Selectmen Approve Police Chief’s Staffing Proposal

At its meeting Wednesday night, the Board of Selectmen approved renaming the position of Deputy Chief to captain and creating a lieutenant position at the Canton Police Department.

Most agreed the later would need union approval since it would be included in the bargaining unit and possibly result in fewer supervisory positions overall.

The changes are part of a restructuring proposal made by Chief Christopher Arciero. The changes would keep the number of sworn personnel at 15 but add the layer of lieutenant and somewhat change the job description of the second in command, until recently held by Donald B. Hull, who retired from the department and accepted a chief’s position in Stowe, VT.

That replacement, now called a captain, would have a more flexible schedule as well as some new responsibilities, including oversight of the department’s “community policing philosophy.” The name change also brings Canton more in line with other area departments, the chief said.

The lieutenant would be a second-shift supervisor, have oversight of major town events, still be responsible for patrol duties, oversee dispatch operations and have other administrative functions. 

The positions would also provide incentive for officers who wish to move through the ranks in Canton and elsewhere, since it is nearly impossible for someone to go from a sergeant to a first- or second-in command job, Arciero said.

The change would boost morale, help the marketability of officers and make Canton more attractive to new recruits, he said.

“That’s going to pay dividends,” Arciero said.

But while selectmen approved the lieutenant position it does not appear it is a done deal.

Most at the meeting believed the union would have to approve the position before it went into effect. And the proposal, as voted on, would eventually “exchange” a sergeant’s position and turn it into an additional patrol officer.

In fact selectman Lowell Humphrey voted against the proposal because he did not agree with going from four sergeants to two sergeants and a lieutenant.

And while the union wanted a lieutenant position, there is concern about that aspect from some members, president Sgt. Mark Penney said.

Other selectmen, however, did not seem inclined to support keeping a lieutenant and three sergeants, a proposal Arciero appeared to suggest as a possible alternative if the union didn’t agree with the first.

Many also want to see a current union member offered the captain’s position. Sgt. Kevin Witkos, for example, spoke in favor of offering it in house during the public comment portion of the meeting. While that decision has not been made, officials said the non-union post would likely be an advertised position, even though there are highly qualified members of the department and the job could end up going to one of them.

And potentially further complicating the issue or at least feelings on both sides were the sparks that flew after the vote when selectmen realized that Penney and two officers who came to hear the command discussion were on duty Wednesday night.

Selectman Tom Sevigny, a Farmington dispatcher, said, “I have never seen that in Farmington, I would not see that in any other town and I find it totally, totally out of line for them to be in here while they should be out doing their jobs.”

Arciero said the officers had radios and cell phones but repeatedly said he takes the blame. Later when some selectmen wanted people reprimanded, he said he should be the one to get that.

“I’ll take the responsibility for not disbanding them, that’s my fault, my responsibility,” Arciero said. “But secondly it does underscore — this means a lot to these guys.”

First Selectman Richard Barlow said he was “appalled” enough to make a motion to reconsider the lieutenant position.

“The union is not going to run the Canton Police Department — not while I’m first selectman,” Barlow said.

While they all agreed the officers should have been out patrolling, Roberto, Sevigny and Gilchrist voted against the motion to reconsider, agreeing with Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner’s statement that the whole department should not be punished.

Penney said the officers used their lunch break to come to the meeting. While it did go longer than that allotted time, the officers were in a central location, armed with radios and cell phones, ready to respond if needed, he said.

“There was no lapse of police service,” he said.

Penney said he took three hours of comp time to attend the meeting but was also ready to respond.

"The only reason the officers were present was due to the significance of what was being done," Penney said. 

After the uproar, selectmen and Arciero went on to discuss other aspects of the police department such as vehicles and community initiatives.  While a recent report suggested designating one officer for community policing, Arciero suggested a different approach. The new captain will be in charge of community initiatives but every officer would be part of community policing, such as increased dialogue with business owners and other community involvement.

The meeting also touched on underage drinking and illegal drug use. At an underage drinking forum last week, some parents indicated that there are significant substance abuse problems in town. One parent said the heroin use is huge.

Selectmen and Arciero also talked about the allegations of some that the police department isn’t cracking down on the problem.

Arciero said there is a “zero tolerance” policy and said he has talked to the Community of Concern about existing programs and new ones. He also mentioned plans to further patrol some areas.

Selectmen also said the public needs further encouragement to speak up and share information, such as the underage party that involved drinking on Super Bowl weekend. Many parents admitted they knew of the party and didn’t try to call police or the parents, who were out of town during the party.

Officials also alluded to further educational programs for youth and parents as well as an upcoming session between town officials, school administrators and the police chief to see what more can be done.

Barlow also said he’d like to see more interaction and presence of officers in the schools and elsewhere.

“I don’t fault the police department but we definitely have got to do something,” Barlow said. “It’s awfully troubling to hear.”

And despite the uproar earlier in the evening, there were some positive words about the direction of the department, especially in terms of community policing.

“I’ve been very happy with what the chief has done with the department,” selectman Steve Roberto said. “I trust his judgment and I’ve seen it. It’s working well. I think that the community is embracing the police department and some of the programs you guys have started.”