NMPD doesn't get requested investigator

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 17, 2005

The chief had asked for the new officer in his 2005-06 budget request, but it was axed by the Town Council in a 7-1 vote March 10, with Councilman Pete Bass the lone "no" vote.

"I'm disappointed, but I understand the circumstances," Chief McCormack said Monday. "We'll do the best we can with what they give us."

The chief initially requested two investigators for what he noted is a growing town, but Mayor Pat Murphy's budget included just one. She also cut a request for another patrol officer.

"There is this need for an additional investigator," the chief told members of the Town Council and Board of Finance at a recent joint budget hearing. "There are more complex crimes."

The council voted against funding the additional NMPD investigator at an annual salary and benefits of about $60,000. The council also cut NMPD overtime by $2,000.

"Last year was an exceptional year," Councilman Bob Guendelsberger said last week as the proposed position was eliminated from the budget. "I'm not convinced we need a new detective."

Mr. Guendelsberger was referring to three murders in a six-day span last year in normally peaceful New Milford.

Investigators are continuing to look into the Sept. 15 bludgeoning homicide of Maria Rojas at a Route 7 business.

Six days later Lisa Aviles and her 4-month old son, Damien Stone, were murdered at Lover's Leap. Two days after the double murder, David Stone was arrested and confessed to murdering his girlfriend, Ms. Aviles, and their son.

The NMPD currently has one detective and three investigators. Chief McCormack had planned to assign the new investigator to narcotics investigations.

The department's investigative services bureau assisted in 50 cases in 2004. Most cases handled by the bureau are long-term cases and often involve major crimes, according to the chief.

There were 22 arrests made as a result of narcotics investigations, including charges of racketeering, possession with intent to sell within 150 feet of a school or day care, dangerous weapons, and sale of cocaine or marijuana.

Youth investigators handle crimes against children and those committed by children (15 years of age or younger). In 2004, 40 youth arrests went directly to the court system, and 25 were put through the Juvenile Review Panel where youths can complete community service, get drug counseling and anger management classes and make restitution.

The NMPD 2004 annual report states the department made 647 arrests and dealt with 1,738 accidents.

Drivers under the age of 25 accounted for 30 percent of the accidents, with 60 percent of the drivers male. Those ages 36-45 accounted for the next highest group, 21 percent of the accidents, with men and women equally represented.