Town of Brookline FY23 Program Budget
Public Safety l Police
Program Description
The Police Mission:
To work in partnership with the Select Board in their capacity as Police Commissioners, the Town Administrator and Community Members' to ensure that all people enjoy a high quality of life without fear of crime. To work together to solve problems and provide the most responsive and highest quality police service. To proactively prevent crime, maintain order and apprehend offenders in a manner consistent with the law.
Our Values:
The Department subscribes to the following set of governing values that state its beliefs as a police organization:
- The two most important assets of the Brookline Police Department are our personnel and the Community we serve.
- Excellence for the members of the Brookline Police Department is based upon fairness, integrity, hard work, and professionalism in the performance of their duties.
- Commitment to providing the highest quality of professional law enforcement with the goal of enhancing the quality of life within the community.
- Build partnerships with citizens in order to ensure personal safety, protect individual rights, protect property, and promote individual responsibility and community commitment.
- Secure and maintain public respect in order to fulfill the Department's duties by acknowledging that the quality of life in the community is affected by not only the absence of fear of crime, but also by the absence of crime itself.
The Department consists of the following seven subprograms:
- The Administration and Support Division provides overall control of the functions of the Department. It maintains records, provides upgrades in communication and technology equipment and will continue to improve all monitoring and accountability processes to ensure fair and impartial policing takes place. This Division also trains personnel in its uses and distributes weapons and supplies. It also includes the Public Safety Business Office, a group responsible for all financial and budgetary matters for both the Police Department and the Fire Department. Provide oversight and direction in implementing the work and recommendations of the Select Board's Committee on Policing Reforms and the Task Force to Reimagine Policing in Brookline. The Department will review, study and provide feedback to all proposed changes as well as comparisons to current operations. All recommendations that are approved and accepted will be closely monitored to ensure their smooth implementation and successful outcome.
- The Patrol Division continuously patrols all sectors of town while providing a variety of public safety services. Their efforts also serve as a deterrent to criminal activity. The Patrol function is vital and, for that reason, the Chief has directed that there be a minimum staffing policy maintained daily.
- The Criminal Investigation Unit is responsible for the investigation of all violent crimes, including murder, rape, armed robbery, assault, and narcotic violations, and maintains the safety of all evidence.
- The Community Relations Division is charged with facilitating a spirit of cooperation between the public and the Department that helps to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
- The Traffic and Parking Division is responsible for enforcing all laws and regulations relating to traffic within town.
- The Public Safety Dispatch Division is responsible for handling all police, fire, and ambulance calls, including E-911.
- One patrol officer functions as the Town's Animal Control officer. The Animal Control officer normally works five days a week. All Brookline Police Officers are responsible for enforcing the Town's animal control laws, and will continue to do so when the Animal Control officer is off duty.
FY2022 Accomplishments
Patrol Division:
- Instituted additional park and walk program where officers are out of vehicles frequently interacting with the community. Officers focusing on areas where there is community activity such as shopping areas, sporting events, MBTA stops etc.
- Directed patrol and enforcement in areas that have been of concern for pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle traffic. Areas which have a high frequency of accidents or speeding complaints.
- Added six new traffic crossing post as a way for officers to further interact with the community
Community Service Division:
- Expand training to include roll call, live scenarios, on-duty, and mutli-agency, as 48 hours of annual in-service training is not sufficient with the changing demands placed on the officers to keep them readied and up-to-date.
- Continue the coordinating training with area police departments including Boston and Northeastern University, Chelsea, Cambridge and through the Metro Boston Police Collaborative.
- Further evolve the family services unit. This unit of social workers, CSD, Detectives and CIT officers meets in an effort to mitigate the trauma of domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, as well as youth and families in crisis. Currently some services for our youth, victims of domestic violence and families are not fully centralized. Examine if services were streamed- lined under one command structure would it result in more effective delivery of services.
- Continue to expand outreach to youth in the community though the Brookline Teen Center and have already developed a wonderful relationship with the new Brookline Teen Center director.
- Expand social media reach and increase followership and information sharing. We are committed to do this through the use of video snippets. Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Criminal Investigations Unit:
- Detectives attended training to include: National Cyber Crimes Conference, Civil Rights Investigations, Death Investigations, and Background Investigations.
- Incorporated new Civil Rights Sergeant into Division.
- Maintain Deputizations with FBI, USSS and DEA including computer analysis and response team certification.
- Investigation resulting in numerous firearms and pounds of methamphetamine being recovered.
