It is my pleasure to provide the citizens of Holden with the 2006 report of the Holden Police Department. I am extremely proud to inform the town that housebreaks in the community were at an all time low with only 7 being reported for the year. During my 30+ years with the town, this is an all time record low and only reflects upon the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the department. The taxpayers should also note that the department budget is the lowest per capita in Worcester County with equally low staffing levels. These two facts should illustrate without a doubt that the taxpayers are receiving out-standing police service at bare minimum costs. Please see the accompanying charts that reflect the staffing and budget levels.

During the calendar year 2006, the following events were noted:

• Detective Christopher Carey investigated a credit card skimming operation that costs local card holders over $100,000 in fraudulent charges.
  
• A 16 year old was charged with bringing a switch blade to Mountview Middle School .
  
• Holden officers participated in a health study conducted by Harvard University regarding the effects of fatigue and shift work on participants.
  
• Officers Tim Sherblom and Jon Santimore recognized for their on duty delivery of a baby girl after they responded to a 911 call.
  
• Officer Gregg Sculthorpe was honored by the Holden Chamber of Commerce.
  
• Southbridge home health aide charged with 5 counts of larceny from a Holden senior citizen.
  
• Officer Todd Ventres and Adam Porcaro graduate from the Boylston Police Academy after 21 weeks of training.
  
• Officer Robert Himmer conducts a Student Police Academy at Mountview Middle School .
  
• Holden couple charged with abandoning their two children.
  
• A Serval-an exotic spotted African cat was seized from a Holden apartment.
  
• Stepped up mountain bike patrols scheduled for the Rail Trail during the summer and fall months.
  
• A full scale lockdown exercise was done at Mountview Middle School .
  
• A domestic abuse incident in December resulted in a brutal attack and subsequent arrest of an individual for attempted murder.

(Above) Members of the Police Department competed in the 29 th annual State Police Chase Road Race in Framingham , held in June 2006.

Once again, in 2006 our attempts to construct a new police facility were defeated. I cannot stress enough our dire need for this building. Our current building is nearly 30 years old and was built for a department half our current staffing level. The facility does not come close to meeting our needs for basic things such as conference rooms, interview rooms, break rooms, or training. Over the last 5 years, we have seen similar communities construct and move into their new facilities. Your officers do an outstanding job for you and deserve better-no employer in the private sector would be allowed to keep such bare facilities for their employees.

The Community Service Division and Schools Division continue to be the benchmark for mentoring of area departments and schools. Several agencies have rotated personnel through the Wachusett Regional Criminal Justice Partnership in order to implement our programs in their districts.

This year, the Holden Police Department and the Wachusett Regional School District have focused on Critical Incident Planning for all of the schools in Holden. A mock drill was held at Mountview Middle School and was considered a model for additional mock drills at all schools in the future.

The Wachusett Regional School Criminal Justice Partnership continues to grow in number and stature. The program has 28 students in Criminal Justice I and 13 in Criminal Justice II. There is now a waiting list for students to join this partnership at Wachusett. We are proud of the fact that the Holden Police Department personnel give so much time to this endeavor.

The bike patrol continues to be a staple for patrolling during the good weather. The additional need for patrolling on the rail trail has been met with a partnership with West Boylston PD to have joint patrols.

The Holden Police Department continues its commitment to elderly services and considers its relationship with Checkerberry Village and Colony Retirement as one of its priorities.

Sgt. David Armstrong

The Holden Police Department remains committed to obtaining the best possible training for its officers, for we believe that the better the training, the less mistakes in the field. Training, like all education, ensures the patrol officer, the detective and/or the supervisor can adapt to any situation that may arise during his or her shift.

In 2006, all officers of the Holden Police Department completed training amounting to over 1,400 hours. The courses attended included certain medical training classes, such as CPR, First Responder and Defibrillator Training. All officers also attended classes in Emergency Vehicle Operations or other driving training courses, Legal Updates, Incident Command, Roll Call Instruction and Firearms Instruction. For Firearms, all officers received standardized Firearms Training as required by the MPTC by our Firearms Instructors, Sgt. Christopher Noyes and Officer Ray Sherbourne. All officers were also put through a series of Firearms Courses that tested their ability to shoot under stressful circumstances. This includes various scenarios the officer may find himself or herself involved in. All officers also qualified with the standard 12-Gauge Shotgun and the Police Rifle. We are still exploring the possibility of purchasing electronic weapons in order to allow officers to subdue unruly subjects while further limiting risk to the officers and the subjects themselves.

