What’s wrong with the police department?

Acting chief says he can fix it

By George P. Hassett

Acting Chief of Police Robert R. Bradley is touting his plan to reorganize the Somerville Police Department as “a way to do more with less,” but leaders of the patrolmen’s union contend it can not realistically be implemented because of severe understaffing in the department.

Bradley’s plan would change the geographical system officers follow from the current ward-based system to a district system with boundaries drawn up so that each area is roughly equal in calls for service. In 2004 and 2005, Ward 1 had twice the calls for service of Ward 7, Bradley said. With such a disparity in activity, officers patrolling the busiest wards are often overwhelmed and forced to call for help, leaving areas such as Wards 5, 6 and 7 without a single officer on duty, he said.

A system of six districts determined by crime data to have an equal burden of calls for service would keep patrol cars in all parts of the city and improve response times, he said. Under the district system, Bradley said there will be increased flexibility with up to six officers free to walk a beat or patrol an area on bicycle.

The proposed reorganization follows the recommendations of an advisory group commissioned by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and consisting of former Lowell Police Superintendant and current Boston Police Chief Ed Davis, Massachusetts State Police Colonel Thomas Robbins and Superintendants of the Boston Police Department James Clairborne and Patrick Crossen.

Currently, patrolmen bid each day to establish which region of the city they will cover, Bradley’s plan would change that to a yearly bid.

“Officers will be able to gain a better knowledge of an area and its problems and will discuss their plan for solutions with the community,” Bradley said. “Yearly bids will keep officers more in tune with what the community needs.”

Under Bradley’s plan, two new police substations would also be created using existing city buildings. The substations would cover the two new districts of each half of the city and handle only the business of that district, he said.

Bradley said his plan will make all officers community police officers, interacting with children in the schools and other members of the community in the streets. He also said he will change police work schedules in order to increase productivity and institute a new “power shift” that would work from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., “the peak hours.”  Bradley said his reorganization plan is, in part modeled after the work in Lowell of Davis, who is now the Boston Police Chief.

“Ed Davis did this in Lowell and had a lot of success with it,” he said. “And Lowell’s challenges and makeup are similar to Somerville’s.”

Overall, Bradley said his plan will help evaluate the departments success in preventing and solving crime by creating accountability for crime trends within parts of the city. But Patrolmen’s Union President Jack Leutcher said the possible reorganization is just the latest in a long line of proposals by new police chiefs in Somerville.

“Every chief has had their reorganization plans, but the question is what will this really do for the city?” he said.

The patrolmen’s union must agree to the shift changes outlined in the reorganization for the plan to be implemented. Union and city officials are currently negotiating a new contract and are including reorganization in their discussions, Bradley said.

Leutcher said Bradley’s new plan misses the biggest challenge facing the department now.

“What he’s proposing looks good on paper but this department just doesn’t have the number of officers to support it. Our biggest problem is manpower, we need at least 115 patrol officers on the street, right now we only have 85, and the city hasn’t shown any indication of hiring more officers in large numbers. Eighty five officers for a city of 80,000 people is not a good ratio. With the minute number of officers we’re working with now there just isn’t much he can do,” he said.

Leutcher said shifting officers daily bids to a yearly process will cut down on the flexibility that a small department needs. Leutcher, who said he thinks Bradley is doing “a pretty good job,” said a reorganization of the department is inappropriate at a time when Bradley has yet to be selected as the permanent chief.

Bradley said the reorganization will happen regardless of who the next chief is because Curtatone has mandated the department follow the advisory group’s recommendations. That, according to Leutcher, is the problem.

“That shows you right there the mayor is running this police department. Why are we doing a nationwide search for the next chief of police if the mayor is just going to make all the decisions? In the next election, it should read mayor slash police chief on the ballot,” he said. 

Comments

[brickbottom on the Chief's job description]

I know, I know, the powers that be don't like it if you put up a link to a web site. But I think the below link is something that is very important for all the citizens of Somerville to read, a full description for the new Police Chief's position from Waters Consulting Group.

http://www.watersconsulting.com/download/woer/brochures/Somerville%20-%20Police%20Chief.pdf

If you have the time please read it through as it will affect every citizen in this city. And after reading this job description can someone please honestly tell me that the Acting Chief is qualified to even submit his resume. Please don't tell me that there isn't a candidate throughout this great country of ours that would make the current Acting Chief look like Barney Fife.

btw: Why do you think he is now in the process of implementing the advisory group’s recommendations after they were suggested how long ago?

