The Canton police chief is requesting greater than $750,000 so as to add new autos, a cellular firing vary to reduce quality-of-life disturbances, and ballistic shields to guard officers when encountering an lively shooter.
Chief Helena Rafferty made her pitch to the Choose Board for 3 requests totaling $760,986 to be budgeted with capital funding: the cellular firing vary on the high at $392,786, 4 new marked autos at $284,000, and 9 ballistic shields with ports at $84,200, Rafferty stated. The chief can also be trying to reallocate $117,064 for a brand new report administration system.
Officers have used an area out of doors firing vary for firearms coaching that’s required to be accomplished a minimum of twice a yr to stay licensed underneath the state Peace Officer Requirements and Coaching Fee.
“The competition with other PDs to find available time at the outdoor ranges is very difficult,” Rafferty stated, “but this mobile range would allow us to (use it) 24/7. It’s soundproof and obviously climate-controlled which makes a better teaching environment for both the student and instructor.”
“This would be huge,” she added, “as it would negate the need to affect the quality of life of the many residents around the outdoor range we have to use when we do night firing. It disturbs the residents.”
Rafferty stated she sees the cellular vary — a trailer that will be situated behind the station — being a “revenue producer” because it could possibly be rented out to different departments that don’t have newer amenities with indoor ranges.
Choose Board Chairman Mike Loughran stated he agrees that the cellular vary could possibly be helpful.
“I’m glad you’re thinking of the revenue stream because that was the first thing I was thinking of, too,” he informed Rafferty.
Buying ballistic shields would add “another layer of protection” when officers, geared up with ballistic vests encounter an lively shooter scenario, the chief stated.
The one urgent query from the board got here from member Trish Boyden when she requested how usually the police division responds to lively shooter calls.
“How many do we have? Annually, thank God, none so far,” Rafferty stated. “We have had firearms issues, we have had suicidal people.”
“You could use this if you had somebody that had a mental illness,” the chief added. “We have, as you know because I send you guys the report every month, a lot of mental illness calls.”
The Choose Board in late June permitted a one-year contract, as an alternative of three, for Rafferty who has led the police division since being promoted in June 2022. Members emphasised how the mud must settle from the Karen Learn and Sandra Birchmore instances and cited an ongoing $200,000 audit of the division.
Rafferty, who made $212,524.54 in whole pay final yr, finds herself in personal authorized points after crashing into and injuring a Wrentham resident in February. “At that time, I answered questions, and upon my request took a breathalyzer test which read 0.0% blood alcohol content,” she stated in an April letter to the group.
Rafferty didn’t instantly reply to a Herald inquiry on the standing of physique cameras within the division.
