1990 -
The Department was
designated by the City Manager as the 911 answering point for the City of
Norwich. 911 equipment was installed and five "civilian dispatchers" were
hired to supplement the Police Officer assigned to the dispatch center.
Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
was also installed in the new dispatch center to assist the dispatchers.
1993 –
Bolstered by a State grant the department started a "Community Policing
Program" by hiring ten (10) additional officers and assigning them to targeted neighborhoods
(Downtown, Lake St., Boswell Ave. & the lower West Side area). A downtown
police sub-station was funded and the Buckingham Memorial building at 307 Main
St. was renovated and brought up to code for this purpose. The code work and
renovations were fully funded by the State "Safe Neighborhoods"
grant program. The sub-station was in use for nearly a decade. In the
process the department adopted the philosophy of "Community
Oriented Policing" as its model for policing.
1996 -
A Federal COPS Grant added Five (5) Officers
to expand the neighborhood policing program. A police bicycle
program was implemented with ten Trek police patrol bikes and twenty-two
specifically trained bike patrol officers.
1997 –
Mobil Data Terminals installed in Patrol
Division cruisers. These devices give immediate access to critical
information for patrol officers. It also gives Police Dispatchers
the ability to communicate silently with the patrols in the field when
necessary.
The Police Dispatch Center
was enlarged by taking over the Public Parking Commission office and
shrinking the public lobby. The new Dispatch space was upgraded
with three dispatch stations and new and enhanced electronics and radio
equipment in order to provide dispatch service to the City's Fire
service. Three (3) additional 911 Emergency Dispatchers were hired
and added to the five (5) current dispatchers to assist with the added
work load.
1998 -
A new computerized "police
reporting system" created that improved officer efficiency and quality
of the police reports.
1999 –
Digitized Arrest Booking system added.
Affords the Department the benefits of color digital photographic "Mug Shots" of
arrestees and the capacity to create computerized "Photo Line Ups" of possible
suspects.
2000 –
Youth Citizens Police Academy program implemented.
The first in a series of "Citizen Academies" planned to better communicate what
we do and how we do it with the public we serve.
2003 -
Police Chaplaincy program initiated for
both citizen and officer support. These volunteers have provide
countless volunteer hours. They have proved to be invaluable to our
operation with regard to Death Notifications, serious injury and a host
other support services.
2004 -
Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) were trained to
assist the mentally ill. The CIT officers are supported by S/E Mental
Health and Mobile Outreach workers.
An
in-house Domestic Violence, Victim Advocate for Law Enforcement program
(VALE) was developed and
funded through a State grant.
This outreach program gives our patrol officers and domestic violence victims
immediate access to victim advocate services at the time of such
investigations. This program has served as a model for law
enforcement.
2006 -
A
Federal Earmark Grant was obtained with the assistance of
Congressman Rob Simmons for a Cyber Crime Mobile Investigative/Command
Vehicle. The vehicle is used for Internet Safety Training and
Cyber Crime Investigative purposes as well as functioning a
communications command post.
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