WILTON – The reputation of the Wilton Police Department locally and in the criminal justice community is “poor at best,” according to a report released Tuesday night by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association.
Among the findings of the department evaluation were that there was little documentation of citizen complaints, no printed crime reports filed in the office since 1995, and conditions in the police department office that posed potential health risks.
The evaluation was prompted by selectmen’s concerns last November and after the retirement of longtime Chief James Parker in September.
After admitting the 50-page report was a public document, meaning it should be made available to the public according to Maine’s Freedom of Information Act, Town Manager Peter Nielsen still refused to provide it to the Sun Journal on Tuesday before selectmen had the opportunity to discuss the findings at their meeting. The selectmen, however, agreed to release the report at their meeting Tuesday night.
The study done by Chief Wayne M. McCamish of Augusta, Chief Ronald Shepard of Gorham and Chief Edward J. Googins of South Portland, outlines findings and recommendations under several headings. It was conducted in January before Chief Wayne Gallant took over the job Feb. 7 from acting Chief Edward Leahy.
“Due to the recent events involving police officers, citizens and service providers and the perceived lack of accountability of police officers, the reputation of the police department in the local community, as well as the criminal justice community, would be currently described as poor at best,” the chiefs wrote in an overview.
Under administration, the report said, “It is obvious by the condition of the chief’s office that there was little organization and sparse administrative record keeping.”
The public safety building was also a concern. Of the building, they wrote, “The interior of the police facility was in great need of an intense cleaning. The conditions found within the police department areas bordered on a questionable health risk for occupants of the facility.”
“There is little documentation on citizen complaints,” the report continued, adding that community members who were interviewed felt if a complaint were against the department or individual officers, that little or nothing would be done to investigate or follow up.
In crime analysis, the chiefs concluded the department “does a questionable job in recording its crime statistics for the purpose of reporting to (statewide) uniform crime reporting,” as required by law.
Officers are responsible for filing their reports on complaints, but, “Since 1995, when the computer system was installed, no reports have been filed in the department.
“This lack of proper record keeping is a disaster waiting to happen,” the chiefs wrote.
Crime victims, when asked, told investigators that “officers appear to take a considerable amount of time getting to calls for service. Concerns were expressed that `if you are a friend of an officer, the officers get there in a hurry; if not, they get to you when they get there,'” they wrote.
The chiefs had significant concerns about Franklin County District Attorney’s directive to refer certain criminal cases to the Sheriff’s Department. Until the issue is resolved, “It is a dark cloud hanging over the entire department.” The directive was rescinded in early February when Gallant took over, but an investigation is still pending.
Tuesday night, Gallant gave a report to selectmen that appeared to address many of the report’s concerns.
The public safety building has undergone a major face-lift – an interview room turned storage room was cleaned out to restore the room for interviews, another concern of the study group.
He reported he has begun restructuring a report and filing system, reworked the department’s policy manual, arranged for training opportunities for officers and has addressed the community at several events.
Selectmen said they heard good things about Gallant.
“I, for one, have heard good comments,” said Jeff Rowe, chairman of the board.
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