Bow News : police

Investigation continues on underage drinking party

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:50:00 GMT

By Dan O’Brien

The chief of Bristol police said interviews with Bow High School students who attended an underage drinking party at the school superintendent’s house in Bristol last month are ongoing.

Chief John Clark said a primary concern is how the alcohol was provided.

“It has nothing to do with the superintendent. It has to do with the concern of underage students at a party where there was no adult present,” Clark said. “There’s a level of responsibility that needs to be recognized and taken … We’re very much interested in how the liquor got there.”

A parent of one of the students contacted Bow High School Principal John House-Myers a few days after the party when the parent heard that teenagers got drunk at Superintendent Dean Cascadden’s home on Jenness Hill Road in Bristol.

Cascadden’s son allegedly invited 11 Bow students into his parents’ home while they were attending a wedding out of state. Even though Cascadden’s son lives outside the Bow school district, a provision in his contract allows his children to attend Bow schools without paying tuition.

Police were never called to the home when the students gathered there. No charges have been filed.

The chief, who said he formerly served on the Attorney General’s Underage Drinking Task Force, hopes law enforcement and school officials can teach students about the consequences of underage drinking.

“What we’re looking to do is make sure the school system works within its policies and make sure we’ve taken every possible step to make this a learning experience,” Clark said.

Clark expressed disappointment that some people have downplayed the seriousness of what allegedly occurred.

“It’s nice to say 11 kids were at a party and nothing happened. Something could have happened,” he said. “I’m not sure I buy that argument.”

Clark wouldn’t comment if marijuana or other narcotics were present at the party, or if anyone became ill or injured, saying, “Those are questions that still need to be answered.”

Because the 11 students are athletes, they were given punishments from the school’s athletic department for violating an athletic code of conduct. However, since the alleged behavior occurred off school grounds, the School Board said the school itself could not punish the teens.

At the Oct. 1 Bow School Board meeting, Chairman Warren Fargo said he heard some type of smoking was involved.

“Alcohol was involved, smoking was involved, but what kind of smoking, I’m not sure,” Fargo said.

Cascadden has said in interviews that he didn’t know about the drinking incident until four days after it happened, when the high school principal was informed.

“I’m dealing as a parent with things that many other parents have to deal with,” Cascadden said at the time. Police said he has been fully cooperative with the investigation.

The majority of the School Board said they support Cascadden and do not believe the incident should affect his job.

“His performance has nothing to do with his son’s decisions and actions,” Fargo said.

Police, fire struggle with old facilities

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:15:00 GMT

By DAN O’BRIEN

It could be a while before Bow firefighters can move out of their dilapidated fire station on Knox Road.

Until then, they’re sleeping in a camper outside.

At least for the next month, that is. Many firefighters grew concerned about exposure to asbestos as crews continue for the next four or five weeks to remove the cancer-causing substance from tile floors in portions of the building, which is also home to the town’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Some firefighters say they’re concerned about possible exposure to asbestos over the past seven years when the tile floors slowly began to crack. There is also asbestos in the walls of the 56-year-old building, which was converted from a sawmill into a fire station, but as long as they don’t crack, the firefighters have little to no asbestos exposure.

Firefighters typically work 24-hour shifts. Because the sleeping quarters are located on the other side of a wall from where the asbestos is being removed, one firefighter donated a camper so the men and women could sleep outside but remain close enough to the fire house in time to respond to calls.

The situation isn’t much better at the police station, either, according to Town Administrator James Pitts. The station, which shares space with the Department of Public Works, and was originally the home of a private trucking company before being converted into a police station, doesn’t even have a jail cell. Prisoners are shackled to a long bench, he said. It also lacks a “sally port,” which is a garage where prisoners are taken out of police cruisers that nearly all police stations have. This is why the town needs a brand new public safety facility, Pitts said.

“Bringing the facilities up to speed (by making renovations) still doesn’t solve the design problems since they were not originally laid out to be public safety buildings,” he said. “They were built to serve other purposes.”

Pitts said the town has spent about $32,000 over the past three years on two separate evaluations on how to build the new police and fire stations.

He said a one-time cost of building a combined public safety facility, which would combine the police and fire departments under one roof on a town-owned property across from the current fire station on Knox Road, would be between $2.8 million and $3.1 million.

