NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department released its annual report earlier this month, summarizing the law enforcement and criminal activity in the City of Norwich.
The report is required by the city’s regulations to be made each year, and it marks in detail the activities of the department, including arrests, complaints and notes any events that require special police attention.
“It’s important for the public, who pays for our services, to know what it is they are paying for,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
The report also includes extensive details on the types of crimes committed, the number committed and also compares them to the 2007 review. It contains all motor vehicle accidents that police responded to and what caused each.
Some police agencies have seen a rise in some of their criminal figures, prompting them to blame the souring economy for the increase in activity.
“It may be somewhat of a factor, but in my experience, honest people are usually honest and dishonest people are usually dishonest, no matter what the state of the economy,” said Angelino.
The chief did say that more stress was being felt by lower income families and that certain types of crimes seem to be “measurably” affected by financial difficulty – in particular domestic disturbances and related crimes.
“When family life stops, delinquency begins,” he said.
“But to say, ‘Oh look crime is up, must be the economy,’ is not an accurate picture of things,” he said.
The 2008 report was similar to 2007 figures, with many numbers holding steady or fluctuating only slightly.
However, one statistic that stood out was the sudden jump in family criminal offenses, which went from 4 in 2007 to 179 in 2008.
Angelino said the anomaly in the figure was more a result of changing state guidelines than an actual rise in cases.
“A few years ago it was just direct family, blood relations, that were constituted under the law, but now the parameters have been expanded to include any two people sharing an ‘affinity,’” he said, quoting the state’s guideline. The new guideline allows any two people with a current or past close relationship to be considered under the legal guise of family.
“It’s up to the judge; he ultimately decides,” said the chief.
Angelino also pointed out that police had no on-the-job vehicle accidents or any complaints filed against an officer in 2008.
The report dedicated two pages to the April 9, 2008 burglary and wanton destruction at the Norwich Jewish Center, located on South Broad Street. It was one of the more infamous local crimes in 2008 and was considered a hate crime, attracting the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigations at the time. Police arrested each of the three underage suspects involved.
The report also notes several updates the department had developed in 2008, including the installation of video cameras and recording equipment on the department’s two first-floor interview rooms.
“Additionally, these recording devices have, on more than one occasion, been used to refute claims of misconduct against the always professional Norwich Police Officers,” said Angelino.
The report notes the department was urged by the District Attorney’s Office to purchase the equipment so they could keep an irrefutable record of confessions and criminal statements.
The department also installed a video camera in its designated traffic control patrol car, which is often used in DWI enforcement.
In addition, all patrol cars were equipped with new HP wireless capable laptops. The software on the machines is used by officers to issue traffic tickets and to complete traffic accident reports. The system, called Mobile Data Terminal software, allows officers to run license plates, driver’s license information, search for wanted or missing persons and lost or stolen property right from the car.
The equipment was purchased with a grant from the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.