Financial constraints led the Board of Police Commissioners to cut back funding the department’s Emergency Services Unit, but some police officials think it’s time to reconsider that decision.
“On March 18 you decided to curtail the practice of the Emergency Service Unit and we are asking you to reconsider that in this new fiscal year,” Capt. Paul Beres told the commission earlier this month.
The unit has three officers who are specially trained in negotiations, crisis management and intervention. Click here to see a previous story from the Valley Indy.
Since the cutback, the officers haven’t received additional training, Beres said. As it is, the officers have given a lot of their own time over the years for activities such as competitions with other departments, he said, which recently paid off in top finishes in categories such as handgun, rifle and sniper events.
“They’re doing well,” Beres said, “and are hoping the board will reconsider giving them what they need to train.”
“Do we have the funds?” Commissioner Stephen Chuckta asked. “That’s why we stopped it in the first place and that’s what I’m interested in.”
“We are already down officers,” Commissioner James Simpson said. “That’s a huge consideration.”
Simpson suggested that the Seymour police team up with other town’s departments to combine resources for an Emergency Service Unit.
The department does do that to an extent, Chief Michael Metzler said, but that brings up liability issues.
“The sniper team is involved with guys from Naugatuck,” he said, “but we have some reservations because of the liability.”
There are certain state-mandates training programs that officers must attend and the department must pay for, Metzler said. Those get priority.
“We have to see if the money is there,” he said. “I’ll find out what the mandated hours are — certification comes first and the extras come second.”
“We should see if we can fit into any part of the program to start something,” Commissioner Frank Conroy said.
