MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT

2008 TOWN REPORT

The Madison Police Department has had another busy and productive year. Our overall activity increased by 20.26% from 2007 with a total of 1472 calls for service for 2008. This number represents a substantial increase from 2003 when the number of calls for service handled in town by the Carroll County Sheriffs Office, New Hampshire State Police and Madison Police Department totaled 779.

The Madison Police Department has handled several notable cases this year:

Officer Macmillan stopped a suspected cocaine transaction in place while conducting security checks on local businesses. Officer Hayford halted a burglary in progress, also while engaged in proactive patrol.

Officer O’Meara has taken a proactive approach to monitoring the community’s Sex Offenders and seeing that they remain in compliance with existing law. He has conducted investigations leading to two arrests in the last ten months with one conviction and the other pending adjudication.

Sgt. Colby deployed his Taser while assisting the Carroll County Sheriffs Office with an arrest. This action contributed to the apprehension of a subject who had just assaulted a Deputy with a baseball bat.

I have authored search warrants in two cases involving theft and or the felonious use of a firearm. In April of 2008 the Madison Police Department, assisted by the Freedom, Ossipee and Conway Police Departments executed a high risk search warrant on Allard Hill Rd. The incident again involved the use of a Taser and a frantic struggle between Lt. James Eldridge of the Ossipee Police Department and I with an adult male armed with a loaded .357 magnum handgun. This weapon is alleged to have been used in a kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon but is now off the streets and sitting in the department’s evidence room.

Three suspects have been arrested and are currently awaiting prosecution.

The Madison Police Department faced the potential for gun violence a second time in September of 2008 while assisting the Maine State Police and US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The Madison Police Department recovered four stolen handguns in this case. One suspect admitted to exchanging another of the stolen handguns for several grams of cocaine. Both of these gun cases required the assistance of the entire department and involved cocaine and marijuana.

This increase in activity coupled with stringent documentation laws and policies make the position of my Administrative Assistant even more vital to the operation of the police department than ever. She is a technical expert and currently works about 35 hours a week. It would take a police officer at least 55 to 60 hours (at a higher rate of pay) to do what she does.

Our Patrol Officers have been participating in the after school program at Madison Elementary School on a weekly basis. I am happy to report that I have received positive feedback on their involvement.

Jo Anne Gayer is the Animal Control Officer for Madison and Freedom. This arrangement allows Madison to get excellent service at about half the price that similar sized towns in the area pay. Her level of training also significantly reduces liability to the town.

All members of the department continue to donate time to the town with no monetary compensation. Officer MacMillan will have “donated” approximately 300 hours to the town from the time he started in October of 2008 until his initial training is complete in April of 2009.

We are grateful for the support that you have given us and acknowledge and appreciate the fact that our success is 100% dependant upon it.

* Crime related incidents are violation and misdemeanor level offenses

Chief James Mullen

Madison Police Department