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New Milford police to review team



NEW MILFORD -- In this town and many other smaller municipalities in the area, police are most often needed for car crashes, burglaries, drug investigations, and domestic assaults.

Occasionally, though, there will be a bank robbery, a hostage situation, a shooting, even murder.

For those times, police departments want to be able to call on a select, highly trained and well-equipped group of officers -- commonly known as SWAT teams -- with the resources needed to protect the public without endangering their own lives.

How to do that most effectively and economically appears to be open for interpretation between area police administrations.

In New Milford, the subject came to the forefront recently, after the town's six-member Emergency Services Unit team opted to disband over issues related to an inability to fulfill a two-town agreement with the Brookfield Police Department that prescribes protocols for deployment, including equipment, staffing and training.

New Milford Police Chief Shawn Boyne said he understands the team's frustration. The former State Police commander, with tactical response experience, said he sees the value in having such a team; he actually expanded the three-member team that existed when he arrived in New Milford 18 months ago to six members.

But he and his current command staff have been tied up with other pressing administrative and operational issues; first and foremost the department's front-line response critical to everyday occurrences.

This specialty team is only for what Boyne and other chiefs describe as "low-frequency, high-risk events."

Boyne gave assurances that the public is not at risk.

Were there to be a need for a team, Boyne said, he need make just one call to deploy either the state police or Danbury police.

New Milford's team leader, Officer Steven Palmer, and member Sgt. Earl Wheeler deferred comments to Boyne.

Though Boyne said he sees value in having a team, he said the department has been stymied by limited staffing abilities -- a couple of officers assigned to the team have been on extended leaves -- and a lack of forthcoming federal asset forfeiture funds to properly equip them.

A $26,000 van was paid for through asset forfeiture funds for such a purpose, but the vehicle needs at least $10,000 in work to be operational for not only ESU use, but other department services, Boyne said.

Then there is the purchasing of specialty equipment -- high-powered rifles, bullet-proof vests, protective head gear and surveillance devices -- that can cost tens of thousands more, Boyne said.

Since Boyne has been chief, the full New Milford/Brookfield team has been officially deployed once -- to arrest suspects in a bank robbery.

Bethel Police Chief Jeff Finch said his department opted a few years back against joining New Milford and Brookfield for a joint team, because his view was that such teams require officers who regularly work together for a coordinated response.

Multi-town teams can pose operational issues, and Finch determined that was not the best option for Bethel. So his town has a five-member team, and if need be will call on Danbury or the state police for back-up assistance, he said.

Brookfield Police Chief Robin Montgomery said he would be open to resuming a relationship with New Milford, if and when Boyne is ready to do so.

Boyne said he wants time to review the policies and agreement.

"If we're going to have a team," he said, "I want them to be properly equipped and properly trained, and we're not there yet."