Right now, it’s costing the town $2.2 million to make repairs to the current fire and police stations, according to Pitts, who said the fire station is costing more but didn’t have an exact figure.

Pitts cited the slow economy and tight municipal budget as to why the town keeps putting off construction of a new public safety facility. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that federal stimulus package money might help.

“The budget is quite lean,” he said. “We applied but we have no way of knowing if we will get anything.”

Pitts said the shrunken budget has already led to closing a transfer station, shutting off certain street lights and reducing staff at the Parks and Recreation Department, which has relocated its offices to the basement of town hall while its home at the fire station undergoes asbestos treatment.

As the town has increased in population over the past three decades, so have calls for help to the Fire Department.

The department said it responded to 1,220 calls for service in 2008 and only responded to 72 calls for the entire year of 1972.

Common calls are for assistance with motor vehicle accidents, especially on interstates 93 and 89, and medical aid calls, particularly to recently built elderly living facilities.

Five residents take closer look at police work

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:42:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Area police departments are teaming up to show residents just how they work and will host a Citizens Academy for five residents in Dunbarton, Allenstown, Pembroke and Bow.

The eight-week course will give residents the chance to experience classes in police procedures such as fingerprinting, foot-imprint casting and a mock trial with an actual judge sitting in.

“I think what it does is it brings us together in a community- based way,” said Bow police officer Diana Scott. “We have more of a positive interaction with people in our towns. It’s not just a uniform and a car and an arrest. They get to see us and see that we’re average people, and they can put a face with the name to make the connection with each department.”

Residents in the participating towns went through an application process including a background check, and five applicants were selected by the police departments.

Allenstown Police Chief Shaun Mulholland said he looks forward to showing people that what happens on police TV shows isn’t the same thing that happens in his department.

“The most important thing is that they’ll get an overview of what we do on the street,” said Mulholland. “People watch TV and get somewhat of a jaded view. They watch these shows where within an hour every resource is available.”

In reality, officers trying to solve a case locally are often faced with a drawn out process.

“There are some things like DNA testing that can take up to a year, and on TV they do it within 15 minutes,” said Mulholland. “They always get people to confess within an hour timeframe. The real world is a different place.”

April 7 will be the first class, and every Tuesday for eight weeks the academy will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. in a variety of locations.

Mulholland said getting citizens familiarized with the faces of his department is one of the biggest benefits of the course.

“One of the biggest complaints people have is that they don’t know the police officers who work in their town,” said Mulholland. z“There’s such change in personnel that people don’t get to know these officers. It’s critical they have that relationship with us.”

Scott also is looking forward to being able to interact with community members.

“They would be more apt to feel comfortable to come and talk to us and ask question,” she said. “We aren’t just a reactive service, we’re proactive. We want to know what we can do to make the community a better place.”

Bow police get six new tasers

Goffstown Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:39:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

By the beginning of January, Bow police officers will be armed with a new tool to help subdue suspects in a controlled manner.

Bow Police Chief Erin Commerford said that by the end of the year or early January, the department will be ready to use six recently purchased tasers.

Commerford said the decision came after thorough research, particularly focusing on the feedback on other departments in the area.

“It came up because there are 126 departments that have them,” said Commerford. “After interacting with other departments, we were aware of what they were about. All the input, all the feedback we got was positive.”

Each cruiser will be equipped with a taser, and one will be left at the station.

One of the biggest benefits to having the tasers will be that officers can control a single suspect without having any negative effects on any citizens who may be in close proximity.

“We can use them in a confined space. It’s something we can use that isn’t lethal, but instead of using spray and there were other people, they would feel the effects of it,” said Commerford. “This can be used solely on the people we want contact with.”

While the cost was $1,000 for each taser, Bow taxpayers will not pay for the equipment. Although the tasers are already in the department’s hands, they will not be used until every member has taken training on how to properly using them.

“It’s very im

portant to have that training, and we won’t use them without it,” said Commerford, who also said it is a case of having the tasers if necessary, but she hopes to never have to use them.

For Commerford, one convincing argument for purchasing the tasers came from a member of the New Hampshire State Police.

