Crime and Police Protection in Pownal

Short description of the FAQ.

*Ray Shields 3/11/08. Would not additional police protection afford the Town of Pownal growth opportunities, which would translate into more local jobs, enhance our tax base, make Pownal a more desirable place to live and work?

*Ray Shields 5/16/08. The next community advisory board meeting is set for August at the State Police in Shaftsbury, Vermont. As a new member of this group I would be most happy to receive your concerns and questions and bring them up at this meeting, and post the results on this page. Please send your comments and concerns/questions to shieldsray@aol.com Thank You.

*Ray Shields 5/29/08. With the new interim constable coming on board, and with an ISO rating for our fire department at 9, (1 being the best and 10 the worst), should not the improvement of police and fire protection be a priority for our selectboard and town? This translates into higher dollar costs for insurance for your home and property, whats you take on this?

Discuss any of the above by clicking here

The following is a list of responds by the Constable during his time working for the Town of Pownal as a constable/police officer. We thank the Constable for his service to our community and most appreciate that this information will assist us all in understanding our community police/safety needs. We have requested the same data from the Vermont State Police, C-Troop Shaftsbury, and thanks to Lt. Reg Trayah, Station Commander this information as supplied by the Vermont State Police will be posted monthly. The Februray 2008 report followings. As always your comments/thoughts are always welcome.

State Police, February 2008

Report dates 02/01/08 thru 02/29/08
Shaftsbury VSP
1 burglary force residence,
1 burglary no force residence,
1 vandalism, misc.,
1 control substance/possess marijuana,
1 driving under the influence,
1 public nuisance or pranks,
1 arrest on warrant, police chk,
3 accident damage, dmv report,
6 motor vehicle, disturbances,
1 ambulance or medical assist,
5 agency assist,
1 atv incident,
2 citizen dispute,
2 citizen assist,
4 E911 hangups,
1 intoxicated person,
1 juvenile problem,
5 motorists assistance,
1 messiage delivered,
1 noise disturbance,
3 suspicious person/circumstances,
2 welfare checks

Total incidents for this agency 46

Pownal Constable
3/1/08 thru 3/7/08
3 state police calls,
1 burglary,
1 welfare check incident,
1 traffic,
1 accident
2 alarms
Traffic control (voting)

Pownal Constable
3/8/08 thru 3/14/08
2 911 calls,
2 accident investigations,
1 stolen car report,
2 motor vehicle complaints,
1 resident dispute,
1 landlord/tenant dispute,
1 bad check investigation,
1 reckless driving investigation,
1 vandalism of a vehicle,
3 vin verifications,
1 alcohol related transport,
>l DWI checkpoint,
>30 traffic stops,
>3 drug related searches,
24 vehicle stops,
10 tickets,
1 arrest
>associated with DWI checkpoint.

16 hours of service by Constable.

The Selectboard has asked the Constable to come in once a month, and discuss his public safety activity. This need for accountability can only help our community.

Pownal Constable
3/15/08 thru 3/21/08
2 vin verifivcations,
1 fire response, So.Pownal,
20 traffic stops,
6 tickets,
3 followup school truancy,
1 motorcycle chase,
1 911 call/response, concerning drinking party area of County Road,
1 911 call/response, vehicle off road, Carpentner Hill area,
1 911 call/response, man in road, No. Pownal Road area, resulting in
4 citations

Pownal Constable
3/22/08 thru 3/28/08
25 traffic stops,
7 tickets,
2 warnings,
2 defective repairs,
1 stalking person case investigation
10 hours approx.

Contacted the State Police today and hope to have the March stats for posting next week.

Pownal Constable
3/31/08 thru 4/2/08.
Constable reports a very slow week. No report available.

Constable accepts position with Bennington County Sheriffs Dept.

In talking with Joel today, he confirmed that he has accepted a position with the Sheriffs dept., he started April 3, and that he may or may not be able to keep his Constable position here in Pownal. Obviously the police academy is in his future, and it would seem that this career step would not include working full time on the road crew. Surely more on this will be made know, and our selectboard will be getting involved in this matter in due course to sort it all out for the Pownal community.

State Police March 2008

Report dates 3/1/08 thru 3/31/08
Shaftsbury VSP
4 Consent search,
1 burglary force residence,
1 vandalism, misc.,
2 control subst/possess marijuana,
1 driving under the influence,
1 illegal possession by a minor,
1 disturbing the peace,
1 disorderly conduct other,
1 explosives/incendiary problem,
2 accident-injury-DMV report,
5 accident-damage-DMV report,
5 motor vehicle disturbances,
1 DLS criminal,
1 LSA motor vehicle,
1 public outreach program,
2 alarms,
4 agency assists,
2 ATV incident,
5 citizen dispute,
3 citizen assist,
1 communications offense,
1 condition of vehicle,
1 driving/roadways Laned for Tra,
7 911 hangups,
1 false alarm,
2 juvenile problems,
1 motorist assistance,
1 not classified,
6 suspicious person/circumstances,
1 snowmobile incident,
2 traffic hazard,
1 tail lights,
2 welfare check

Total incidents for this report 71

Pownal Constable
4/3/08 thru 4/11/08
3 vin verifications,
2 incidents involving BB guns

Constable Resigns

Joel Howard tendered his resignation as the Pownal Constable 4/17/08. Until a new constable is elected or appointed, no constable report will be available.

State Police April 2008

Report dates 4/01/08 thru 4/30/08
Shaftsbury VSP

3 Consent search,
1 ag assault, no weapon,
1 burglary no force, non residence,
3 larceny from motor vehicles,
1 larceny bicycles,
1 theft motorcycle,
1 fraud other,
1 vandalism of motor vehicle,
1 vandalism of residence,
1 vandalism, misc.,
2 control sustance, possess marijuana,
1 runaway juvenile,
1 driving under the influence,
2 family disturbances,
2 disorderly conduct, other,
1 public nuisance or pranks,
1 fugitive,
1 accident damage, dmv report,
3 motor vehicle disturbances,
1 dls criminal,
1 ambulance or medical alert,
3 animal problem,
4 agency assist,
1 atv incident,
8 citizen disputes,
9 citizen assists,
2 communications offense,
1 E911 hangup,
1 intoxicated person,
2 juvenile problem,
2 lost or found property,
1 motorist assist,
11 suspicious person/circumstances,
3 welfare check

Total incidents for this report 78

Again we thank the Vermont State Police, Lt. Reg Trayah for supplying us with this monthly report on their activity in Pownal. I am planning on attending the State Police Community Advisory Meeting, June 25th at VSP in Shaftsbury. Please send any concerns to me at shieldsray@aol.com and I will bring them up at this meeting. Thank you.

Selectboard appoints interim constable

Albert LaFontaine has been selected by the Selectboard to fill out the term of the former constable. We wish him well in his new position in our community. We hope to have his weekly report appear here when he starts his constable duties. We have spoken to Constable LaFontaine this morning, 6/13/08. He expects to come on board in about 10 days or so. He will be sharing his weekly report for this page which is great news. Any snag or delay has been caused by him winning his certifications needed for the position.

State Police May 2008

Report dates 5/1/08 thru 5/31/08
Shaftsbury VSP

1 consent search,
1 ag assault, no weapon,
2 simple assault, not aggravated,
1 assault intimidation,
2 larceny bicycles,
1 larceny all other,
1 larceny att. auto parts/access,
1 theft automobile,
2 vandalism, misc.,
1 cont. subst/possess marijuana,
1 cont. subst/possess synthetics,
1 domestic abuse order violation,
1 not defined,
1 driving under the influence,
2 family disturbance,
2 disorderly conduct other,
1 trespassing violation,
1 arrest on warrant, police check,
1 accident damage, dmv report,
4 motor vehicle disturbances,
1 alarm,
3 animal problem,
6 agency assist,
3 attempt to locate,
1 attempted suicide,
3 atv incidents,
1 basic rule,
11 citizen dispute,
8 citizen assist,
1 communications offense,
1 condition of vehicle,
1 driving/roadways laned for tra.,
5 E911 hangups,
1 false alarm,
4 intoxicated person,
5 juvenile problem,
1 not classified,
7 suspicious person/circumstances,
1 property watch,
3 welfare check

Total incidents for month 95

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 06/21/08
1 call atv on private property,
1 call trespassing,
Patrol,
1 defective equipment,
1 verbal for speed

Attended the meeting with the SP at the Shaftsbury office. Minutes of the meeting will be forthcoming from the State Police and posted on this site. Next meeting will be in August 2008. My error minutes for these meetings are not kept. At the August meeting will keep a brief whos in attendance, topics discused and length of meeting and will post on the wiki page.

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 06/28/08
1 citizens complaint of ATV on private property,
1 citizens complaint of speeding on Barbers Pond Road (setup stationary radar),
15 motor vehicle stops,
Night time Pownal security checks.

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 7/6/08
1 assist with eviction and residence inspection report,
1 ATV complaint, North Pownal,
Assist on marijuana cultivation location and plant removal Bennington PD and Benningston CSD,
Stationary radar Rt. 7, Rt. 346 and Barbers Pond Road,
12 vehicle stops.

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 7/13/08
10 vehicle stops,
1 call Dirt bikes and ATV River Road area,
Nightly Town property and businesses located in town security checks,
Moving and stationary Radar

State Police June 2008

Report dates 6/1/08 thru 6/30/08
Shaftsbury VSP

10 no code entered,
5 assault intimidation,
4 vandalism, misc.,
3 not defined,
1 disorderly conduct other,
4 trespassing violation,
2 accident damage, dmv report,
1 littering,
1 alarm,
1 animal problem,
6 agency assist,
1 attempt to locate,
1 atv incident,
5 citizen dispute,
4 citizen assist,
1 communications offense,
2 E911 hangups,
1 intoxicated person,
2 juvenile problem,
1 missing person,
7 not classified,
6 suspicious person/circumstances,
3 welfare checks,
9 traffic citations/violations,
21 warnings violations

total incidents 72

Constable LaFontaine
week ending 7/20/08
13 vehicle stops,
2 atv complaints,
1 property disagreement,
stepped up enforcement on Pownal back roads due to speeding, atv, trespassing complaints

Constable LaFontaine
week ending 7/27/08
Patrol all areas of town resulted in 26 vehicle stops for various infractions.
1 trespassing complain,
1 property dispute,
3 atv/dirt bike complains resulted in apprehending one individual
1 complaint of vehicles parked on private property,
6 vin checks
Made 2 separate checks of the Pownal Fair each lasting about 2 hours (afternoon and evening)

Constable Lafontaine
week ending 8/10/08
Had both radar units certified in East Greenbush, N.Y.
1 call on storm damage and road blocked (Skiparee Road, blocked road for safety, cut tree out of road)
1 call neighbor dispute,
1 ATV complaint,
9 vehicle stops.

State Police July 2008

Report dates 7/1/8 thru 7/31/8
Shaftsbury VSP

1 assault simple, not aggravated,
2 burglary force residence,
2 larceny from building,
5 vandalism of motor vehicles,
3 vandalism of residences,
1 probation, parole violation,
2 arrest on warrant, police check,
2 accident injury, DMV report,
5 motor vehicle disturbances,
2 canine use, police dogs,
3 agency assist,
1 attempt to locate,
8 citizen disputes,
7 citizen assist,
1 communications offense,
7 E911 hangup,
1 false alarm,
2 intoxicated person,
1 juvenile problem,
1 message delivered,
1 noise disturbance,
2 suspicious person/circumstances,
1 traffic hazard,
1 threatening,
1 welfare check,
19 traffic warnings, violations 20, SPC3
10 citiations, 10 violations VSP Shaftsbury
Total incidents 65

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 8/17/08
2 ATV complaints,
1 parking on private property,
1 small single vehicle accident

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 8/24/08
7 traffic stops,
2 ATV calls,
VSP recertification for terminal operator (dispatch)

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 8/31/08
3 VIN checks,
9 vehicle stops,
2 ATV complaints

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 9/7/08
2 ATV complains,
1 call for assistance, ex-boyfriend trouble,
13 vehicle stops

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 9/14/08
worked the polls for 8 hours,
11 vehicle stops,
1 dumping on town property, turned into a reported stolen vehicle call, added a breaking and entry by the same suspects,
1 person in need of assistance, intoxicated person, Jackson Crossing road area.

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 9/21/08
1 speeding, river road, same vehicle up and down the road, Vehicle and driver located,
2 ATV complaints,
10 vehicles stops

State Police August 2008

Report dates 8/1/08 thru 8/31/08
Shaftsbury VSP

1 consent search,
1 natural death,
1 sex offense, forcible rape,
1 ag assault no weapon,
2 burglary force residence,
2 burglary force, non-residence,
1 burglary force non-residence,
1 larceny all other,
1 theft automobile,
1 stolen property possession,
2 vandalism of residence,
1 lewd, immoral practices,
1 cont. subst/possess marijuana,
1 domestic abuse order violation,
7 driving under the influence,
1 illegal possession by a minor,
2 family disturbance,
1 annoying, harrass, susp. phone call,
1 kidnapping,
1 probation-parole violation,
2 trespassing violation,
1 accident, injury, dmv report,
4 accident, damage, dmv reports,
4 ATV accidents,
2 ATV incident,
2 motor vehicle disburbances,
1 DLS criminal,
1 LSA motor vehicle,
2 alarms,
1 ambulance or medical assist,
6 agency assists,
1 operation along public highway,
9 citizen disputes,
14 citizen assists,
1 driving roadways, laned for traffic,
1 directed patrol,
1 driving to the right,
6 E911 hangups,
2 false alarms,
2 intoxicated persons,
3 juvenile problems,
2 motorists assist,
2 noise disturbances,
6 suspicious person/circumstances,
1 search warrant,
1 welfare check,
34 warnings, 34 violations,
20 citations, 20 violations
Total incidents 105

We again would like to thank the Vermont State Police, Constable LaFontaine for their reports so that our community would have a better understanding of crime in Pownal.

Constable LaFontaine,
week ending 9/28/08
3 ATV complaints,
1 destruction of property,
1 suspicious vehicle,
1 alert for possible intoxicated driver,
17 vehicle stops,
escorted the Pownal Senior Tractor and Hay Ride