
Next year, however, the source of funding is unknown. Cossette said salaries would increase according to contract and he expects to be seeking about $28,000 to continue any expansion made this year.
In addition to tweaking the Neighborhood Initiative, Cossette is advocating for a detective lieutenant for the Crime Suppression Unit. This person would take on more responsibility, he said, adding that this is an alternative to hiring another officer.
Cossette also wants an executive officer. This person would have a variety of duties, he said, that would involve communications, human relations, training, and work on securing state and federal grants for the department.
“There’s so many duties this officer will perform,” Cossette said.
Cossette also said the department could benefit from incorporating the Technology Division with its Records Division. He would promote an officer to lieutenant and that officer would oversee both areas, he said.
“I’m very supportive of it,” Deputy Mayor Matthew C. Dominello Sr. told Cossette of the department’s plans. “You are moving in the right direction.”
The department’s crime suppression unit, technology division and administrative arm may also see some changes.
Such restructuring was supported unanimously by members of the City Council’s public safety and finance committees Thursday, but the police department must seek City Council approval before making any changes because there is a financial impact.
There will be salary increases due to more responsibility and changes in rank, said Police Chief Jeffry Cossette.
“I’m looking to make a few promotions,” he said.
Three patrol sergeants will be named lieutenants and one detective sergeant will be promoted to detective lieutenant.
Cossette cannot make those appointments until the entire City Council adopts the resolution, he said.
Changes within the department will enable Cossette to assign two more officers to the Neighborhood Initiative, he said. One officer will work in the north and south areas of Meriden, while the other will be on bicycle patrol in downtown Meriden during business hours Monday through Friday.
Downtown business owners have been looking for more extensive police coverage, City Manager Lawrence Kendzior said.
The boundaries for the Neighborhood Initiative’s possible new coverage areas have not been determined yet, but Cossette said it would at least stretch north of City Park to North Colony Street.
While some responsibilities will change for certain police officers, the number of patrol supervisors will remain at 21, Cossette said.
Cossette began the Neighborhood Initiative when he became police chief in 2004. The program has been considered a scaled-back version of community policing.
Citing budget concerns, former Chief William Abbatematteo dismantled Meriden’s community policing program in 2003.
Thursday, the police department asked city councilors if it could use about $18,000 to give the four officers pay raises. The money will be found in an existing salary account for fiscal year 2007-08.
Next year, however, the source of funding is unknown. Cossette said salaries would increase according to contract and he expects to be seeking about $28,000 to continue any expansion made this year.
In addition to tweaking the Neighborhood Initiative, Cossette is advocating for a detective lieutenant for the Crime Suppression Unit. This person would take on more responsibility, he said, adding that this is an alternative to hiring another officer.
Cossette also wants an executive officer. This person would have a variety of duties, he said, that would involve communications, human relations, training, and work on securing state and federal grants for the department.
“There’s so many duties this officer will perform,” Cossette said.
Cossette also said the department could benefit from incorporating the Technology Division with its Records Division. He would promote an officer to lieutenant and that officer would oversee both areas, he said.
“I’m very supportive of it,” Deputy Mayor Matthew C. Dominello Sr. told Cossette of the department’s plans. “You are moving in the right direction.”