“There’s a captain in the State Police who said now that they have them, he wouldn’t send an officer out without one,” said Commerford. “It’ll be a great tool to have.”

Bow police start missing-person alert program

Bow Editor — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:01:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Bow Police Department has signed on for a program that would help finding a missing person easier.

As of Wednesday, Nov. 5, the department is part of the A Child Is Missing Alert program that includes an automated phone system of local search.

With the program, when a missing child, elderly or mentally or physically challenged resident goes missing, thousands of calls can be made within minutes of an alert going out.

Bow Police Chief Erin Commerford said the program was not brought in because of a specific incident, but it will make the search process run smoothly if Bow police are faced with one.

“It will be a great resource for us,” said Commerford. “It’s really an added benefit in dispatching.”

When an alert is put out by the department, the program calls telephone numbers with an automated message that includes the person’s description, last known whereabouts and other information, as well as the Bow Police Department’s phone number.

Phone numbers in the database include listed numbers in the area, but do not include cell phone numbers, unlisted numbers, or TDD/TTY devices for the hard of hearing.

Anyone who wishes to add a phone number to the program can visit www.achildismissing. org and click “add your name.” Commerford said the department will take part in training on how to best use the program to fully make use of it.

“We’re always looking for new programs for the department,” said Commerford. “I’m very much looking forward to having it.”

Four Bow cops resign

Bow Editor — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:26:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Four members of the Bow Police Department have resigned in the past two weeks, leaving the department shorthanded as it searches for replacements.

Lt. Dave Girard, patrol officer Jim McIntire, officer Joe Russell and patrol officer Ryan Cochrane – about one-third of the uniformed members of the department – have resigned in recent weeks, said Bow Town Manager Jim Pitts.

McIntire left to take a position in another town, same as Russell who departs Oct. 24. Cochrane is leaving law enforcement for the private sector and Girard is taking another opportunity of which Pitts is uncertain of the location.

“Obviously it makes them a little shorthanded,” Pitts said. “We already have applicants, at least two of which are already certified police officers. If they pass a background test, they’d be up to speed quickly.”

The reason given by one of the officers was to leave Bow for a higher salary, said Pitts.

“We’re not paying a whole lot of overtime compared to what it used to be. Temporarily, we will be because of the vacancies,” Pitts said. “Departments that are bigger create an opportunity for a larger paycheck. In these times some people need that money.”

According to the town’s Web site, a salary range for a Bow offficer is between $38,688 and $47,049. The entry salary for an officer in Hopkinton is about $37,500.

“I did a study a year ago that showed Bow as comparable to other communities of approximately the same general population,” said Pitts. “Bow is) not the lowest and not the highest.”

Pitts said the process to replace the officers will not take long, but will also not be rushed.

“I don’t think it’ll be all that long before we get at least two more on board. We refuse to move quickly no matter who it is,” Pitts said. “We want to make sure all candidates are fully qualified and mentally suited to be on patrol. Our background checks are very thorough, even with officers already serving in other communities.”

Pitts said he is not worried about the quality of the force.

“We aren’t overly concerned,” said Pitts. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate to have so many in such a short time frame.”

Bow man dies in motorcycle accident

Bow Editor — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:19:00 GMT

BY GRETA CUYLER

As rain began to fall the night of Wednesday, May 21, Jameson Thissell, 35, called his wife to tell her he’d be home soon.

Minutes later, the motorcycle he was riding went out of control along Hackett Hill Road in Hooksett. The case is under investigation as to why of Thissell, of Bow, veered out of his lane at 5:55 p.m.

Thissell’s bike hit a car driven by Peter Cooke of Hooksett, who’s son was a passenger. Neither was hurt in the accident. Thissell, who was wearing a helmet, was pinned under the car and although emergency crews worked to revive him, it was too late.

Known as “Jamey” to those closest to him, Thissell leaves behind his wife, Sarah, and three children -- Rebecca, 7, Nicholas, 2, and Victoria, 6 months.

“He was so full of life, he had such a full heart and loved everybody,” said Sarah Thissell.

Thissell was headed home when the accident happened, Sarah said. He had gone to check out a new motorcycle.

Thissell and Sarah met at Middlebury College in Vermont, would have celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary June 13. Thissell worked as an emergency room doctor at Concord Hospital.