Specific officers, depending on the needs of the Department, also attended classes in Breathalyzer Training, Computer Crimes, Dispatch Training, Courtroom Testimony, Executive Development, Identity Theft, Multiple Integrated Skills, Use of Force, Radar Operation, Methamphetamine Labs, Field Sobriety Testing, Background Investigations, Suicide Prevention, School Resource Officer Specialization, Basic Firearms certification, Armorer Certification, Motorcycle Recertification, Field Training Officer, E-911 School, Child Passenger Safety Training, Rape Aggression Defense, Patrol Rifle Training, Gang Trends, Drug Identification, White Collar Crime, Death Investigations, Homicide Investigations and Public Records Law.
We will continue to provide our officers with the needed courses for their duties as those classes arise.

Officers Todd Ventres and Adam Porcaro graduated from the 15th Municipal Police Officers Class at West Boylston Police Academy for their Basic Training in the summer of 2006 and Officer Jonathan Bourget has been taking his Basic Training with the 16th Municipal Police Officers Class, with a graduation date in January, 2007 after a grueling 21 week/800 hour course of instruction.

This past year also saw the city of Boston hosting the Annual Conference for the International Chiefs of Police, in which a number of police supervisors attended classes designed to assist them carry out their duties.

In 2006, officers from this department also provided numerous training classes and seminars in Holden and the surrounding area. This includes instruction in the Criminal Justice Program for classes at Wachusett Regional High School, RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) Courses, The Wachusett Civilian Police Academy (in which civilians get a taste of what a real police academy is like), as well as providing instruction at various locations throughout the state.

In recent years, we have initiated some cross training the Laconia, New Hampshire Police Department, in which some of our officers ride with them to learn their procedures for performing their criminal justice function. In exchange, some Laconia Police Officers have spent time with our officers, to learn our procedures.

The Holden Police Department was scheduled to be re-assessed in 2006 for Certification by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Com-mission, Inc. After under going a three (3) day assessment from a team selected by the Commission, the Holden Police Department revised, modified and updated some of their policies and procedures. These modifications have been submitted to the Commission and we are expected to receive our recertification sometime in February 2007.

We wish to thank the MPTC, the Wachusett Regional School District, the Holden Fire Department, the Central Mass Emergency Medical Services, the Laconia, New Hampshire Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the surrounding municipal police agencies, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Nimrod League of Holden for the use of their personnel, facilities and services to supply us with the best training possible.

Should you have any group request for instruction or training in the criminal justice field, to include a tour of a criminal justice

facility, please feel free to contact us with your request and we will do everything possible to honor your request.

We believe we are fortunate in Holden, given the quality and dedication of the officers on this Department. It is often said in the criminal justice field that an agency’s professionalism is dependent upon its training program. We intend on maintaining the highest level of professionalism for the  Holden Police Department by continuing to provide the best training possible.

Donald A Ball
Lieutenant

Part of my responsibility as Sergeant with the Holden Police Department is to oversee the activities of the traffic division. The following report includes how we as a department, enforce the traffic laws of the Commonwealth in regards to the traffic safety programs we are involved with and the steps we take in order to maintain a consistently high level of traffic safety for the town.

Most residents of our community, as well as those from surrounding communities, know of the Holden Police Department’s strong commitment towards traffic safety and equally strong reputation for traffic enforcement. This year’s numbers speak for themselves with a total of 6,169 citations issued. This is a slight increase over last years number of 5,129.

Due to this consistency effective traffic enforcement, we saw an increase in the number of citations issued this year which may have had an impact on the number of motor vehicles crashes. This number managed to decrease from 288 in 2005 to 251 in 2006. Thankfully, none of these crashes resulted in a fatality. According to accident statistics, over half of these crashes occur on Main St. , Reservoir St. , and Shrewsbury Street .

