Town of Warwick
Selectboard
September 8, 2010
Minutes 
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Nick Arguimbau
Members Absent: Dawn Magi 
Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo Calcari, Police Chief Brian Peters, Police Officer David
Shoemaker, Nancy Kilhart, Jon Calcari, Jared Robinson (Athol Daily News)

I.   Call to Order 
Chair Arguimbau called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm in Town Hall.

II.   Presentations and Discussions

1.	Use of Personal Vehicles for Police Work -- At a previous meeting,
during the Public Comment segment, a resident had brought up his
concerns about being followed for some distance by someone who turned
out to be a Warwick police officer. Police Chief Brian Peters explained
that every Warwick police officer has blue lights and a radio in his
personal vehicle. Special permits for blue lights are issued by the
Registry of Motor vehicles, and the permit must be presented along with
the registration at the time of annual vehicle inspection. Peters said
that Police Department policy is to patrol using the 1999 Tahoe cruiser.
If an officer is in his personal vehicle and observes activity which
merits action, every effort is made not to stop a vehicle in a remote or
poorly lit area. The blue lights cannot be used until the determination
has been made to pull over and stop a vehicle. If speeding is noted, the
officer must follow the vehicle for at least one-quarter of a mile to
clock the speed and verify sustained excessive speed. An officer will
follow a vehicle, not tailgate, and put on the blue lights to stop the
vehicle once they have entered an area with houses and adequate
lighting. The officer has identification, including a photo I.D. and
badge, which must be presented to the driver at the time the vehicle is
stopped.
Lemon said that they must find a way not to frighten people, and
that the blue lights should be visible even when not lit. Young
noted that the use of a personal vehicle can cut response time to a
scene where police presence is needed. Police officers can observe
things while out and about in town and with just one cruiser for 10
officers necessitates the use of personal vehicles and extends
coverage time for the Town.
Officer David Shoemaker said that the police are there for the
safety, comfort, protection and convenience of everybody, and
definitely are not out to scare anyone. Arguimbau asked what could
be done besides blue lights to better identify a vehicle driven as
being driven by a police officer. He wanted to set up a rule for the
use of blue lights, such as distance or length of time after which
they must be used. The procedure for blue light use was reiterated
by Chief Peters.
Young asked Peters what to do if you feel uncomfortable when tailgated.
Peters replied that he recommends the driver continue at a regular,
lawful speed to a well lit area, and pull into a driveway. He said that
he advises people to do this even when the blue light is on, because the
police also do not want to stop vehicles in isolated areas. Shoemaker
noted that while he understands a motorist's concern, it is the law that
you pull over and stop for a blue light or a red light. The police
uniform, photo ID and badge are all signs to the driver that he or she
has been stopped by an actual officer.
Lemon inquired about the use of a loudspeaker similar to those used
by the State police. With a hailer, the officer could announce that
the vehicle is to proceed to a less remote area. Peters said that
the cost of a hailer would be approximately $400.00 for each of the
ten officers personal vehicles. Shoemaker noted that in the last 365
days, the only time anyone was stopped by an officer using his
personal vehicle was the time that led to the public comment. Peters
pointed out that this is not a regular practice, as vehicle stops
are routinely done in the cruiser.
Arguimbau wanted the blue lights turned on as soon as someone is
sufficiently clocked at a sustained speed above the posted limit.
Once the vehicle is stopped and ID is established, then the officer
would ask the driver to proceed to a better location to complete the
stop. Young said that the officers are trained to use the most
reasonable and practical methods and follow the best practices and
policies for the benefit of the officers and the citizenry. He said
that the officers know best, and fine-tuning of their practices is
not necessary. Arguimbau said he wasn't trying to "micro-manage" the
police department but that they should be able to find a way to
identify themselves when following someone in their personal
vehicles.  Lemon wanted a discussion between the officers on ways to
avoid frightening people unnecessarily. She wanted the officers to
be aware of the potential of scaring motorists.
Shoemaker pointed out that the Board wanted speed limits strictly
enforced when they signed off on the new speed limits. It was also
pointed out that while a ticket could be mailed to the registered
owner of the vehicle, without a stop and actual identification of
the driver, it is easily fought in court. Peters stressed again that
his officer follow, but never tailgate, and always put the blue
lights on as soon as the decision has been made to stop the vehicle.
New Cruiser for Police Department -- The discussion shifted to the
feasibility of obtaining a new or used cruiser for the Police
Department. Young said that there is an upcoming auction with several
2004 or 2005 retired State police cruisers. Peters noted that the first
cruiser was purchased in 1987 and used until 1999 when the current
cruiser was purchased. The cost of the 1999 Tahoe was largely covered
with grant funds. He recommended looking into a new cruiser, as that
will come with a 100,000 mile warranty. The current cruiser, in use for
the past eleven years, has yet to reach the 100,000 mile mark.
 Arguimbau said that it seemed that they had debated all that needed to
 be debated today,   and he wanted to put further discussion of  both
 the issue of a new cruiser and the 	matter  of better identification
 of personal vehicles used by officers for police work on the agenda of
 a future meeting.
Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 1:52 pm. Motion died for lack of a Second.  

Arguimbau MOVED that Police Chief Peters will make a report to the Board
in four months of what has been done to enable identification of
personal vehicles used by police officers, and if nothing has been done,
why not. Lemon SECONDED. Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0.

III. 	Adjournment
At 1:57 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED.
Motion carried by a vote of 2-0-0.
Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari