Department Restructuring Discussed at Police Commissioners Meeting

The Board of Police Commissioners, made up of police commissioner Larry Lazaroff, commissioners David Monz and Bernard McLaughlin, chief Thomas McLaughlin, deputy chief Jonathan Mulhern and run by chairman Joseph D'errico, held their monthly meeting last night at the Department's headquarters on Linsley Street.

After approving the meeting minutes from last month, police commissioner Larry Lazaroff read aloud a list of complementary letters addressed to the town's police officers. Officers Rennen, Thorp, Cormier, and Miller were all thanked by local residents for helpful and responsive police work, and Officers Weidon and Wilcox were also publicly thanked for their efforts in closing a counterfeiting investigation.

Chairman D'errico also reported that he was "very pleased" with the high number of drug-related arrests North Haven Police have made so far this year. Fittingly, two police officers, Wade Miller and Frank Castiglione, were honored by M.A.D.D. for their work combatting substance abuse.

The meeting continued with an open forum where the group discussed the purchasing of a new squad car, the dedication of a new conference room in honor of former chairman Paul Abercrombie, and the abolition of postcard meeting notifications in favor of electronic reminders.

The committee also talked about the hiring of a new police officer. Interviews with a pool of candidates are expected to begin soon.

Chief Thomas McLaughlin then presented his plan for a new table of organization that would restructure some of the responsibilities of the chiefs, officers and lieutenants.

According to McLaughlin, the adustments would allow lieutenants to step into leadership roles earlier.

"They are our future leaders," McLaughlin said, so training them early will "increase [their] operational abilities."

McLaughlin's plan will also ensure the department will stay current with regulations and certifications. They are in the process of receiving accreditation by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC).

"It's easy to fall through the cracks," McLaughlin said, so keeping present with regulations and accreditations will "increase professionalism and decrease liability, [making] sure [they're] meeting the public's expectations."

Check back to Patch for more news from the North Haven Police, including information about Public Safety Day on July 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. behind the police station.