On Wednesday, I went down to the Cheshire Police Department and to paraphrase an old Rolling Stone song-”to get my fair share of abuse.” But guess what?? It didn’t happen!!
All kidding aside, last week, I attended a Public Safety Commission meeting because an item on the agenda caught my eye-a discussion of the monthly Police and Fire Reports.
Now as I have stated previously, I have no problems with the Cheshire Fire Department. They are very open about disclosing information. They list all the calls they go on and provide a detailed report that is in the Cheshire Herald every month.
I know Fire Reports and Police Reports are a bit different, but in a way they are not. It always piqued my interest when I would look at the Police News in the Herald and just see what I believed to be a “skimming” of information. I mean look, the public isn’t entitled to EVERY detail of a police investigation-I know this. But there is information the public IS allowed to see and know–i.e. mug shots, who got arrested, where they live, what they did, what their charge is and court date.
Remember, when the police are called, most of the time it becomes public information.
The local paper is getting a lot better at relaying this information to the public, but I believe they still “skimp” ON SOME OF THE DETAILS!!
And I think my putting the Monthly Reports on my blog every month is helping to move things along a bit. But that was my intention. Getting the Town Government used to seeing these details out in the open. It is part of life and the sky won’t fall because Cheshire is reporting some crime incidents.
Just like every picture tells a story, well guess what?? Every story tells a story DON’T IT??
And you know what, when I went to the station on Wednesday and Lt. Markella gave me the police reports to read, I really saw what type of work the CPD does. I have said this before, the CPD is very good-WHEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOBS!! Believe it or not, they do a LOT MORE than just hand out tickets.
That is another reason I wanted to see the reports. These men and women do a lot of investigating and make good solid arrests.
I also got a lot nicer reception than when I tried this a few years ago. I actually looked at the log book, this is the book of all the tickets that are given out and arrests that are made. This is akin to the call log.
Things are getting more open and I think, I know this is how I feel, I can’t speak for the other side, that I came away with a different opinion of the CPD. They do their jobs and they do REAL POLICE WORK. I hope they see that I am interested in putting out as much information to the public as possible. This is something I believe in. I always believed in the peoples right to know.
That is why I was a reporter many years ago. I still carry that in my heart and I always will.
This is why I spend as many hours as possible on this blog. I love doing it. I love researching information and passing it on to my readers. I make no money from UTH. I have no political ambitions. I am just a private citizen.
Recently, the local paper has been running press releases of criminal activity and arrests the CPD have been making over the past several months. This is good.
BUT, (see yet another BUT), most of the Police News just involves the name of the accused, their address and what they are charged with. THIS IS ALL LEGAL, but I know many of you want to know the STORY BEHIND THE STORY.
When I was a reporter, that really made the difference of whether or not I would report a crime log incident or not.
As you are well aware, there is just not enough space in a newspaper or even on this blog to print every single incident. It just isn’t practical. I always tried to focus on items that would interest a person: i.e. a major criminal incident, a murder an assault, etc.
Dicky Doo motor vehicle stops DO NOT INTEREST ME.
The fact that a person got stopped for only one operating headlight, is what it is. But in reality, if this is all that happened, if there were no other incidents related to this motor vehicle stop, say for instance, drugs found in the vehicle or God forbid, a dead body or a weapon, then I could care less.
And honestly, I just think publishing crap like “traveling unreasonably fast” or not wearing the seat belt WHEN NO INJURIES RESULTED FROM IT–is just plain tawdy gossip.
We need to put REAL CRIMINAL NEWS into the paper not race sheet results!!
And speaking of headlights-when I left the CPD and went to my office, I got out of my car and GUESS WHAT AGAIN?? One of my headlights was OUT!! Can you believe it!!
Luckily I was able to make a quick trip to the autoparts store and replace the bulb. I never let anything go on my car anyway, so the headlight probably went out the very same day. So problem averted.
As I alluded to above, it makes a real difference when you read the details behind a charge. I also believe in putting in the court date of the accused person and when possible, the disposition. REMEMBER ALL ACCUSED ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
Just running name, address and charge of the person in the police log, is really unfair. And not putting the item in before the court date, if at all possible, sometimes it isn’t or at least finding out what came of the charges, to me is also unfair.
When I was a reporter, I tried to run recent arrests, before the person’s court date. This ensures the public knows that person is still innocent. An arrest is an accusation. It is not etched in stone-it is NOT an admission of guilt.
So when I was down at the CPD, the discussion ensued of what “can be released to the public” in a police report and what can’t.
Of course. I have touched on this subject many times. In fact, in one of my previous posts, I ran the FOI (Freedom of Information ) regulations on this subject.
The reader is entitled to know the name of the accused, the address, WHAT HAPPENED and WHERE!!. We have a little problem with this in Cheshire. Some of the locations where the alleged criminal activity took place are sometimes missing.
And I am tired of the excuse, “details of the arrest are limited because of an ongoing investigation”
Come on!! EVERY crime, unless it is solved is usually still under investigation. I am sure not saying the police should release forensic details or evidence if it will endanger the case or prejudice it. But I believe the CPD carries that excuse a little too far.