“I don’t know many people who, given one-tenth of Jamey’s enthusiasm and joy in life wouldn’t be noticeably improved for it,” said Peter Blume, a doctor in the emergency department at Concord Hospital who worked alongside Thissell.

Thissell’s parents, Richard and Merrilee Thissell, live in Goffstown. Richard Thissell is the assistant principal at the Middle School at Parkside in Manchester. The couple has two other sons, Jeremiah of New Hampshire, and Joshua of Boston.

“(Jamey) was my firstborn, he did so much good for so many,” said Merrilee Thissell. “There were countless times when he stopped on the highway at the scene of an accident to help someone -- he’d grab his (medical) kit and go.”

Merrilee Thissell said it appears Thissell’s motorcycle slipped on a wet patch of road.

Peter Cooke extends his sympathy to the Thissell family.

“We really feel upset for Jamey and his family, all his family members, we’re really sad for them all and our hearts go out to them,” Cooke said.

At Concord Hospital, where Thissell had tended to thousands of patients during his four-year tenure as an emergency room doctor, he was remembered as a caring physician.

“Jamey had a passion for life and exhibited a joy for living each and every day,” said Michael Lynch, a doctor and president of Concord Emergency Medical Associates, where Jamey worked. “As an exemplary physician, he was skilled, committed and caring, and a valuable member of Concord Emergency Medical Associates and Concord Hospital. Sharing laughter and light-heartedness, he was especially loved by his emergency department colleagues and co-workers. Our hearts are broken for his wife and young children. We will miss him greatly; our hospital and our community has suffered a tragic loss.”

Thissell always wanted to be a doctor, his mother said, and he worked as an EMT after college.

Sarah Thissell said her husband received one or two thank you notes from emergency room patients each month. Once, he spent 45 minutes trying to track down where a patient could get his special-order medicine.

“During Jamey’s residency, the chaplain of the medical school came up to me and said, ‘Jamey has the best bedside manner of any doctor here,’” Sarah said. “He touched a lot of people, he was an amazing doctor. He really cared about his patients.”

Thissell’s mother said one of her favorite memories of her son is when he called her from college to tell her there was someone he wanted her to meet. That “someone” was Sarah, his wife of nearly a decade.

“I think he knew she was the one,” Merrilee Thissell said. “She’s my best friend -- I don’t know what I’d do without her right now.”

Hooksett police Sgt. Kristofer Dupuis said he has no reason to believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.

He said state law requires those involved in a major motor vehicle accident to undergo blood tests, which the Cookes had done at the hospital.

Erin Commerford is first woman to head Bow Police Department

Bow Editor — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:15:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Erin Commerford is the new Bow Police Department chief – and the first woman to take on the role in the history of the town.

Commerford, 37, who is successor to former Police Chief Jeff Jaran, was officially sworn in by Town Clerk Jill Hadaway during a Tuesday, May 27, ceremony with selectmen and fellow officers on hand.

Jaran left the department in early May to become police chief of Provincetown, Mass. Town Manager Jim Pitts said the search for his replacement never left 50 Robinson Road.

“We interviewed two internal candidates, because it was my intent to see if we felt we could fill it. We agreed both candidates would make a good chief,” Pitts said. “We spent about an hour debating the strong and not strong points on both candidates. I mulled it over, met with both candidates and made the decision.”

Pitts declined to say who the other candidate was. Commerford has been with the Bow Police Department since 2002, serving as a patrol and school resource officer, and most recently as sergeant.

The new chief said her familiarity with the department will help ease the transition into her new role.

“I’ll be taking over with the core group. There’s a solid, strong number of people,” she said. “I think the continuity is extremely important. There will be a lot of stability, and that will be helpful for the personnel, community members and other agencies in town.”

According to Pitts, Commerford is the first female police chief in the town’s history, something she takes pride in.

“Of course that means a lot to me. It’s twofold. First, on a professional level for me, and second because of my family. It’s an accomplishment for them as well.”

The town formed an interview board that met at length with both internal candidates and, Pitts said, one of the factors in the decision dealt with longevity.