- Recovered property including money, bicycles and other items stolen from Brookline and recovered in other jurisdictions
ID Unit:
- Processed 206 firearms application
- Oversaw two information sessions prior to the Civil Service Exam
- Digitized firearms license files
Evidence / Property:
- Purged out 1100+ old cases
- Destroyed 17 Firearms
- Submitted pieces of evidence for DNA analysis
- Prepared 170 cases for a Property Room pick-up. Propertyroom.Com is a pickup, evidence and property disposal process.
- Set up a Town account for cash brought into the evidence room once cases are disposed of rather than keeping money in evidence room.
Traffic and Parking Division:
- The FY21 Traffic Enforcement Grant was successfully completed in September which consisted of 5 enforcement mobilizations and included the purchase of 4 new LIDAR units.
- The Traffic Division played a vital role in the operation and planning for the Boston Marathon which occurred on October 11, 2021, Indigenous Peoples Day.
- Ongoing training initiatives led to a Traffic Officer successfully completed 240 Hours of accident reconstruction training. In total, the division has 3 officers and 1 supervisor fully trained in accident reconstruction.
- Two Traffic Officers successfully completed a 40 hour class on motorcycle crash investigations.
- The motorcycle officers assigned to the Traffic Division developed a motorcycle training course in an effort to sharpen their riding skills and train other members of the department in motorcycle safety. Members of this team have assisted in escorts, funerals, and town wide functions.
- Recently, Traffic Officers have assisted officers assigned to the patrol division in the proper use and operation of Lidar speed enforcement to enhance officer’s certification requirements
Public Safety Dispatch Division:
- Ongoing continuing education for all E911 Dispatchers.
- Sought and received two grants from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State 911 Department which assists with funding of E911 Dispatcher training courses and fees, personnel costs, and equipment used for day-to-day operations of the Public Safety Dispatch Center. The two grants amounted to $270,225.55.
- Continued a structured Communications Training Program for new E911 Dispatchers.
- Trained and certified eight new E911 Dispatchers.
- E911 Dispatchers participated in multiple continuing education training courses on topics including Fire Department Operations, Firefighter Safety, Verbal Judo, 911 Customer Service, Mental Health First Aid and CPR.
- E911 Dispatchers handled more than 80,000 computer-aided dispatch entries involving police, fire, and emergency medical services.
Animal Control:
- Completed Massachusetts required approved continuing education credits.
- Attended approved online and in person animal control related trainings. Conducted enforcement of State and Town By Law animal related issues.
- Assisted Brookline agencies, residents and outside agencies in enhancing animal control procedures.
- Improved wildlife education awareness for residents to better assist in resolving wildlife related issues.
FY 2023 Objectives
Patrol Division:
- Train and integrate the current candidate’s to the status of new recruits. Continue training through their probationary year.
- Integrate on duty Fire arms Training Simulations scenario based training for Patrol Officers.
- Explore purchasing 2 electric mini vehicles for congested areas with to help connect with and respond to community concerns while increasing the ability to respond promptly to emergency situations.
- Train designated Patrol Officers as Field Training Officers and Supervisors.
- Actively recruit new officers while focusing our efforts to increase diversity among all our personnel.
Community Service Division (CSD):
- The Community Services Division is charged with facilitating a spirit of cooperation between members of the public and the Department that helps to enhance the quality of life for all individuals. Housed within this Division are the Crime Analysis Unit, the Youth Resource Officers, Evening Community Service Officers, the Elder Affairs Officer, the Crisis Intervention Team and the Department’s Training and Accreditation Unit.
- We have discussed with DMH the possibility of grant funding for a 2nd clinician, preferably a LICSW, to work with our Department (can co-respond with CSD) on the 4-12 shift. This would be fully grant funded.
Continue ongoing community engagement efforts in the following manner:
- All CSD officers will have completed COBWEB (minimum) training and will be fully outfitted to supplement patrol when weather/schedules permit.
- Expand RAD self-defense (and all other programs) to be inclusive of community members with different abilities (with existing partners at BREC and with assistance of Town’s ADA coordinator).
- Revisit Car Seat program to include bi-monthly checkpoints (requires certifying additional officers/ will include traffic division if necessary/interested)
- Depending on the pandemic, host one senior “CPA” (ideally 8 weeks) and additional trainings/listening sessions on issues specific to seniors.
- Expand the bicycle unit into CSD, to increase our officer’s ability to engage at large scale events and commercial areas
Community Relations / Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) / Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM):
- Hold 6 40-hour trainings, including two specifically for local College and University agencies that we partner with, to meet this emerging demand.