In order to try and reduce the number of crashes involving serious injury, the Holden Police Department implemented grant money received by the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau for specialized traffic patrols. These patrols consisted of three sections each for safety belt enforcement and O. U. I. enforcement respectively. The safety belt patrols were worked in the spring, summer and winter for two weeks at a time. An officer was assigned a four hour block each day during daylight hours. During this time, the officer’s sole responsibility was the detection and enforcement of safety belt violations. With safety belt violations being a secondary offense at the time, officer’s would also enforce various moving violations as an additional benefit. The O. U. I. enforcement sections were conducted during the holiday season as well as spring and summer. These patrols consisted of four hour blocks of time each day during the evening hours. Each officer assigned to this patrol was dedicated to focus on the detection of O. U. I. offenders.

The officer’s assigned to the traffic division utilize a daily radar schedule as part of their continued daily efforts at traffic enforcement. The radar schedule is issued monthly and consists of different street locations throughout town that change day to day. These locations are based on need or from citizen complaints. Our officer’s also place their attention on monitoring dangerous intersections, detecting motorists whose right to operate has been suspended or revoked, detecting uninsured motor vehicles and enforcing any number of other motor vehicle law infractions they may encounter.

Through the continued effort of our officers, it is the goal of the Holden Police Traffic Division to create a safer community through which to travel. Submitted by:

Christopher K. Noyes, Jr. Sergeant

Traffic Division

The Holden Police Department Detective Bureau is responsible for following up on preliminary crime reports that patrol officers are not able to accomplish during their normal patrol time. To accomplish this task, the officers assigned to the Detective Bureau work closely with the patrol officers of the department, as well as other law enforcement agencies and detectives in the central Massachusetts area.

Additionally, since crime is not restricted to municipal boundaries, Detectives participate in certain specialized organizations such as: the Worcester County Breaking and Entering Task Force, the Regional Drug task Force, the Worcester County Fraudulent Check Association, and the New England State Police Information Network, and the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators.

Again, crime has remained at a relatively low level even for a community of 18,000 individuals. House breaks and other crimes have been relatively low in Holden. This is due to alert community members calling if they see something unusual. Crime is also low due to the Patrolman actively patrolling the town looking for suspicious activity. The Holden Police Department, along with many other agencies, have been receiving reports of Identity Theft. To help protect yourself from being a victim of Identity Theft, do not give any personal information to anyone that you don’t know. This includes phone calls you receive and unsolicited emails. Also, you should check your credit history by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. You are able to receive one free credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus yearly. The Detective Bureau has also been investigating illegal Internet transactions/credit card fraud. Use reputable websites when using your credit card and don’t give your credit card information out over the phone unless you called the company. Quick cash scams are also occurring in and around Holden. If you receive a notice you won something (cash, trip, ect…) contact the police to determine if it is legitimate or not. Know not to cash any checks and send the money as the scam artist requests. Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any questions or concerns about Identity Theft or Internet safety please contact the Detective Bureau.

Respectfully submitted,

Detective Albert R. Bourget
Detective Christopher J. Carey

Service and maintenance of the Holden Police Department fleet of vehicles is a critical component, not only to the Police Officer, but also to the public in which they serve.

Safety is a significant factor, and as a result all the cruisers are inspected by the officer and Supervisor prior to each shift. This is to ensure that there is no damage to the vehicle and all the necessary equipment is intact. The HPD fleet has a more thorough weekly inspection that is checked for maintenance, equipment, and appearance. The equipment in a cruiser that becomes so vital to a Police Officer includes: medical bags, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, stop sticks, web gun, throw ropes, and several accident reconstruction tools. If there is a problem with the vehicle, it is repaired as soon as possible after being reported even if it is a less significant item as a dome light being out, which can be of the essence to some Officers.

Tires are another priority on all Police vehicles. Once determined that a tire(s) are worn or wearing improperly, upon inspection, the tire(s) are removed or replaced. If a tire is wearing properly, as it nears the depth of 2/32nds it is removed. Necessary repairing and replacing tires are made to get the most life out of a tire.