“It was clear she had the skills and experience, and the panel concluded she showed very strong leadership as well, which we were truly looking for,” Pitts said. “She stated an intent to remain in Bow serving as the chief of police most likely for her whole career.”

After she was sworn in, Commerford was presented with her chief’s badge by her husband, Michael, who is a New Hampshire State Trooper. The Commerfords currently live in Pittsfield, but are looking for a home in Bow, said Pitts.

As chief, Commerford will earn an annual salary of $60,091. At the time of his departure from Bow, Jaran was earning $73,100. Only minutes after being sworn in on May 27, Commerford was put to work.

“I’ll give you five minutes to socialize,” Pitts said with a smile after the ceremony. “Then we’ve got a budget to discuss.”

Bow parents get drug test kits

Bow Editor — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:40:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Jim Pelton has seen firsthand the effect that drugs can have on a family, and he wants to be sure that others don’t experience the same.

Pelton, who had a family member deal with substance abuse for four years, started A Drug Free Kid, a group that provides drug-testing kits to parents.

The Bow resident has donated kits to the Bow Police Department, and parents can obtain the kits for free, no questions asked.

“Parents need to smarten up. There are too many parents who are saying ‘Not my child.’ By taking charge, parents could be saving their child’s life,” Pelton said.

Bow Police Lt. Dave Girard agrees with Pelton when it comes to parents’ roles in preventing substance abuse.

“I think parents are the first line of defense in any sort of problem. They’re the most effective and have the most influence. The more they’re involved, the less likely it is that we get involved,” Girard said. “We’ll use every tool and resource available to us to combat substance abuse.”

Pelton said high school students aren’t the only age group that parents need to look out for when it comes to drugs.

“If they start talking to their kids once they enter middle school and have these drug kits, they are able to work together, and kids know they have an agreement with their parents,” he said.

In addition to Bow, Pelton has also donated drug kits to five other towns, and has sold them to parents across the country.

A Drug Free Kid has also been a way for parents around the country to have someone to talk to.

“We get phone calls and deal with parents all over the place. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback and just being able to talk,” he said. “All we want to do is make a difference somewhere along the line and make an impact with the kids.”

Over recent months, Pelton said he e-mailed every school administrator in the state of New Hampshire to see if they had interest in making the kits available. He said he heard back from a very small number of schools.

“There’s a sign on our school property that say it’s a drug-free zone, but drugs are as much of a part of their education as reading, writing and arithmetic,” said Pelton. “No one is going to do anything about it unless parents do. No one is going to save their kids but them.”

Pelton said high school students aren’t the only ones being pressured with drugs. He recommends parents begin talking with their kids when they enter middle school.

“They may never use it (the drug kit), but the kids know it’s there,” said Pelton. “That way, kids have another reason to say no to peer pressure.”

Bow teen faces drug charges

Bow Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:04:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

A Bow High School student was arrested on multiple felony drug charges after police found marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.

Colby Hall, 18, was arrested Friday, April 11, after school resource officer Sgt. Margaret Lougee learned Hall may have drugs in his possession and alerted the school’s principal. The pair searched Hall’s car, which was parked on school grounds.

Hall was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to distribute, both felonies, and unlawful possession of alcohol.

Bow Police Lt. Dave Girard said the arrest was unlike others involving teenagers and drugs.

“Obviously, this is different than just some kid carrying a small bag of weed,” said Girard. “When you throw in a scale and the sandwich baggies, it’s alarming for us and something we’re not going to take lightly.”

Girard said he does not believe the arrest indicates there is a larger drug problem at the school.

“I think Bow High School is not any better or worse than any high school. Hopefully, this will send a message that this activity won’t be tolerated,” he said.

The arrest came in the school parking lot between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., and Girard described it as “low key.”

Making arrests related to the psilocybin mushrooms in Bow is a rarity, said Girard.

“That is the first time we’ve seen them here in months,” he said. “We haven’t seen any at the high school and, in regular patrol activities, nothing comes to mind in more than a year.”

According to Girard, the arrest was also different than the usual activities at the school.

“The school resource officer did a great job of turning this up,” said Girard. “She’s made arrests (at the school) before, but not of this quantity. This arrest is certainly different from her previous arrests over there.”

