By Curt Brown
Standard-Times staff writer
August 24, 2007 6:00 AM
WAREHAM — Police are being hit with allegations of mismanagement by selectmen and complaints from merchants that the department is failing to control rowdy and unruly teens in Onset.
"It has been a rough summer, mostly related to the management of the (police) budget," Selectman James Potter said Thursday.
He said there have been more assaults and more teens congregating this summer than in past years.
"The difference this year is it is more noticeable, and people are feeling it more," he said. "It is also not being addressed as quickly — or not at all."
Budget problems this year in Wareham prevented police from hiring 10 seasonal officers as they have done in years past.
When they had the money for the seasonal police, an officer was assigned to a walking beat in Onset from 6 p.m. until 2 or 3 a.m., along with a second officer patrolling Onset on a bicycle, according to Lt. Irving Wallace, the department's second-in-command.
Merchants said the problem is "terrible" on Thursday nights after the weekly movies at the band shell.
They called the teens they have encountered "mouthy" and "out of control," and said their unruly behavior has discouraged customers and hurt business.
"I think the kids have taken over the town of Onset," said Lori Grafton, an Onset businesswoman.
"The kids are unruly in this town," said Elisa Walsh, who works at the Dunkin' Donuts in Onset.
Merchants also blamed parents and said their failure to properly supervise their children has contributed to the problem.
"I see 8-, 10-year-olds out at 10 o'clock at night on their bicycles," said Kat Slaney, an Onset merchant.
She said she sees them regularly littering, loitering and swearing. "I pick up after them all the time."
Merchants criticized the response by police and said they have received more assistance from Crime Watch, a local group of citizen volunteers, than they have from Wareham police.
"Last Thursday was the worst night ever," Ms. Grafton said. "The kids were out of control. If it wasn't for the Crime Watch, there would have been a lot more problems."
Ms. Walsh said last week she waved down an officer when a youth was vandalizing property. She said the officer said he could not respond because he was on patrol and told her to call the police station.
Several merchants said the situation has improved since Monday when an officer was assigned to a walking beat in Onset.
"It's eight or nine weeks too late," Ms. Grafton said.
Police Chief Thomas Joyce was not in his office Thursday afternoon to respond to the complaints by selectmen and business people.
However, Lt. Wallace said these complaints are not being brought to their attention.
"A lot of these complaints are not being brought to us," he said. "Now, I'm not saying they didn't happen, but we're not hearing about them.
"At least give us the first opportunity to correct the problem if there is a problem."
For example, he said, they have only one report of an assault, while selectmen have said they have six.
Mr. Potter said selectmen do not accept the lack of seasonal officers as an excuse for the response by police to the crime problem in Onset. He said with better management of the police budget, the lack of seasonal officers would not have been a problem.
For example, he said, regular patrols could have been converted into walking beats in Onset, but this was not done.
"It is very frustrating to the board, residents and visitors," he said. "There has been a very noticeable difference in how the gathering of people has changed this summer."
He said concerns about rowdiness were aired earlier this summer at a meeting with selectmen, but Chief Joyce was unable to attend the session. And he said there appears to be "a disconnect" between the chief and the public.
Mr. Potter said selectmen plan to meet again with Chief Joyce in closed session.
"There has to be a better response from the department to make the citizens feel there is a change from how these incidents have been handled in the past," he said.
Budget problems this year in Wareham prevented police from hiring 10 seasonal officers as they have done in years past.
Yeah, I think that would be a main factor...
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