{"id":2568,"date":"2021-12-21T22:32:07","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T03:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/?p=2568"},"modified":"2021-12-21T22:32:09","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T03:32:09","slug":"50000-for-a-police-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/21\/50000-for-a-police-study\/","title":{"rendered":"$50,000 for a police study?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On December 22 the Selectboard will likely take the next steps towards spending over $50,000 on consultants to examine whether the Norwich Police Department needs reforming or reimagining. Is this money well spent? I don’t know. But, I do have questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put this $50,000 amount in context, Norwich has $40,000 in its Climate Emergency, and about $46,000 in the Affordable Housing designated funds. The estimate to complete the Phase II engineering study for the Beaver Meadow Road sidewalk extension is around $21,000 for<\/a> the Norwich 20% share but the State pays the 80% only if the sidewalk is built<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, when the PD is fully staffed<\/a>, it consists of 4 full time officers, including the chief, and 3 part-time officers. My understanding is that the objective is to one officer on duty 24\/7, not including the chief. The staff also includes an Administrative Assistant and 3 crossing guards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions (in no particular order)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Why isn’t a committee of residents the first<\/strong> step?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Norwich has a number of educated and civic-minded residents that are interested in police department issues. Maybe that committee should be formed first and put to work, before<\/em> a consultant is hired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, in 2007, the Norwich Police Services Committee gathered and analyzed data and citizen input over a six-month period. It published a report<\/a> recommending a series of corrective actions to the Selectboard. Further, in 2009, the Committee issued a progress report<\/a> finding “that the report\u2019s stated objectives have largely been accomplished.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work of the committee was seemingly done without consultants. See pages 2-3, Appendices A and B. Is that an option worth considering? Does first hiring a consultant put the cart before the horse? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are other Vermont towns doing?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Social justice, community well-being, and police conduct is on the forefront of many people’s minds. Let’s not reinvent the wheel. How are other cities and towns in Vermont approaching these issues? Perhaps Vital Communities or TRORC can offer insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the Town’s priorities?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

An expenditure of $50,000 is not chump change. What is the opportunity cost of that expenditure? What other project is the Town foregoing to pay for the consultant? Or will it be an add-on to the taxpayer tab? Should we contribute more to the Affordable Housing designated fund or build the BMR sidewalk? I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Norwich needs a capital plan. A long range plan is the responsibility of our elected officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is this a solution looking for a problem?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I admit I don’t get out much. I wonder, nevertheless, whether a $50,000 consultant is necessary to solve any problems associated with the Norwich Police Department. First, the Norwich Police Department is small, smaller than any other project these consultants mention in their bid documents. See page 82-86 of 12\/22 SB packet. Are these consultants right for the job? Second, does our small size limit the Town’s ability to reconfigure staff roles? Third, is whether residents want 24\/7 coverage a $50,000 question? Finally, are there systemic<\/em> problems here in Norwich<\/span> regarding the police treatment of the public or historically marginalized groups? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful that a consultant might best be able to answer those questions. However, I would think a committee of residents might be less expensive and its findings get greater public support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long is it prudent to go without a permanent Police Chief?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Norwich has been without a permanent police chief since March<\/a>. The consultants under consideration see their work taking four to six months, from the time they start. Moreover, my understanding is that the Town did not plan to look for a new police chief until the Selectboard digested the report of the consultants. If one assumes a three month search for the chief, it might be until Fall 2022 before a new chief takes office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* * *<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On December 22 the Selectboard will likely take the next steps towards spending over $50,000 on consultants to examine whether the Norwich Police Department needs reforming or reimagining. Is this money well spent? I don’t know. But, I do have questions. To put this $50,000 amount in context, Norwich has $40,000 in its Climate Emergency, and about $46,000 in the Affordable Housing designated funds. The estimate to complete the Phase II engineering study for the Beaver Meadow Road sidewalk extension Continue reading $50,000 for a police study?<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-police-and-fire"],"yoast_head":"\n$50,000 for a police study? - Norwich Observer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/21\/50000-for-a-police-study\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"$50,000 for a police study? - Norwich Observer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On December 22 the Selectboard will likely take the next steps towards spending over $50,000 on consultants to examine whether the Norwich Police Department needs reforming or reimagining. 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