Public Safety and Transportation voted to approve the following (see Report and watch the meeting video here):
- Appropriation of $1,350,000 for Fire Rescue Overtime (Item #215-24): To cover increased overtime costs at the Newton Fire Department due to an increase in fires and to maintain minimum truck staffing levels. The Fire Department has 5 vacancies they are in the process of filling. 8 to 10 firefighters are currently out on disability for knee, shoulder, and back injuries and heart-related health issues. (5-0, Councilor Downs not voting)
- Transfer of $450,000 for Police Department Overtime (Item #219-24): To cover overtime costs due to lower staffing levels and injuries among officers. NPD is “down 5 officers” and has approximately 10 officers out with various injuries that occurred in the line of duty. The Chief said there were no commonalities with the types of injuries. The teachers’ strike and other public events lead to a ‘substantial amount of overtime.’ The Auxiliary Police Unit, which supplemented the Police Dept for events and parades was required to change under the Police Officer Standards and Training, Police Reform law. The Police Chief didn’t have a timeframe for when the “new” Auxiliary Police Unit will begin. He is working with the Law Dept on new ordinance language. He said not having the Auxiliary Police Unit did not impact overtime costs. (6-0)
Public Safety and Transportation voted No Action Necessary on the following:
- Discussion on the work of the Dedication to Community Consultants (Item #164-24): A grant that provides officers with training to create stronger community partnerships. The Police Dept has not seen an increase of hate crimes but has seen an increase on bias incidents “which has been causing anxiety and fear.” The consultants recommended ways to diversity the department, increase public understanding of police work, and build empathy both between the community and the officers and between officers. The remaining grant funds will be put towards other programs including a citizens police academy. Community ride-alongs with the Police, stopped for the pandemic, are being brought back. The Police Chief will make the consultants’ report available to the City Council. (6-0)
Public Safety and Transportation held the following:
- Regular discussion with the Police Department (Item #123-24):
- Crime data: 4 murders last year, residential burglaries are down 57% (18 total), commercial burglaries are up 47% (28). Larceny (shoplifting, car break-ins) are down 16% (424). Total arrests are down 3% (205), there were no OUI arrests and a 14% decrease in domestic violence incidents. Motor vehicle thefts are up 136% (26).
- Pedestrian crashes are up 10% (people on scooters and other vehicles operating below 50cc are considered pedestrians), bicycle crashes are down 19% and total car crashes up 6%. “Washington Street near Newton Wellesley Hospital, Centre Street at Commonwealth Avenue were the highest crash locations at approximately 15 crashes per year. Albemarle Road and Crafts Street, Walnut Street at Watertown Street had 8 crashes over the past year.” Mental health related calls have increased since 2020. Last year there were 19 drug overdoses with 5 fatalities.
- Biases incidences are up, 44 were reported from September 2023 to January 2024. 55 to 60 were reported last month. Roughly 40 were anti-Semitic and 1 anti-Muslim. Hate crimes require an underlying criminal offense, some bias incidence have rising to the level of hate crimes. “If a call comes in, and it’s not rising to an actionable crime what is the conversation between the person and dispatcher? Chief Carmichael answered if it is a bias incident, we want an officer to go out and write a report even if we don’t have all the information.” (6-0)