[Don't]

He has all the qualities needed to keep Joey's Cakes wiped and Clean Genie's polished that's all we need don't you know?

[Up]

Joey Cakes is of again, is he condoling his deposed counterpart or looking for a new source?

[the watch full EYE]

Im not to sure whats wrong with the police department, but i know whats wrong with the the parking department. They are very quick to give you a ticket while your parked in a bus stop for not even a min to put sumthing in a mailbox but i wittnesed a parking employee parked in a bus stop for over 8 min while she was getting an ice cream at JP LICKS in davis square she was driving a black toyota camery ma tag 636*** what just because she had her uniform on she can park illegaly I DONT THINK SO MISSY Dont be so quick to issue the tickets if you cant follow the rules and dont forget i do have the rest of her plate number if anyone is interested

[it *is* funny]

Brick -- thanks for posting the job description. Very interesting qualifications sought for the new Chief. From what I understand of his credentials, Bradley wouldn't qualify. Full disclosure: I contributed to the survey conducted by the recuiting firm and identified a commitment to open and positive communication with the community as a key competency of the ideal candidate. I wonder how fixed the process really is? Anyone know?

[wkelley]

I have known and worked with Chief Bradley
since 1976 and you're lucky to have him!!!

[stay in framingham]

hey wkelley- you should worry about what goes on in framingham instead of defending the corrupt little midget. if we are so lucky to have him why dont you get him a job with FRC campus cops -wait i think he is getting his resume together anyway since he knows he is on the way out. dont be surprised when you get a call from him begging for a job after JC alienates him

[brickbottom]

To "it is funny":

I especially love the part that reads:

That the candidate should have "an understanding and appreciation for the political process without personal involvment in politics"

I almost fell of my chair after reading that with laughter!!!!!

There is so much to say about that quote it is unbelievable, I'll just bring up one where the Acting broke the law.

What about his little "infomercial" against selling beer and wine in supermarkets? Wouldn't you say that was getting involved in the political process? Nevermind that he used city property and dressed in his Acting Chiefs uniform to film it.

[it *is* funny]

Brick -- I laughed at that quote, too. Although from the extensive job description, I wonder who *would* qualify for the job... they did leave out the ability to walk on water though.

There will be some 'splaining to do if Bradley gets the job after we've all seen the requirements.

[To it "is" funny]

Does the acting chief have enough years in service on the force to retire at 80% ?
Has he been recieving "chief's Pay" while the search goes on ?
That would be a "Bulger type Pension."
Could he become a security chief at a local firm ?
Let me see, hmmm. There's Market Basket,
Jimmy Tingle's, Little Sisters of the Poor.

[Old Gent]

Sorry about that, it "is' funny.
I meant to sign that, Old Gent'

[Dr. Mrs. McCarthy]

From the Desk of Dr. Mrs. McCarthy
Little Sisters of the Poor
Joseph A. Curtatone Avenue for the Performing Arts
Cambriville, Massachusetts

Dear Old Gent,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding employment for your friend Acting Chief Bradley. I regret to inform you that the position of Security Director is not available at this time. Sister Arthur Frederick has, for the last 76 years, been performing that job at our facility and we are quite satisfied with her performance.

At 6'3", 256lbs, a right hook like nobody elses, and a high kick that has dislodged many a gonad into the throat area of male intruders, we also doubt that Acting Chief Bradley could fill her shoes.(size 12EEE).

Thank you for inquiry. We wish you and Acting Chief Bradley the very best. Our prayers are with you during this Blessed Easter/Passover season.

Yours,

Dr. Mrs. McCarthy

[brickbottom]

It would be interesting to know if the "Acting" has any of his underlings applying for the Chiefs job.

Does anyone know if any of Somerville's finest have applied for the Chief's job?

[brickbottom]

Also, don't you think whoever get's picked for this job should actually live in the city. Not on some horse farm in the burbs away from the great nightlife that Somerville now has to offer.

[brickbottom]

I wonder how this farce is coming along? Will the Mayor actually hire someone who actually meets the job requirements or will he choose his little pony boy?

[it *is* funny]

I looked at the police chief job description again and there's no way they could justify the acting wee person getting the job. Stranger things have happened, but there are too many people watching this one to be able to talk themselves out of it. If they *do* appoint Bradley, there will be hell to pay.