Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline, who has been the town’s chief of police for more than a year, told the Wiscasset selectmen his department is facing staffing and training challenges and asked to have a fourth officer added to his staff.

The Wiscasset Police Department is a 24/7 service. This means staffing is required for 168 hours per work week. Currently the town has three full-time officers, Chief Cline, Sergeant Kathy Williams, and Officer Perry Hatch, plus 11 part-time officers.

The three full-time officers cover 120 hours a week, leaving the remaining hours, including 62 hours of sick and vacation time to be covered by part-time personnel.

Cline told the selectmen it is becoming more difficult to insure those hours are filled. Another concerned expressed by Chief Cline was the fact he being a working chief, nearly 40 hours a week, it is not allowing him to go the administrative duties a chief should be doing, such as providing more training to the staff, and for doing research and applying for various grants.

Selectman Ed Polewarczyk asked Cline what could be done to allow him to accomplish the staff training and apply for available grants. “Hire a fourth full-time officer,” Cline said.

Among the goals for the coming year, he is recommending hiring an administrative assistant for the police department. The administrative assistant would be there when people come into the office, answer the phone, and take over some of the office duties that would lighten the burden the police officers, which would give them more time in the community.

Cline is planning to provide more training for the staff; research and apply for available grants. “This will benefit the taxpayers, if we are lucky enough to be awarded some grants,” Cline said.

Other goals include: replace the 2008 Ford cruiser which has more than 111,000 miles on it; partner with the senior citizens in the community to provide information on crime prevention; partner with schools to maintain an open line of communications with the staff and the students; partner with the business community to provide information on crime prevent.

According to the statistical report presented to the selectmen by Chief Cline, there has been an increase in incident reports, arrests, citations and accidents since the 2010-2011 year.

Incident reports have increased from 207 to 393; arrests: 127 to 148; citations: 145 to 312; accidents: 85 to 101.

Incident reports 

The officers are taking more accident reports now as they have been given specific parameters by management, according to the Chief. There were indications that officers were previously getting Field Interviews cases assigned. However, these interviews cannot be tracked as effectively nor do they input information into the Uniform Crime report (UCR) system.

Arrests

The officers have been more proactive and have increased traffic enforcement efforts, allowing them to apprehend more violators and suspects, such as Operation under the Influence (OUI) and Operating under Suspension (OAS) violators.

Cline went on to tell the selectmen the officers have solved several significant cases during the 2011-2012 year, such as arson, burglary, robbery, forgery, criminal use of explosive and drug cases.

Citations

The Wiscasset officers are required to conduct more traffic enforcement, Cline told the selectmen. They are not given mandates for citations; they are encouraged to use their individual discretion on the type of enforcement, warning or citations.

The Wiscasset Police officers issued 312 citations during the 2011-2012 reporting period and 750 traffic warnings for the same period. According to Cline, this represents three traffic stops daily for the approximately 18,780 motorists traveling Route 1 daily, exceeding 20,000 during the summer season.

Cline explained the main reason for officers conducting traffic stops is to enforce the law and to encourage voluntary compliance with the law.

“An example of that is the fact I have been patrolling the school zone to slow traffic down; this week an officer said there was no school today, and the drivers are keeping their speed down as they drive by the high school,” Cline said. “They are changing their driving habits without the officer being on site.”

Accidents

There were some indications the police officers were not taking crash reports when necessary or required previously. According to Cline, the officers are taking more crash reports as supervisory staff is monitoring these crashes more closely.

“Our highest priority is the protection of human life and property,”  Cline said.  “It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Wiscasset.” He went on to say the department also welcomes and encourages comments and feedback from community members.