VIDEO: Committed to the Community

UPDATED 11:AM Friday: SEE VIDEO: Excerpt from opening remarks by Chief Peter L. Carnes  

WEST YARMOUTH: Thursday - “Committed to the Community” is the motto of the Yarmouth Police Department, but it is more than just a motto, it is a way of life – a commitment lived by the officers of the Department every day.

In keeping with that commitment, the Yarmouth Police Department hosted a Community Police Round Table Discussion in the Law Enforcement Training Center at the Yarmouth Police Headquarters Thursday evening and invited all members of the community to attend.

Participating in the discussion were Chief Peter L Carnes, Deputy Chief Michael Almonte, Detectives Charles Peterson and Russell Giammarco and DY Regional High School Resource Officer Nick Pasquarosa of the Yarmouth Police. Participating from the Cape and Island’s District Attorney’s office was First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau and from the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce was Executive Director Bob Dubois. Each member spoke on their various areas of expertise. Several local politicians and off duty police officers were in the audience.

Chief Carnes opened the discussion with an overview of the Department, the purpose of the discussion, and an introduction of the other members. He credited much the success of his department to his dedicated officers and a high level of community support.

One theme in particular that stood out throughout the discussion was that times have changed over the years. We live in a different kind of world today than we did yesterday. Police Departments have had to change the way they operate to stay ahead of the trend of increasing levels of crime, violent and otherwise.

Deputy Chief Michael Almonte followed with some recent crime statistics comparing the town of Yarmouth to Barnstable, and Dennis. He explained that the philosophy of the Yarmouth Police Department is to be as pro-active as possible in dealing with issues. It is far better for the community, and more cost effective, to prevent crime rather than deal with it after it happens. Under Chief Carnes’ Community Policing policy the objective is to work together to make Yarmouth a better and safer place in which to live.

Many of the problems facing communities across the country today stem from drug abuse,  and Yarmouth is no exception. Veteran Detective Charles Peterson’s main focus is on drug enforcement. He talked about the relationship between drugs and crime. On a regular basis, he must deal with problems involving the use and the dealing of Heroin, Crack Cocaine, Marijuana and other substances. Drug seizures were up in significantly in 2006 largely due the successful conclusion of a long term investigation involving wire taps. He pointed out that many of the drug problems in Yarmouth’s are caused by transients - short term rental and motel guests  often with guns are involved in such cases.  They are difficult to identify because they come and leave so quickly.

Detective Russell Giammarco is the Department’s sex assault specialist. Sex crimes are a priority for the Yarmouth Police. His job is to vigorously investigate, and then if he determines the charges are founded, to indict the perpetrator. He stated that by their 18^th birthday, 1 in every 4 girls and one in every 6 boys are abused. Only one in 10 victims ever report the crime, and 73% of the time the perpetrator is the biological father of the victim. He is quick to point out however, that abuse victims can be any combination of age and gender. Since last October, he has investigated 14 complaints of sexual abuse which resulted in 9 arrests.  

First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau is a 20 year veteran of the District Attorney’s Office – His office is responsible for prosecutions on Cape Cod and The Islands. This includes Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.

Between these counties, there are 5 District Courts and 3 Superior Courts. Barnstable County is the busiest with over 14,000 criminal cases every year and about 12% to 15% of those originate in Yarmouth. He is quick to point out that drug cases usually cross town lines however. Superior Court cases deal with felonies and cases are tried there 9 months of the year. The Grand Jury meets twice per month. He said that the District Attorney’s office has tremendous respect for the Yarmouth Police Department and its leadership.

School Resource Officer Nick Pasquarosa spoke next. He is credited with running one of the finest school resource programs in the state. He states that Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School is a precinct unto itself. It is like a city with over 1000 residents. The main problem in the school is drugs, but it does not necessarily originate within the school. What goes on outside the school goes on inside the school.

Yarmouth is well prepared for emergencies. They started initiating a school safety program in 1995. Pasquarosa has trained over 500 other police officers in school emergency response. In fact, he and his Dennis counterpart Patrol Officer Greg Farnkoff have been training school resource officers across the state. Their job includes training the kids and school staff on what to do in an emergency. They run regular lock down drills. Some parents have been uneasy about the drills, but the kids are fine with it. They can lock down a school in about 20 seconds if a threat should arise.

Pasquarosa says his job is not merely law enforcement. He is also a confidant, adviser, mentor and trusted adult to many students. Open communication between the students, the school administration and the police department is the objective. Previously problems used to be kept hidden in the drawer, now they a dealt with and fixed. The Community Policing philosophy is to deal with and solve problems openly, rather than to hide them.

Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Dubois spoke about how local business works with the Police Department. Some of the problems in town have come from older motels who now must cater to short and long term residents to make ends meet. Patrol Officer Phil Magnuson has worked with motel owners to help them identify potential problem guests and in many cases the motel owners and the police have worked together to resolve issues.

In his summary Chief Carnes said another serious problem is a significant rise in the number of uninsured motor vehicles on the road. Many hit and run accidents are caused by uninsured and/or unregistered motor vehicles whose operators are driving after suspension or revocation. Very often, such cars are in dangerous operating condition and need to be removed from the highway.   

A major weapon in fighting this problem is the Mobil Data Terminals that are now in every cruiser. Officers can easily run real time registration checks routinely as they patrol. When they detect a problem, this enables them to stop the car and to get the offender off the road before they hurt themselves or someone else.

He explained that 90% of all police services go to 10% of the population of the town. Community policing is about the Yarmouth Police Department and the community all working together to solve real problems. This idea revolutionized the Yarmouth Police Department. One audience member credited Chief Carnes for making it happen and the Chief was roundly applauded. Chief Carnes, although appreciative of the recognition, was quick to point out that it is not just about himself but the entire department working together with the community that makes it all work.  

SEE VIDEO: Excerpt from opening remarks by Chief Peter L. Carnes