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Home My WebLink About2010-05-25-PMPC-min Town of Lexington Police Department 1575 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420 Mark J. Corr TEL: (781) 862-1212 Chief of Police FAX: (781) 863-1291 Police Manual Policy Committee Meeting Minutes – May 25, 2010 Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Location: Lexington Police Guard Room In Attendance: Chief Mark Corr (Chair) Peter Kelley, Selectman Liaison Dr. Edith Flynn Sgt. Cleveland Coats, MSP William Hays Captain Joseph O’Leary, Lexington Gerald McLeod Sgt. John Mazerall, Lexington 1.Meeting called at 4:20 p.m. 2.Effective July 1, public posting of this meeting will include Agenda. The format will be: Introduction of meeting material Review and acceptance of minutes Review of polices with each policy listed in the agenda Any related business/questions Setting next meeting date 3.If Chief Corr is not available as Chair, Dr. Edith Flynn will substitute. (6-0 vote). 4.Minutes, subject to amendment, accepted. (6-0 vote) 5.Many policies generated discussion and minor grammar mistakes noted. The minutes address specific recommended changes to each policy on the agenda. 41E Domestic Violence th  Page 7, section D-4. Committee suggested more clarification of “4 Amendment” requirements.  Page 3, section D-7. The word “antique” must be followed by the word “firearm.”  Page 6, section D-1-a. Clarify “who” is in lawful control of premise for permitting police officers to enter during a domestic violence situation.  Page 22, top. “It is important to be aware of, and deter, any biases.” Cross out as shown. 1575 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420  Page 26, section K-4. Identify what an officer can do if he or she is unable to lawfully seize firearms that may be present at a domestic.  Page 2, bullet one. “…arrest and prosecution as a preferred” response; committee suggested adding ‘when probable cause exists that a crime has occurred.’ 41F Burglar, Hold-up or Other Alarms for Police Service.  No comments. 73A Testifying in Court  Add cites to policy 12A Command Authority, Succession and Protocol  Page 2. Group discussed unlawful versus unjust orders. No changes recommended.  Page 2, section II-A. It was suggested that the Chief’s “extended absence” be defined better. 16A Special Police Officers – pulled from discussion due to anticipated editing changes that will significantly change policy. 22C Police ID’s  No comments. 24A through F Union Contracts  The intent is to have all union contracts in one spot for Department review. These six policy headers will be consolidated into one. 25A Grievance Procedures  Exempt, non union, and non represented employees are not covered by policy. Additional information should be added to address or identify these positions. 41J Interviewing Victims and Witnesses  IV-A. Use of interpreters. Add procedures for using interpreters for language and hearing impaired. Reference, as needed, law for assisting hearing impaired.  Page 4, B-6. Clarify that a witness has a voluntary choice coming to the police station for an interview. 41K Interrogating Detainees and Arrestees  Within policy, clarify where one officer or two are required for the interrogation. Page 2 of 3 41L Stop and Frisk and Threshold Inquiries  Page 3. A.2.1.i. A grammatical/deletion error needs to be fixed. Should say “has committed a crime.”  Page 3 – Grounds for making a stop. Need to add language that an officer must be able to articulate the reasonable grounds that a threshold inquiry or Stop & Frisk occurs.  Page 9, E-3. Same as point 2 above. 41-O Handling the Mentally Ill  Add a definition for Paranoia and add expanded discussion in “Common Mental Disorders” section.  Page 6-7, Involuntary Examinations. Add the Lexington Police policy that police officers signing section 12 orders will be a measure of last resort. 41-P Dealing with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons  No comments. 42L Breaking and Entering  No comments. 72C Protective Custody  Add a section that identifies what officers can do if a person is impaired, but there is no evidence of alcohol consumption. 6.Next meeting: July 6, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. @ police station guard room. 7.Adjourn at 6:00 p.m. Page 3 of 3