Donald O’Halloran

Chief of Police

Joel Phelps remained assigned to the Detective Division in the fiscal year 1999. The duties of the Detective include, but are not limited to, case management and preparation as well as investigating felony crimes and those incidents which would require concentrated effort over an extended period of time. The Detective is assigned the majority of the Court Officer responsibilities and also plays a supporting role to the Patrol Division and Community Resource Officer, assisting whenever possible.

The Detective routinely attends regional meetings with other area Detectives in order to share criminal intelligence and ‘brainstorm’ on regional efforts to curb criminal activities in the greater Bangor area. A component of this, The Greater Bangor Area Heroin Task Force, has also been assigned to the Detective, and Joel is the local contact person/coordinator for the Old Town Police Department.

The Detective is also the contact person and investigator assigned to investigate bad checks. From July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000, 35 bad checks were referred for investigation. The Detective also conducted 68 criminal history checks, for such items as firearms purchases, military enlistments and public housing applications.

Two incidents stand out as noteworthy during this time period. One case involved the sexual exploitation of a number of minor females in a household in Old Town. The department began an extensive investigation in conjunction with the United States Customs Service. The two adults were subsequently charged with numerous sexual offenses and are currently serving time for their actions.

Recently, after a two-day investigation into a complaint of a sexual nature, a male subject was arrested and charged with Attempted Kidnapping. If it was not for the joint effort of everyone within the police department, this subject may have gone unidentified and subsequently free to commit other crimes.

In April 2000, the department received a grant from the Bureau of Highway Safety for OUI Enforcement. The $5000 grant pays for overtime and benefits of officers working special details. Through extra patrol details and roadblocks, the grant has produced seven (7) OUI charges to date. Several other violations, including numerous drug charges were also initiated during grant related activities.

During the year, the department handled a total of 7268 calls for service. The number is down from the previous year by 308 calls. The most common calls were for: residential property checks, traffic accidents, animal problems and suspicious incidents. The officers issued a total of 537 citations and 1003 traffic warnings. The most common violation observed was speeding.

During fiscal year 1999/2000, Patrol Officer Willy King resigned from the department after seventeen years of service. Officer King was replaced by MCJA graduate Chris Hashey. Dispatcher Fred Terrell resigned to take a position with the Maine State Police. Fred’s position has remained open due to the uncertainty surrounding the dispatch center.

Patrol Officer Tom Adams was once again was the department’s DARE/School Resource Officer during fiscal year 99/00. Approximately 95 fifth grade students and 130 seventh grade students participated in the program. Thanks to J.A. Leonard Middle School Principal John Keane, Tom was given an office and set up daily office hours for the middle school students to meet with him.

As School Resource Officer, Tom’s primary duty is safety for both students and teachers. He does not discipline any student but is involved if notified of a criminal activity. Also, Tom had a presentation for the middle school teachers regarding school safety as well as drug identification. A member of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was present to advise the teachers of red flags regarding drug use and/or weapon concerns. During school year 99/00, he responded to 26 criminal activities (assaults, threatening, burglary, criminal mischief); 15 traffic violations; 13 drug related incidents (including tobacco possession) and 6 miscellaneous incidents.

At Old Town High School, Tom coordinated a "conflict management" program for students who were having trouble in the system. Tom also worked with OTHS teacher Brenda Quill with the DARE role model program as well as the Freshman Awareness program.

Tom also assisted the Parks & Recreation Department in field trips, bike rodeos and safety talks. He also participated in the community’s Riverfest activities.

The ‘new’ DARE truck was refurbished in fiscal year 99/00. The 1985 Chevrolet Blazer was in rough shape when it was received from the federal government. We had several sponsors who donated equipment or labor to get the truck into shape. The truck has been asked to participate in several parades as well as receiving a special request to be on display during the Blue Angels Air Show in late spring. The department has received many positive responses from the young and the old.

On May 17^th and 18^th, 2000, the Old Town Police Department conducted an emotionally charged drinking and driving campaign at the Old Town High School. "Every 15 Minutes" was designed to impress upon junior and senior high school students the potentially dangerous, and unfortunately deadly, consequences of impaired driving. The name of the program "Every 15 Minutes" was adopted from the fact that every 15 minutes someone dies from an alcohol related traffic accident in the United States.

On the first day, the program began with students being removed from classroom by the "Grim Reaper". One student was removed every 15 minutes when the bell chimed on the intercom system. The students, selected beforehand, represented a cross section of the entire student body. Once the student was removed from the class, a uniformed police officer entered the classroom and read an obituary prepared by the "dead" student’s parents. Shortly thereafter, the student returned as "the living dead"; with white painted faces and white "Every 15 Minutes" t-shirts. The "living dead" could not speak or interact with other students for the remainder of the school day. As announcement of the student’s death was read at school, uniformed police officers made death notifications to the parents of the "living dead" at their home or place of work.

At noon, a mock motor vehicle    collision involving two vehicles in front of the Old Town High School took place. All OTHS juniors and seniors experienced first hand the harsh reality and sensations of being involved in a fatal traffic accident. One occupant was deceased at the scene, one occupant airlifted to EMMC with serious injuries, and a third transported by ambulance to EMMC. A fourth occupant was treated and released, and the operator of one vehicle was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol and taken to the county jail and booked on an OUI charge. The accident was investigated by the Old Town Police Department with assistance from other agencies involved in the program. EMS and fire services were provided by the Old Town Fire Department and LifeFlight.

Program participants were taken to the Old Town Airport for an impaired driving exercise with "Driver’s Edge" driving school. During this exercise students put on fatal vision goggles and performed various maneuvers with an automobile illustrating the effects alcohol has on an operator of a motor vehicle.

Later that evening participants assembled for an overnight retreat. The retreat simulated the separation from friends and family. Police officers and counselors were on hand during the duration of the retreat. Each student wrote a letter to their parents beginning with," Dear Mom and Dad, every fifteen minutes someone in the United States dies from an alcohol related traffic accident, and today I died. I never got the chance to tell you……." Parents also wrote similar letters to their children.

This program was a tremendous success and we hope to repeat it in the spring of 2002.

During the fiscal year 1999-2000, the Old Town Police Department has logged approximately 1,137 hours of training. Some of the different types of training employees have received are as follows: Emergency Medical Dispatching, Field Training Officer, Firearm Training, Intoxilyzer Operation Training, Civil Rights, Street Gangs & Juvenile Crime, Community Relation Training and many other training topics.

In the next year, the department will be faced with implementation of Enhanced 9-1-1 and becoming a Public Safety Answering Point. This technological advancement will provide instant emergency answering service for police, ambulance and fire to our community.

The police department has also stepped up its traffic enforcement with both an OUI and Seat Belt Enforcement state grants. This traffic enforcement emphasis will make our community safer and very likely save lives.