In 2006, the HPD fleet of vehicles consists of one Ford Expedition, which is utilized as a Mobile Command Center for major incidents. It also becomes the key snow vehicle during inclement weather. A Ford F150 truck, also used in inclement weather is primarily used by the Liaison Officer at Mountview. There are 4 cruisers and 4 unmarked vehicles, which are driven by the Chief, the Lieutenant, the Detective, and WRHS Liaison Officer respectfully. Also included in the fleet is a van which is used for the Animal Control Officer and a motorcycle, which is used from early spring and ridden till November depending on how the weather holds out.

All the vehicles are serviced through the Department of Public Works maintenance department which completes the majority of repairs. All the electrical and police equipment in the vehicles is repaired by Municipal Headquarters (MHQ) in Marlboro. Sunnyside Motors is responsible for all recalls and warranties.

Submitted by:

Richard E. Horrigan, Sergeant

2006 was somewhat of an interesting year for animal control. While the number of licensed dogs increased 3.4% compared to 2005, from 2295 dogs ending 2005 (approx.) to 2273 dogs ending 2006 (approx.), the number of calls for service to this office actually fell by 7.3% (482 calls in 2006 versus 520 calls in 2005). While the hope is that more citizens are aware and abiding by the laws, this is also undoubtedly due to more stringent enforcement being carried out by this office in a couple of key areas, namely LOOSE dog complaints and BARKING dog complaints, which are expounded upon below.

In the area of loose dog complaints (historically our largest enforcement complaint category), the number of calls to this office fell to 158 in 2006 as compared to the 188 calls received in 2005. Citizens in town appear to be showing less of a tolerance for dog owners who violate our 24 hour leash law, and our office is quick to respond to these types of complaints. Typically, we start with a verbal warning to violators, followed by a written citation warning, and then we start to issue written monetary citations. This will usually resolve this issue. On rare occasions, when this is not effective, we do have a formal hearing process that can be triggered at the request of a complainant. However, we are glad to see that the number of calls for loose dogs in 2006 decreased 16%.

Historically, our second largest complaint category where enforcement is needed has been barking complaints. Here, we also saw a very significant drop in calls, from 42 calls in 2005 to only 24 calls in 2006 (decrease of 43%). We consider any barking beyond 15 continuous minutes to be “nuisance” barking. Usually, the offending party is not aware that their dog’s barking is disturbing their neighbors, and a visit from our office usually rectifies the situation and restores peace and quiet. However, here again we have the same hearing process previously indicated above which can be invoked if the situation has not been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction after a visit from this office. These situations are rare though.

The next largest category is “lost & found”. This is not a category where any type of enforcement is applicable, but even here we saw a slight drop-off from 2005, from 105 calls to 98 calls in 2006. Most of these calls involve lost or missing cats rather than dogs. Needless to say, there are “outdoor” cats versus those that stay confined inside their homes. Unfortunately, most of these cats are not “lost” per se’ but rather have met their fate from one of the perils inherent in the outside world, namely motor vehicles, coyotes, or loose dogs. There is little our office can do here other than put the pertinent information on our lost and found bulletin in case any sightings are reported. Cat owners are urged to keep their cats indoors.

Another major area for our office is wildlife calls. Included in this category would be calls concerning wildlife in peoples homes or yards, ex. Coyotes, foxes, skunks, bears, etc. This is one of the few areas where we saw an increase, from 58 calls in 2005 to 73 calls in 2006 (26% increase!). This would seem to make sense as more of our woodlands fall victim to home development. Our wildlife is simply being displaced and are moving around, and many of them are literally living among us in between our houses. In most cases, there is little reason to be alarmed as these animals are simply out and about looking for food and trying to survive. Our office will usually respond to these calls only to check and make sure the animals are not rabid, which they rarely are. Beyond that, we advise people to keep their pets confined until the wild animals move along. There were a few bear and moose sightings reported in 2006, and this just confirms the fact that all types of wildlife are being disturbed by human development, not just in our community, but in the cities and states around us.

The Animal Control Office is part of the Holden Police Department and is located at the same address, 1420 Main Street . The direct dial number is 508-829-0215 and is typically staffed Monday through Friday from 7:00 a. m. to 3:00 p.m. In case of after hours emergencies, please call the police department general business line at 508-829-4444.

Respectfully,

Michael S. Sendrowski
(Full-time Animal Control Officer)

Thomas S. Walsh
(Part-time Animal Control Officer)