Bow police chief takes Provincetown, Mass. chief job

Bow Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:59:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bow Police Chief Jeff Jaran is leaving his position after four years in town, accepting a position in Provincetown, Mass.

“There are a number of personal reasons that play a part in it, but ultimately it was a job on Cape Cod that I really didn’t think I had a shot at,” said Jaran. “I was pleasantly surprised. I have accepted it, and it’s not without sorrow that I’m leaving an agency that I poured my heart and soul into.”

Jaran said he and his family often traveled to Cape Cod while he was growing up, and he looks forward to returning.

“I grew up in Massachusetts and vacationed all up and down the Cape,” he said. “There are only 15 chiefs on the Cape, so they don’t become available very often. At this stage in my life, I didn’t think I could turn it down.”

Town Manager Jim Pitts said he expects the process of finding a new chief to take one to two months, and there is a possibility Lt. Dave Girard could be named interim chief while the search is conducted.

In the absence of a chief, Girard is automatically named officer in charge.

As second-in-command, Girard also assisted in oversaw the Police Department while Jaran attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., from October to December 2007. At that time, Jaran was in constant contact with Girard, said Pitts.

“Jaran continued to be of service to the town as chief of the Bow Police Department and stayed in constant touch with Girard by phone and e-mail,” said Pitts.

Jaran was paid a salary and benefits while attending the academy, Pitts said, and as part of the agreement with the town, Jaran had to serve an additional 24 months as chief of Bow.

In leaving Bow just five months after graduating the academy, Jaran will repay a prorated portion of his time in Virginia, Pitts said.

The town incurred a cost of $3,691 to send Jaran to the academy, including travel, lodging, uniforms and fees, Pitt said. Prorating that amount by five months, Jaran will repay the town $2,922.

“He has agreed to pay that in cash on his last day of service here,” said Pitts, adding that when Jaran first came to Bow, he accepted a lower salary in exchange for possibly being accepted into the FBI academy. Pitts said he is sorry to see Jaran leave Bow.

“I was quite disappointed, of course, because he’s been an excellent chief and brought the department a long way, and was looking forward to more of the same,” said Pitts. “At the same time, he was offered a financial package that would be hard for anybody to refuse.”

Pitts said he will put an advertisement for the position out next week. Jaran’s position paid $73,100, according to the town’s pay scale.

Jaran will be paid an annual salary of $100,000 in Provincetown. The biggest challenges he will face in his new role is dealing with a large tourist population, the diverse culture and a drug problem in the town, he said.

Jaran told his co-workers of his decision at a departmentwide meeting so they would hear the news from him first.

“For me, it’s always been all about relationships. I have many friends not only in the Police Department, but in the community. I’m leaving behind a topnotch group,” Jaran said. “I can say in good conscience I am leaving it a lot better off than when I arrived. That’s from personnel to upgrading the facility, equipment and technology.”

Pitts said one of Jaran’s biggest achievements during his four years in Bow was forming a working relationship between the emergency services in town.

“What I’ll miss most is that he was a team player and he established a great relationship between the police and fire departments down to the lowest level. That goes back to his leadership,” said Pitts. “There’s a teamwork between the two departments that is, unfortunately, rare. We don’t have any animosity and I credit both chiefs.”

While looking for Jaran’s replacement, Pitts said he will form a board to interview the potential candidates, who he hopes will meet his specific criteria.

“We need a spirit of team play. Someone who recognizes it’s not the only department in town and, above all, a leader who can motivate the people in the department and influence them to work to their maximum performance level,” said Pitts.

Bow police chief vies for new job as Provincetown, Mass. chief

Bow Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:15:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bow Chief of Police Jeff Jaran is one of four final candidates for the open chief position in Provincetown, Mass.

Jaran has a lengthy career in law enforcement and has been Bow’s chief of police for the past four years. He was also a chief in Sandwich prior to taking his post in Bow.

On Tuesday, April 24, Jaran interviewed in front of the Provincetown Board of Selectmen after previously interviewing with Provincetown Town Manager Sharon Lynn.

Bow Town Manager Jim Pitts said although the town would miss Jaran should he accept the job if it is offered to him, he also knows the Police Department would be able to find a capable replacement.

