Police Commission Lauds

Police Chief’s Performance

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission’s annual job performance review of Police Chief Michael Kehoe found that the police chief’s performance during the 2007-08 fiscal year was “excellent.”

Comments submitted by Police Commission Chairman Carol Mattegat state, “The chief did an excellent job. He brought the [police] department to the high standard it is today.”

First Selectman Joe Borst reviewed the chief’s job performance on August 13, following the Police Commission’s August 5 review of his performance. The police chief’s current annual salary is $96,502.

The commission’s review of the chief’s performance is broken into various categories.

The panel complimented the police chief on his having formed a traffic enforcement squad, and equipping the squad, as well as publicizing that the police department has such a squad whose purpose is to enforce traffic violations.

The full-time two-person unit has a motorcycle officer, plus an officer who will be patrolling in a specialized sedan designated for traffic enforcement.

During the past several months, town police have heightened their enforcement of speeding, reckless driving, and distracted driving violations.

The Police Commission also complimented the police chief on his having formulated a strategic traffic safety and enforcement plan, which has been approved by the commission, as well as formulating policy documents for the traffic enforcement unit.

Also, the panel gave Chief Kehoe high marks for keeping its members fully informed on matters related to police hiring, disciplinary matters, budgeting, legal, and traffic issues.

The Police Commission noted that during the 2007-08 fiscal year, the police department did not meet its goal of achieving Tier 2 accreditation by the state’s Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC).

The department, however, expects to soon receive a three-year Tier 1 reaccredidation from that agency. The original Tier 1 accreditation of the police department occurred in 2005.

The Tier 2 accreditation was not accomplished due to police staffing shortages, and the inability to fill a vacant administrative sergeant’s position, according to the Police Commission.

Accreditation is a voluntary process through which municipal law enforcement agencies seek to demonstrate a commitment to excellence. In the accreditation process, law enforcement agencies “demonstrate excellence in management and service delivery,” according to POSTC.

The accreditation standards are formulated to allow police departments to meet the goals of: strengthening crime prevention and control capabilities, formalizing essential management procedures, establishing fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices, improving service delivery, solidifying interagency cooperation and coordination, and boosting citizen and staff confidence in the police agency, according to POSTC.

Beyond noting the police chief’s job performance for the 2007-08 fiscal year, the Police Commission sets performance goals for him for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

A main goal involves having the chief coordinate and assist the project manager in the police department’s upgrade of its computer-aided dispatch system and records management system. The yearlong project will involve training the department’s officers and civilian employees.

Also, the commission wants the chief to continue work on an ongoing police department space needs study intended to plan for the department’s future space and facilities needs.

Additionally, the commission wants the chief to keep the panel fully aware of police department matters lying within its bailiwick.

Other goals for the police chief include coordinating the 47-member department’s planned upgrade of its voice communications audio recording system.

Also, the commission wants the chief to fill the vacant administrative sergeant’s post by March 2009. The position has never been held by an officer. The police department also should continue its ongoing accreditation process, according to the commission.