Laconia Police Commission reviews grants, staffing and technology updates; enters nonpublic session on compensation
March 06, 2024 | Laconia Police Commission, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire
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LACONIA, N.H. — The Laconia Police Commission on March 26 heard Chief Canfield's monthly report outlining new grants, equipment updates, staffing changes and crime and traffic statistics, then voted unanimously to enter a nonpublic session to discuss employee compensation under state statute.
Chief Canfield told commissioners the department recently received a $15,000 Homeland Security grant to purchase heavy tactical vests for regional SWAT participation and a $77,000 award through Congressman Chris Pappas's office to buy a laser scanner and 3D mapping software for the regional accident investigation team. "We recently were awarded, as of yesterday, a grant from Congressman Pappas's office in the amount of $77,000," Canfield said.
Canfield also reported the department is transitioning to a new Axon TASER system with instructor training this month and scheduled spring firearms training for May. He said the department frequently performs grant writing for regional assets and described the $15,000 tactical-vest award as a non-matching grant that serves the region.
On staffing, Canfield said John Howe will return next week in a part-time capacity to assist the detective unit, and that evidence technician Dennis Ashley plans to retire after several years; Canfield said John Howe will take over evidence-room duties part time and the department will perform the accreditation-required evidence-room audit during the transition.
The chief gave January operational statistics: 1,903 calls for service (up about 8.94%), 81 park walk-and-talks, 300 extra patrols, 22 community-policing events, 256 investigated criminal offenses with 145 cleared by arrest (82 of which were physical-custody arrests), and 42 parking tickets issued. He reported 44 motor-vehicle accidents in January (eight involving personal injury) and identified Union Avenue and Court Street among the most frequent locations for incidents.
Canfield described several technology and community-outreach efforts: completion of a test phase for updated in-building video/current-messaging displays, ongoing implementation of InfraVada multifactor authentication (planned for full rollout by June), and use of the SpiderTech messaging system (about 1,300 messages in January and a 24.5% survey completion rate). He also said a COSAP grant funding Detective Eric Adams' position has been extended through September 2025.
Canfield announced a charitable bequest the department will seek formal acceptance of: an executor informed the department that Grace C. Smith left $150,000 in her estate for use by the Laconia Police Department, restricted to benefit children and families; the gift had passed a first reading at city council with a second reading expected Monday.
Addressing overdose trends, Canfield said the department had recorded five overdoses year-to-date and attributed part of a local decline in reported overdoses to wider Narcan availability and bystander administration while noting a trend toward increased methamphetamine use, which presents different overdose patterns.
Procedural business included a motion by Commissioner Melo, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to accept the minutes of the Nov. 15, 2023 meeting as written; the motion passed unanimously. Later, the commission moved and seconded to enter nonpublic session under the cited RSA for matters related to employee compensation, discipline or investigation; the roll call and nonpublic entry were recorded at 2:22 p.m.
No citizen comments were offered during the public-comment period. The commission confirmed its next meeting for March 27 and directed staff to proceed with the nonpublic agenda item on compensation.
Votes at a glance: the commission unanimously accepted the previous minutes and unanimously voted to enter nonpublic session concerning compensation.
Chief Canfield told commissioners the department recently received a $15,000 Homeland Security grant to purchase heavy tactical vests for regional SWAT participation and a $77,000 award through Congressman Chris Pappas's office to buy a laser scanner and 3D mapping software for the regional accident investigation team. "We recently were awarded, as of yesterday, a grant from Congressman Pappas's office in the amount of $77,000," Canfield said.
Canfield also reported the department is transitioning to a new Axon TASER system with instructor training this month and scheduled spring firearms training for May. He said the department frequently performs grant writing for regional assets and described the $15,000 tactical-vest award as a non-matching grant that serves the region.
On staffing, Canfield said John Howe will return next week in a part-time capacity to assist the detective unit, and that evidence technician Dennis Ashley plans to retire after several years; Canfield said John Howe will take over evidence-room duties part time and the department will perform the accreditation-required evidence-room audit during the transition.
The chief gave January operational statistics: 1,903 calls for service (up about 8.94%), 81 park walk-and-talks, 300 extra patrols, 22 community-policing events, 256 investigated criminal offenses with 145 cleared by arrest (82 of which were physical-custody arrests), and 42 parking tickets issued. He reported 44 motor-vehicle accidents in January (eight involving personal injury) and identified Union Avenue and Court Street among the most frequent locations for incidents.
Canfield described several technology and community-outreach efforts: completion of a test phase for updated in-building video/current-messaging displays, ongoing implementation of InfraVada multifactor authentication (planned for full rollout by June), and use of the SpiderTech messaging system (about 1,300 messages in January and a 24.5% survey completion rate). He also said a COSAP grant funding Detective Eric Adams' position has been extended through September 2025.
Canfield announced a charitable bequest the department will seek formal acceptance of: an executor informed the department that Grace C. Smith left $150,000 in her estate for use by the Laconia Police Department, restricted to benefit children and families; the gift had passed a first reading at city council with a second reading expected Monday.
Addressing overdose trends, Canfield said the department had recorded five overdoses year-to-date and attributed part of a local decline in reported overdoses to wider Narcan availability and bystander administration while noting a trend toward increased methamphetamine use, which presents different overdose patterns.
Procedural business included a motion by Commissioner Melo, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to accept the minutes of the Nov. 15, 2023 meeting as written; the motion passed unanimously. Later, the commission moved and seconded to enter nonpublic session under the cited RSA for matters related to employee compensation, discipline or investigation; the roll call and nonpublic entry were recorded at 2:22 p.m.
No citizen comments were offered during the public-comment period. The commission confirmed its next meeting for March 27 and directed staff to proceed with the nonpublic agenda item on compensation.
Votes at a glance: the commission unanimously accepted the previous minutes and unanimously voted to enter nonpublic session concerning compensation.
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