Brewer police praised for service Officers, civilian support staff receive commendations from council

BREWER – The council chambers must have been the safest spot in the city Tuesday, when almost the entire police department and its civilian support staff members turned out to accept commendations for outstanding service in 2001.

The department’s banner year was the cause for some celebrating during the City Council’s monthly meeting, during which members of the city’s police force received individual certificates formally recognizing the department’s accomplishments over the past year.

In a measure that came as a surprise to him, Brewer police Officer Roger Hershey, the department’s community service officer of the year for 2001, received his corporal badge. Hershey reportedly was not aware he had qualified for the promotion to his new rank until he was called to the podium to receive his certificate.

According to Police Chief Steve Barker’s monthly report for January, members of the city’s police department handled 818 criminal cases and 1,191 motor vehicle cases, for a total of more than 2,000 cases.

Among the criminal cases were 120 warrant arrests and 193 drug-related offenses. Twelve search warrants were prepared and executed by Brewer police, which led to some of the criminal cases for the year.

During the course of last year, Barker reported, police officers also responded to 6,908 calls for service, ranging from responding to citizen complaints to directed patrols and court services. That works out to an average of 575 service calls a month, 132 calls a week or 19 calls a day, the chief pointed out.

Barker noted that 2001 ranked as one of the department’s highest productivity years, despite the fact that the department operated for several months at three-quarters of its usual staffing, which he observed resulted in a great deal of pressure on personnel due to the number of extra hours officers were required to work to meet minimum staffing levels.

“What they’ve done is incredible for a department of this size,” said Councilor Manley DeBeck Jr., one of several city officials who lauded the department Tuesday.

Brewer High School Principal Jerry Goss described the impact of the school resource officer program, initiated by Sgt. Chris Martin and now the responsibility of Officer Peter Rancourt.

“To me, the real benefit of this department is to avoid problems before they occur,” Goss said. He said that Brewer High students are among the most knowledgeable in the state when it comes to the harmful effects of illegal drugs and the legal ramifications of being caught possessing, using or selling them.

Mayor Michael Celli, who has gone on ride-alongs with police officers on several occasions, said that the department’s axiom is, “If you control the drugs, you control the crime.” A string of recent drug arrests has helped spread the message that Brewer may mean business, but not if the business is dealing drugs.

City Manager Stephen Bost, who along with Assistant City Manger Howard Kroll, accompanied police on a recent drug raid, described the department’s focus on coordination and teamwork. He said that 12 of the 14 officers who participated in a drug raid last month weren’t even on duty at the time.

Members of the department credited their recent successes to the leadership of Police Chief Steve Barker and Capt. Dan Green and to a city management and council that has been responsive to their needs.