Or “we can’t release the name of the arrested person because there were others involved and they might flee.”
HELLO!! IF I broke into your house with two other persons, I got caught and the other two didn’t, wouldn’t the other two THINK THE COPS WOULD BE AFTER THEM?? OF COURSE!!
Informant names, if we knew who they were in the first place. Why would we release them?
And victims names or ADDRESSES SHOULD NEVER BE RELEASED!!
Bottom line: If the CPD is going to release the arrest of a person or persons or if they are going to release information on a criminal activity, RELEASE AS MUCH INFO THE PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO.
When I was a reporter and information was withheld for whatever reason, I always said, “police refused to release details” or “details are sketchy.”
Well it was the truth!! That is how I worded it.
Lt. Markella, who was very gracious to me, provided me with the state statutes regarding what can or can’t be released to the public.
He also stated that some of the newer officers sometimes leave out details. Well hopefully, these new officers will take a look at a report that was filed by Officer Pichnarcik. This man’s report was ON POINT.
The details are all there-the time, THE PLACE and by place I mean not an incident ocurred “at a business” he actually had the name. In all fairness, I only saw a few of the reports because most of them were too old and I like to put the disposition or court dates in. But I am sure the other veteran officers are just as thorough.
The arrest report by Officer Pichnarcik was in the Herald. But just the names of the juveniles, their addresses and the charges. So I am not going to rehash that. What was missing were the details that led up to the arrest.
I accidentally shredded that report, can you believe it. I thought I was shredding my IRS Notice of Audit letter, but I grabbed the wrong paper.
From what I remember, this involved possession of alcohol by minors. The incident took place behind Staples. Several teens were seen in a vehicle. When the police approached to speak to them about having too many passengers, alcohol was detected. The teens were charged and were remanded to appear in court with their parents.
You see the difference? Not just name, address age and charge. THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY.
I told Lt. Markella to make Officer Pichnarcik’s report a model for the rookies.
Before I run the police news, here are the FOI rules on “Law Enforcement Exceptions to the Freedom of Information Act:
Police Records EXEMPT from mandatory disclosure:
“Records of law enforcement agencies not otherwise available to the public which records were compiled in Connecticut with the detection or investigation of a crime, if the disclosure of said records would not be in the public interest because it would result in the disclosure of:
(A) the identity of informants not otherwise known or the identity of witnesses not otherwise known whose safety would be endangered or who would be subject to threat or intimidation if their identity was made known.
(B) signed statements of witnesses.
(C) information to be used in a prospective law enforcement action if prejudicial to such action.
(D) investigatory techniques not otherwise known to the general public.
(E) arrest records of a juvenile, which shall also include any investigatory files, concerning the arrest of such juvenile, compiled for law enforcement purposes.
(F) if the name and address of a victim of a sexual assault under section 53a-70, 53a-72a, 531-72b or 53a-73a, or injury or risk of injury or impairing the morals under section 53-21 or of an attempt thereof.
(G) uncorroborated allegations subject to destruction pursuant to section 1-216.
Ok, enough of that.
POLICE LOG
Editors note: this incident did appear in last weeks Herald. However, here ARE THE DETAILS.
Cheshire Police charged Julio J. Wright, 18, of 283 South Brooksvale Road with disorderly conduct on November 6th.
According to Police, officers were dispatched to the above location on reports of Wright allegedly being “out of control.”
Police said that according to the victim, Wright had allegedly broken windows in the residence.
Wright was charged with disorderly conduct. His bond was $1,000.
Wright appeared in Meriden Court on Nvember 7th. A hearing took place on December 16th. No further details were available.
ARMED ROBBERY
A West Haven man has been charged with robbery in the first degree, threatening and larceny 2 other, in connection with an armed robbery at an apartment complex.
According to reports, Cheshire Police received a complaint of an armed robbery at the apartment complex. Shortly after the complaint was received, Cheshire Police said they observed the alleged suspects’ vehicle southbound on Highland Avenue near the Maple Avenue intersection.
A motor vehicle stop ensued and after an on scene investigation, the operator, Tony F. Caramanica, 30 of 63 Sycaway Street, was arrested.
Police said a 45 caliber handgun and cash was seized during the arrest. Caramanica was released on a $2000 bond.
Caramanica appeared in Meriden Superior Court on Dec. 11, 2008. His next court date is scheduled for January 14, 2009. Status: awaiting plea.
NEED FOR SPEED
Cheshire Police arrested and charged a Wallingford man with DWI, Reckless Driving and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
According to police reports, Patrick J. Heeran, 30, of 87 North Turnpike Road, was seen by police on Dec. 14th at approximately 11:38 p.m. allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Yalesville Road.
Police said Heeran’s vehicle speed was allegedly 100 miles per hour. Police stopped the vehicle, conducted field sobriety tests and placed Heeran under arrest.
Heeran was transported to Cheshire Police Department where he was processed and released on bond.
He is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Dec. 30th, 2008.