Greetings from the Chief of Police
Spring has arrived; and the Police Department is busy with its normal work load, special programs, interviewing new Officers, and preparing for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting. This month I speak with you about our basketball fundraiser with the 5th & 6th-grade students at the Truro Central School, the school zone, the Department’s quarterly report, hiring new Officers, and leadership.
Basketball Fundraiser
On Friday, March 23, the Officers of the Truro Police Department, Telecommunicators, our Nauset Regional High School intern, and guests from the Provincetown Police Department had an exciting night of Basketball to benefit the Truro Central School’s class trip to Washington DC. The idea, called “T-C-S” for Teachers, Cops, and Students was the brainchild of Officer Carrie DeAngelo and Fifth-Grade Teacher Megan O’Leary. A series of lively and exciting games was played; and yes, the Police LOST our first game to the 5th and 6th graders!
Proceeds from admission, the raffle, and other activities along with donations from local businesses totaled over $1,150 for the trip – and we sent only two people up for X-rays! Luckily no one broke any bones. The members of the Police Department wish to thank the members of the community who came out to support the kids and, also, to thank the local businesses for their support, too.
School Zone
School Zone on Route 6: Just as a helpful reminder, the School Zone on RTE 6 in front of the Truro Central School is activated from 7:45 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. and from 2:45 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. I must ask that as you travel on RTE 6, remember the speed is reduced to 20 MPH during the crossing times; and you must stay at 20 MPH until you are past the “School Zone Ends” signs, which are opposite the yellow flashing light poles. Too many people speed up as soon as they pass the Officer in the crossing, so I ask that you help us by observing the limits and keep the School Zone Safe.
Quarterly Report / New Officers
On Tuesday, April 3, 2012, I will be presenting the Police Department's Quarterly Report to the Board of Selectmen. Contained within the report will be a request for two conditional letters of employment for the next two full-time Police Officers, subject to successful background investigations and pre-screening processes for the Police Academy. Please look on-line or attend the meeting for the full report.
Leadership
Recently I have had the opportunity to interview some really terrific candidates for the position of Police Officer. During those discussions some of the candidates have been surprised at my answers when they ask about what I see for the future of this department. The surprise comes from not having a long laundry list of “material things.” It’s not that I don’t think having the right tools available to do the jobs we ask our employees to do is important, because it certainly is. Rather, our people and their development as law enforcement professionals and leaders are the most important singular investment we can make as a Department and as a town. I believe leadership and communication should be a lifelong study. My background in both the Police profession and the Coast Guard has taught me that you can never have enough leadership training. And once you experience it, you have to be willing to share both the training and your experiences – good and bad. Doing so helps your team to develop and to help each other. I use the phrase “keeping each other from stepping in potholes.” Having a team willing to put another member first, keeping each other on track, sharing mistakes made, and doing so in spite of personal feelings or differences requires commitment and frank conversations. How do you get to a point where doing so is part of the “normal” way of conducting business? The answer lies in training programs designed to build a leadership continuum.
We recently held an “in-house” training session on Police Ethics. Historical events which were troublesome for Police departments on Cape Cod were discussed and evaluated. We then looked at how we as Police professionals could make better decisions along a career path. Our Command Staff also attended a training session this past month that dealt with communication skills, attitude, and self-evaluation.
I see all of our employees of the Department as leaders; and sessions such as these continue to prepare us to serve all of you. Next month I’ll discuss with you the recent Media Summit that brought all the Cape Cod Police Chiefs together with representatives from the media. The idea was to establish a dialogue and foster better working relationships between all parties.
My information is below and I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.
Ride-along Program
As always, our ride-along program is still available. It’s a great way to gain some insight into the police profession and, specifically, policing here in Truro. If you're interested in riding with a Police Officer, please stop by or give us a call at 508-487-8730. Also, please check our website, which is updated frequently at www.truropolice.org.
Very Respectfully,
Kyle Takakjian
Chief of Police
Truro Police Department
344 Rte 6, PO Box 995, Truro MA 02666
508-487-8730 Fax 508-487-8736
takakjian@truropolice.org
See www.truropolice.org for weekly logs, press releases, and other useful information.
