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October 23, 2004
  Articles on this page: • Police Department Police Department 462 Main Street Dalton, MA 01226 Phone: 684-0300/ Fax: 684-6108 Located in the basement of the Town Hall, the Dalton Police Department is a full time, 24 hour a day, 7 day a week police department. The Administrative Offices are open Monday though Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm but anyone with a problem or question can reach an officer by calling the business line at 684-0300. The Police Department consists of: Acting Chief of Police Lawrence Higgins Sergeant Vacant at this time Full Time Officers John W. Bartels Jr. George W. Adams III Richard A Nicholas, Jr. Kevin L. Miller John L. Thibodeau John M. Marley Jeffrey E. Coe Deanna L. Strout Christopher J. Furlong Reserve Officers Gerald J. Cahalan, Jr. Dale E. Gero James A. Scace Ryan C. Lamb Jonathan R. Bishop Over the past year we have seen a lot of changes in the department. In October 2003, Chief Filiault went out on medical leave due to a heart attack. Sgt. Larry Higgins was promoted to Acting Chief, leaving our department without a Patrol Sergeant. In Feb. 2004, Officer Greg Caputo, who was one of our Springfield Officers, resigned to take a position with the Wilbraham Police Department. He was replaced by promoting Reserve Officer Christopher Furlong. In June 2004, Officer James Scace was activated by the Marine Corps and is currently station in Iraq. In July, Officer Bryan Cloutier resigned and took a position with the New York State Police. In September 2004, Chief Filiault's retirement was approved. Also, in September Officer Jason Couture, our other Springfield Officer, resigned and returned to the Springfield Police Department. We wish Chief Filiault a happy, pleasant retirement and thank him for his 24 years of service. Rebecca Descoteau-Whitaker handles all administrative tasks for the police department. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. Mrs. Whitaker also handles the processing of Firearm Identification Cards and License to Carry Permits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Applications may be picked up at the Police Department or you may visit our website at www.daltonpolice.org and go to the firearms section. Our website was created and is maintained by Officer Cahalan. The department has five cruisers and a Ford Explorer. We have also purchased a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria which should arrive by Mid-October. In addition, officers patrol on bicycles as part of a plan to be more visible to the community. The police department oversees many community based programs, such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), TRIAD, Police Explorers, and others. These programs are primarily funded through grants the department receives from the Executive Office of Public Safety. Officer Thibodeau works with the Council on Aging and a commission of local elder citizens to address concerns of the elderly through the TRIAD program and is currently establishing a Citizen Police Academy. For more details contact Officer Thibodeau. Officer Lamb, with the assistance of Officer Thibodeau, works with the Police Explorers. In the past year the Explorers have helped out in the community with various functions. The police Explorers are open to any teenagers between 13 and 18 years of age. Applications can be picked up at the Police Department or from Officer Marley at Wahconah Regional High School. On August 3, 2004, we celebrated our First Annual Open House in conjunction with National Night Out, which is a nationwide Crime Prevention Awareness Program that brings the community together to fight crime and drugs. In addition to having Police Officers on hand, we had the Free Masons with the Chips program, Mother's Against Drunk Driving and the MADD Memory Quilt, Elizabeth Freeman Center, and Dalton Triad. The Department received over $ 53,260 in grants last year. We received $45,600 in community policing, $ 800 for You Drink. You Drive. You Lose Mobilization, $ 5,000 for the purchase of town Defibrillators, courtesy of Executive Office of Public Safety, and $ 1,860 for the purchase of new and replacement vests for the Officers. The Department has applied for over $45,000 in grants this year so we can continue to provide these services to the community. In addition to the grants we received, last November the Dalton American Legion Ladies Auxiliary hosted an Appreciation Dinner for the Officers. At that time the Ladies Auxiliary presented the department with $2,500 to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED). With the donation and the grants the Police Department currently has 5 AED's. We currently have them in the Chief’s cruiser, both Patrol Cruisers, Police Department, and one at the Dalton Community Center. This August saw the conclusion of our first of four years with the COPS in School Grant, which allows Officer Adams and Officer Marley to remain at Nessacus and Wahconah, respectfully, on a Full Time Basis. Throughout the past year they have handled complaints, arrests, and mediations. Acting Chief Lawrence Higgins and Officer Strout are the departments Certified D.A.R.E. instructors. Officer Strout will be the primary instructor at both Craneville School and St. Agnes School again this year. The Police Department has an emergency button on its entrance to town hall. Any citizen arriving at the police station after normal business hours of Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. and finding it closed may push the button and speak directly to the Communications Center Dispatcher. Any person using the emergency button is also automatically recorded and videotaped. This alleviates the safety concerns raised by some who worried that a resident could possibly be accosted at the police station entrance when the station is closed. The bike patrol has been part of the department for over 5 years. It includes five bicycles, one of which is a motorized model donated to the department by Western Mass. Electric Company. We currently have Officers Miller, Marley, Coe, Thibodeau, and Strout trained for our Bike Patrol. The officers patrol during parades, carnival, Light up the Holidays, etc. Acting Chief Higgins is our Crime Prevention Instructor and Trainer. Officer Nicholas and Miller are our Firearms Instructors. Officer Bartels is our Radar/Lidar Instructor and Training Officer. Anyone with questions concerning the programs sponsored by the Dalton Police Department can contact the department at our non emergency phone number 684-0300. Office of Animal Control Officer and Animal Inspector The Animal Control Officer is under supervision of the Chief of Police. As in the Police Department, the Animal Control Office has seen a lot of changes this year as well. Assistant Animal Control Officer Dale Gero resigned last December for another position; however, he is still a member of the Police Department. In July, Animal Control Officer Robin Evangelisto resigned for personal reasons. In August we hired Mike McClay of Dalton to be our Animal Control Officer and our Animal Inspector. His scheduled hours will be Monday and Wednesday 8:30-3:00 pm and Thursday 8:00-3:00. He will also be on call and will respond to emergency calls. Emergency calls consist of dogs running in traffic, dog/cat hit by a vehicle, dog bite, etc. Barking dog complaints and dogs running loose are not necessarily emergencies. In September, Jeff Henault of Pittsfield was hired as the Assistant Animal Control Officer. He will be filing in for ACO McClay when needed. As the Animal Inspector ACO McClay is responsible to completing the State Barn Book which consists of an inspection of your barn, counting of your livestock, making sure animals are current on vaccinations, etc. These reports are due by January and are usually completed each October and November. As a reminder - all dogs are to be licensed by January 1, of each year. On April 15, if your dog is not licensed you will be charged a $ 10 late fee. If on June 15, you still have not licensed your dog there will be a $ 25.00 Failure to License Citation mailed to you. This citation is in addition to the license fee and the late fee. If within 30 days you have not licensed your dog paperwork will be filed in court for Failure to License. This will result in at least one court appearance.  RETURN TO TOP |
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