Orleans police reach out to locals

Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.自存倉Oct. 03--ORLEANS -- The police should become more involved with teens as a way to prevent delinquency, according to some at a police department strategic planning forum Wednesday. The town's elder population needs a more formal relationship with the police, too, others said, given the rise in mental health issues, elder neglect, Internet scams and more.Teen and elder support were only two of the two dozen or more suggestions raised about how police could improve services to townspeople.About 30 people attended the Town Hall forum at the invitation of Police Chief Scott MacDonald, who is conducting a review of the department's mission and objectives.MacDonald became acting chief in August 2012 and chief in December. There are 22 full-time police officers in Orleans and a handful of summer-only officers.The town has about 6,000 year-round residents, but that number increases in the summer to more than 20,000 with visitors and part-time homeowners."The transition can be stressful," MacDonald said at the forum, referring to the change of police leadership. A transition can be a time to revisit where the department is headed, get feedback from people inside and outside the department and use that information to develop a strategic plan, MacDonald said.The police department has faced some turmoil in the past few years, particularly with personnel issues involving allegations of misconduct."I want to hear what you have to say," MacDonald said.Those invited included school officials, social service workers, businesspeople, elected officials and town staff and committee members."We absolutely need more programs for teens," Nauset Regional Middle School Principal Maxine Minkoff smini storageid.The lack of mental health services for teens and drug use among teens are the types of problems that, if not dealt with, will eventually end up being the police department's problems, Minkoff said.Others at the forum worried about bike and pedestrian safety, the deteriorating physical condition of the police station and whether there are enough or too many police officers given the town's changing needs from summer to winter and the town's geographic layout. Still others mentioned that the police could reach out more to the community and that the town and the police need to determine whether to regionalize police dispatching or pay more to have the dispatchers remain local.A few people asked for a police department that was more outgoing and forthcoming, with activities such as Facebook, open houses and even smiles from patrol officers on the street. Budget concerns were raised, along with the possible use of technology as a way to obtain services without the cost of hiring.The strategic planning process is paid for through the Smaller Law Enforcement Agency Program of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, MacDonald said. Durham, N.H., Police Chief David Kurz, a consultant to the chiefs association, led the forum. An afternoon session was with the patrol officers themselves. Kurz said he expected to produce a report with recommendations for MacDonald within a month."It takes some courage," Kurz said, referring to MacDonald asking townspeople and patrol officers for feedback.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存