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| REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I am proud to submit the police department's annual report to the townspeople. Once again, members of this department have served the residents with dedication and compassion. Each and every member of the department is committed to working with the townspeople to help resolve the current societal issues that we are all facing. The department is once again requesting funds to bring us back to the staffing levels of years past and to increase our ability to cover absences when an officer is on vacation or is absent due to injury or illness. With the assistance of a Federal Grant in 1998, the department had 30 full time police officers serving the town. In that same calendar year, the department responded to 9,278 calls for service. Currently the department has 28 full time police officers and in calendar year 2005, officers responded to 25,645 calls for service! I only bring forward this information so that townspeople can more clearly understand the impact that the growth of both this town and surrounding communities has had on the police department. One of the department's top priorities continues to be addressing the substance abuse issue that plagues both this town and society at large. While it is still my belief that the most effective weapon against drug use is parental awareness and involvement from an early age, the department has and will continue to aggressively do our part. Strong family involvement, education at all levels and zero tolerance are, in my professional opinion, the main ingredients to accomplishing this task. The requested manpower and additional funds requested would go directly to this effort. By way of example, in calendar year 2005, 30% of arrests (325 of 972) made by the department were the direct result of alcohol and/or drug use and abuse. I would estimate that as much as 60% of our total arrests for the year involve drugs or alcohol in some way, as a secondary issue. For example, in many instances, arrests made this year for crimes such as disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer, shoplifting, domestic violence, disturbing the peace and affray are the indirect result of substance abuse issues. I believe that I would be remiss in my duties as your police chief not to make the community aware of this observation. While Abington still remains a quaint and desirable place to live and raise a family, both its own population growth as well as the urbanization of surrounding communities is increasingly affecting us. We must all stay vigilant and work together to keep Abington a safe and secure community. Unfortunately, for the first time in decades and possibly the department's entire history, it became necessary for an officer to use his weapon to shoot and stop an armed assailant. It is my hope that this serves as a wake up call for everyone regarding the importance of staffing, training, proper equipment and policy. We thank townspeople for their support and while these are some serious issues that we must face, I am confident that both members of the police department and the townspeople will rise to the challenge. During the past 12 months, members of the Police Station Building Committee have selected both a Project Manager and a Project Architect. Their tireless dedication to the town is an inspiration. I would like to thank them in advance for the many meeting they will endure in the months to come. The committee has the ambitious goal of commencing project construction in the summer of 2006 and completing it in the fall of 2007. In closing, I would like to once again thank the officers of the department, the various boards, and the residents of the town for their continued support. I look forward to serving as their police chief for many years to come as we continue to join together as a community to preserve Abington as a safe and positive place to live and work. Respectfully submitted David G. Majenski Chief of Police |
| Police Department - 2005 Annual Report |
| Veterans Memorial |
| Town Library |
Our Town:
| Abington Massachusetts |
| Town Offices |
| Town Hall 781.982.2100 |