“I am aware that he applied for (the position) and that he is a finalist,” said Pitts. “If he were to leave, he’s been an outstanding chief, and I have no doubt he would be able to be replaced by an outstanding chief. I am not concerned the department would deteriorate.”

Provincetown Assistant Town Manager David Gardner said Jaran deserved the spot he earned in the list of four final candidates.

“The reason why he made the top four, based on what I understand, is that he was well-qualified, well-spoken and had a background that was a match for what we’re looking for,” said Gardner. “Based on his interview, he was thought to be a good fit, not only from a qualification standpoint but personality as well.”

Jaran’s position in the Police Department is listed on the town pay scale at $73,100, according to Pitts.

Gardner said it is possible the Provincetown Town Manager will make her recommendation to the Board of Selectmen at the next scheduled meeting, which is Monday, May 12.

Jaran said he did not feel comfortable commenting on the matter just yet.

Bow dispatch center raises fees

Bow Editor — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:34:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

The Bow Dispatch Center will see more revenue in the coming year from the four other towns it services as the town attempts to bring the center’s costs for service more in line with its financial capability.

It costs about $400,000 to run the dispatch center, said Bow Police Chief Jeff Jaran, and under the new fee system Bow will see more than double the amount it currently collects from Epsom, Pembroke, Dunbarton and Allenstown. That includes running equipment as well as paying eight employees, five of those being full time.

The new payment system adds a $10,000 base fee to the costs associated with each town’s service call numbers from 2006. In all of the towns, that amounts to at least a 100 percent increase over what they currently pay.

Bow collected $79,000 between all four towns last year, which, Jaran said, barely funds the salary of one dispatcher. With the new fees, Bow would collect $165,000, leaving about $235,000 to Bow taxpayers.

The increased fees came from discussions with the Bow Board of Selectmen on how to get more revenue for the town. They were forced to tighten their belts for the 2008-09 year.

For 2008-09, Epsom will pay $43,000 for Bow Dispatch services, up from $19,000 for the current year; Pembroke will pay $59,000, a jump from about $30,000; Allenstown will pay $41,000, up from $21,000; and Dunbarton will pay almost $23,000, more than double from the prior year’s $11,000.

Jaran said the affected departments were understanding of Bow’s plight, being in the midst of budget seasons themselves. Many of those towns have been forced to shed some extra weight from their budgets as well.

Bow service calls now account for almost half of the overall call volume, which makes the new distribution of costs fair across the board, Jaran said. In 2006, the year upon which the new fees are based, Bow Dispatch took 6,195 calls from Allenstown; 6,682 from Epsom; 10,072 from Pembroke; 2,605 from Dunbarton; and 18,980 in Bow for total of more than 44,534 calls.

Bow has seen a 12 percent increase in the town’s portion of the total call volume between 2006 and 2007, most of which is attributed to officer-initiated activity, additional officers on the streets and, thus, higher arrest numbers, said Jaran.

“We’ve got more officers doing the job. That alone spikes your calls for service,” said Jaran. “We’re just busier overall, right across the board. You can’t really point to one thing in particular.”

For 2007, Bow Dispatch received a total of 48,139 calls, with Bow’s portion of those amounting to 23,193, he said.

The four other towns have taken the fee increases well, Jaran said, and understand they are still getting exceptional service for a relatively low price.

When plans for changing the fees began brewing in summer 2007, the original proposal was to charge a flat rate of $50,000 for all towns. Jaran said he wanted to see a more equitable means of determining what each town should pay, which resulted in the current plans.

Police from some of the towns have said they looked into other dispatch services, such as Merrimack County, but found there were not yet the facilities and resources to make such a move.

Pembroke Police Chief Scott Lane said he has looked into folding into Merrimack County dispatch services, as well as those town-independent services in Concord and Hooksett, but said Bow was the only viable option.

“I am very happy with Bow’s service. It was fortunate that our fees were as low as they were for as long as they were,” said Lane.

Dunbarton Police Chief Christopher Connelly agreed, saying Bow Dispatch is the best service he’s dealt with in more than 20 years of law enforcement experience and that the increase in fees are more than fair. He added he also looked into other dispatch avenues, but said it wouldn’t save money at this point to switch the information system and frequencies over.