- Hold at least 4 MHFA trainings to maintain 100% of our agency trained.
- Hold a minimum of two additional one day “advanced” trainings
- Continue to integrate our clinician into calls for service and continue to reexamine and streamline the use of the CIT model
Criminal Investigations Unit:
- Incorporate Patrol into investigations to facilitate a share responsibility and pride in investigations.
- Deter bicycle thefts through multi-pronged approach including standard investigations, multi-jurisdictional, public awareness, and private business cooperation.
- Certify additional Detective in sexual assault investigations through MPTC.
- Certify Detectives in crime scene processing and death investigations.
- Continued training including Cyber Crime Conference, Intelligence, Social Media - Snapchat and Instagram to gain knowledge on what youth/student population may be using and have a firm understanding of it for school safety threats, Video evidence/DVR training.
- Continue to work on prevention, intervention, diversion and engagement with the youth of the community.
- Work with community partners on issues involving juveniles. Establish and build new relationships with the stakeholder in the Norfolk County Juvenile Court System.
- Continue to participate in Norfolk County CSEC (Commercial Exploitation of Children) Task force and Steering Committee meetings - educate department wide further on signs and response to situations involving CSEC case or potential interactions.
- Work to support victims of domestic violence and continue to refer those in need to agencies that can provide on-going support for specific needs/services (financial, legal, probate, etc).
- On-going participation in the Norfolk County High Risk Domestic Violence Team meetings.
- Human Trafficking: Seek out further training opportunities related to trends/investigations and potentially partner with hotels in town on awareness/signs/reporting.
ID Unit:
- Transition to online payment for applications/ fingerprinting
- Training for ID Unit Detectives
- CTS testing (fingerprint competency)
- IAI conference
- Digitize detective case file
Evidence / Property:
- Complete criminal drug destruction, upon lifting of COVID restrictions
- Resume prescription drug destruction, upon lifting of COVID restrictions
- Complete the hiring of 9 student officers from the 2021 Civil Service Exam.
Traffic and Parking Division:
- Remain fully staffed, including at the assignment of a Traffic Division Commander who will need to do a complete assessment of the overall Traffic Division in a forward planning process to identify possible technology upgrades and work flow processes to integrate the police department’s traffic and parking goals with Town and regional transportation planning.
- Assume a leading role from within the police department in the identification and enforcement of crash hotspots throughout the town. This will include the three E’s in traffic safety; Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. The Traffic Division will deploy education and enforcement strategies while continuing to work with the Engineering Department in conducting and analyzing speed and roadway studies. Pedestrian, bicycle, vehicles and mass transit issues need to be factored in for the most effective response.
- Work with other town departments especially the Transportation Department in exploring ideas to make our roads safer, including participation in the Vision Zero Coalition which is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. This new and growing coalition includes community-based organizations, nonprofits, businesses, civic groups and individuals representing communities across the state.
- The FY22 Traffic Enforcement Grant is being used for continued enforcement along with the addition of a new visual speed display board.
- Assist in the planning and operation of the abandoned car auction with Perfection Towing and secure all funds owed to the town.
- Send all radar and LIDAR units out to be calibrated and file documentation in preparation of any future public records requests.
- Continue to send officers to additional accident reconstruction training, including assisting Officers g ACTAR (Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction) certified. Currently, there are only 48 ACTAR certified specialists in Massachusetts including one with Brookline PD.
- Continue to train our officers in motorcycle safety by having them utilize the motorcycle safety course.
Public Safety Dispatch Division:
- To ensure all E911 Dispatchers receive continuing education.
- To continue to seek grant funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State 911.
- Department to assist with E911 Dispatcher training and education, as well as personnel and equipment costs for the Public Safety Dispatch Center.
- To outfit the Public Safety Dispatch Center with new ergonomic workstations.
- To continue to train new E911 Dispatchers utilizing the Communications Training Program.
- To implement the Purvis Fire Station Alerting system.
- Creation of duties and responsibilities for new Lead Dispatcher or Shift Supervisor positions on each shift within the Public Safety Dispatch Center.
Animal Control:
- Maintain state required approved continuing education credits.
- Continue to seek additional Animal Control Officer and Supervisor training, to ensure all police officers are able to appropriately respond to animal related calls.
- Continue to increase public awareness and education on animal control laws and issues.
- Continue to work cooperatively with Town departments, state, and regional agencies that have a role in animal control issues.