Mansfield Police Department Hires New Crime Analysis

Originally published Sept. 3, 2015

What was suppose to be a discussion about the job description for a new position in the Mansfield Police Department turned into a somewhat lively talk about why a person was hired for a job whose description was yet to be approved.

During last week’s selectmen meeting. Selectman Jess Aptowitz revealed that Police Chief Ronald Sellon had introduced him to a recently hired crime analysis, the position that was to be discussed.

“I’m not thrilled about it. We should not be talking about a job description after the person is hired,” Aptowitz said.

“We have had that problem with a person who was hired without the town manager getting our approval and it ended up as a mess,” Chairman George Dentino added.

The position, expected to come with a salary of $38,000-$45,000, is fully funded and apart of the fiscal year 2016 budget. Town Manager William Ross said the town is hoping that the position can be funded by the Mass. State Gaming Commission since Mansfield shares a border with Plainville, home of Plainridge Park Casino.

If funds from the state are obtained, the local funds in the town budget for the position will be moved into free cash.

“We’re not going to hire another police officer or do something like that. I believe that this position along with the problem-oriented policing group that the chief has assembled can address issues in the community that are ongoing and coming,” Ross said.

Ross used the opioid crisis as an example of an issue for the crime analysis. Instead of simply arresting and releasing a criminal for a crime related to opioids, the analysis can address the source of the problem in town and help those addicted seek treatment.

Selectman Olivier Kozlowski said he had an understanding of the position, calling it a novel and new way of doing things.

“In old school policing you figure out how good you are by how many arrests are made. This is trying to figure out what is really going on and what you can do to better allocate the resources you have,” he said.

Kozlowski added that he expects Chief Sellon to be able to quantify the results.

The description was approved 3-0-2 with Dentino and Aptowitz choosing to abstain.