“Really, Bow continues to be our best option and is really in the same ballpark where we could go with other services,” said Connelly. “I think it’s an equitable way to do business based on the calls for service.”

Art Merrigan named Bow Officer of the Year

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:19:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The expression “man’s best friend” doesn’t even begin to explain Art Merrigan’s relationship with his German shepherd, Osci.

Merrigan, a K-9 officer for the Bow Police Department, was recently named the department’s Officer of the Year for his dedication to the town. A member of the department since 2003, Merrigan was caught off guard when he was told he would be receiving the award.

“To be honest, I was taken completely by surprise. I work with a lot of good people and I don’t know why it was me that was chosen. Any of them do the same or more than I do,” said Merrigan. “Even now, it’s still kind of a surprise. I’m appreciative of it, but I don’t think my work stands out above and beyond. It is at least good to see that what we do is recognized.”

After working the K-9 unit in Pittsfield and Canterbury, Merrigan began working in Bow in fall 2003. Two years later, Bow Police Chief Jeff Jaran applied for and was given grant money to add a dog to the force.

Merrigan attended four weeks of intensive training in Pennsylvania, where he got Osci. During the four-week period, Merrigan spent about 250 hours learning different techniques for working with a canine.

Since then, he and Osci have formed a bond unlike most pet owners.

“Working with a dog is something I love to do. It encompasses an entire day, not just when we work,” he said. “The dog lives with me and we run and exercise together. Then he comes to work with me and we train together. It’s almost difficult to describe to people. To me he’s a normal extension of my work day.”

In the years since Osci joined the Bow Police Department, he has already paid dividends. Part of the agreement with having a K-9 unit is being able to provide mutual aid to surrounding towns.

Shortly after Osci arrived, two female patients escaped from the State Hospital in Concord. Merrigan and Osci were called on to help find them, and the pair located the two patients off Route 3A.

“That was the first time we’d applied something in a live situation. Training is training when you’re working with dogs, but until you apply to a situation where you have no control, it’s 100 percent trust,” said Merrigan. “That’s what develops the deep bond. It makes each time that much easier to deal with after you apply in a live situation.”

It isn’t only in emergency situations that Merrigan and Osci are called upon, as another important aspect of the job is getting out and meeting younger members of the community.

“I try to interact with the kids because they’re very curious about the dog. What I want it to be is something positive for the department and town,” said Merrigan. “It’s something that maybe could attract kids to being more friendly with who the police are. We’re approachable, and they recognize the fact that the dog is friendly with them.”

Between caring for and working with Osci, Merrigan isn’t the only one who must accept how much time he spends with his four-legged friend.

“I spend more time with my dog than I do with my wife,” joked Merrigan. “And, fortunately, she’s OK with that.”

Thieves target catalytic converters

Bow Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:19:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bow police are asking businesses in town to take precautions after businesses have been hit by a series of thefts involving their vehicles’ catalytic converters.

The first theft occurred in November, with another in December and January, according to Bow police Lt. Dave Girard.

Although police can’t confirm if the same person has committed the thefts, the evidence at the scenes has been similar.

Police have not released the businesses hit or the exact number of converters stolen, but Girard said in each case the converter was removed from the vehicle using a saw. Less than 10 converters have been stolen and police are unsure of why those items were targeted.

“We’re checking with a lot of people in the industry to see if we can track down exactly who these people are and why it’s occurring,” said Girard. “We found that they contain a small amount of platinum. If you amass enough of them, you may have a product that’s worth something. There also may just be a market in them.”

Girard said he has seen similar crimes involving theft of copper and other recyclable materials. “We weren’t greatly surprised but alarmed it’s happening here in town,” said Girard.

The November theft occurred on Route 3A and the other two thefts reported were from vehicles parked in businesses along River Road.

Business vehicles are the only ones hit by the thefts, and Bow police want owners in town to be aware.

“We want everyone to know that it’s happening, and want businesses with an area to park inside to please do that,” said Girard. “We urge people to park them in garages if they can. If they have videos in or around businesses, make sure they’re working properly.”

The Concord Regional Crimeline at 226-3100 is offering cash rewards for information. Those with information can also contact Bow police Detective Jim McIntire at 228-0511.