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Emergency Response Team

The Claremont Police Department Emergency Response Team has merged with the Western New Hampshire Special Operations Unit, a Special Response Team made up of Law Enforcement Officers from Claremont, Newport, and Sunapee Police Departments, and the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. This Collaborative effort allows all the Police Departments to benefit from a highly trained, professional team. Some tasks the team is called upon to perform are:

Hostage Situations: the holding of any person(s) against their will by an armed or potentially armed suspect.
Barricade Situations: the stand-off created by an armed or potentially armed suspect in any location, whether fortified or not, who is refusing to comply with police demands for surrender.
Sniper Situations: the firing upon citizens and/or police by an armed suspect, whether stationary or mobile.
High-Risk Apprehension: the arrest or apprehension of armed or potentially armed suspects where the likelihood of armed resistance is high.
High-Risk Warrant Service: the service of search or arrest warrants.
Personal Protection: the security of special persons, such as VIP's, witnesses, or suspects, based on threat or potential threat to the well-being of those persons.
Other: any situation which lends itself to the use of the Special Operations Unit at the discretion of the Unit Commander.

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D.A.R.E.

D.A.RE. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a collaborative effort by DARE certified law enforcement officers, educators, students, and the community to offer an educational program in the classroom to help prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among children and youth. The D.A.R.E. Program has been taught to Claremont students since 1989.

DARE certified officers spend seventeen weeks of the school year in the classroom. The program is taught to all public school sixth graders, one class period per week. The curriculum offers such topics as resistance skills, self-esteem, decision making, stress management, and conflict management. The program is concluded with a culmination ceremony to recognize the efforts of the students in learning the skills required for a drug free and violence free future.

The D.A.R.E. Program also gives the students the opportunity to get to know the police officer on a more personal level that will help foster more positive interaction between young people and police in the future.

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Hostage Negotiation Team

The Claremont Police Department currently has 3 police officers trained in Hostage or Crisis Negotiation. Our negotiators have under gone some of the finest training provided in the country. Training ranges between basic negotiations for our back up negotiators to more advanced training received from the Institute of Police Technology in Jacksonville Florida.

The department lead negotiator has received more than 140 hours of training provided by IPTM, the FBI, and negotiators from throughout the country.

Negotiators are the most powerful form of non lethal force that can be employed by an agency. Our department is committed to a safe resolution to situations that negotiators are asked to assist in resolving. Trained negotiators supported by a strong tactical unit, provides a significant reduction in injury to the participants.

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Bike Patrol

The Claremont Police Department utilizes bike patrols to fulfill its mission of total community policing objectives. Our bike patrols have been found productive in connecting with the public. Our bike patrols are more accessibly to the public.

Our bike patrols are used both in the downtown areas as well as the various recreational trails in our city. The bike patrol officers spend many hours instructing children on bicycle safety. Bike safety programs are put on each year with the assistance of area businesses.

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Polygraph Division

General Overview
In March of 2000 the Claremont Police Department established the Polygraph Division. Polygraph testing used to be conducted by the New Hampshire State Police at the Claremont Police Department. It has now been re-equipped so Claremont Police can conduct the exams at the Police Department. The instrument used is an Axciton computerized polygraph. The examiner went to Philadelphia, PA for 800 hours of training at the Academy for Scientific Investigative Training. He is an Interim Member of the American Polygraph Association (APA). .

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Prosecution

The State of New Hampshire is one of a few states that allow law enforcement personnel to prosecute in the District Court charges filed by its officers. All violation and misdemeanor cases are heard in the Claremont District Court. The Police prosecutor is currently the rank of lieutenant, however, in the past all ranks have been employed.

Responsibilities of the prosecutor include:

Arraignments
Trials
Probable Cause Hearings
Bail Hearings
Deferred Sentencing Hearings
Suppression Hearings
Adult and Juvenile Dockets
Discovery
Motion Hearings
Diversions

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Juvenile Services

The Juvenile Service branch of the police department handles all cases involving juveniles. Once a police officer in the field deals with a case involving a juvenile all reports are forwarded to this division. It is the decision of the Juvenile Service Officer to charge or divert juveniles within the Juvenile System of Justice as defined by statute.

This officer is also responsible for a record keeping mandated by state and federal laws. The processing of petitions for both Children in need of services as well as delinquencies is this officer's responsibility. All witness notifications and victim interaction is done by this division. Once this is done the cases are transferred to the prosecutor for the multiple levels of the Juvenile system.

The juvenile services officer also fulfills the task of detective when the need arises. The juvenile division closely works with other agencies such as the Division of Youth and Families and the school system. Cases that involve juveniles are some of the most complex cases we have to deal with, due to the multitudes of variables in treatment and prevention. Extensive training is afforded this officer to maintain a level of preparedness that this job requires.

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School Resource Officer

The Claremont Police utilized funds made available from the federal government. The purpose of the school resource officer is to maintain a presence within the schools themselves. This program strength is that it is a joint effort between the school district and the police.

The goal is to provide a better report between the students and the police. To prevent situations from happening, by learning of them prior to them occurring. It is the aim of those involved to make our schools even safer than they already are.

All schools have access to this officer should they need a specific purpose fulfilled. Primarily the high school and the middle school get a bulk of the attention for obvious reasons, however, all schools have contact at least weekly by this officer.

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R.A.D.

Rape Aggression Defense Systems (R.A.D. Systems)

Basic Physical Defense
Basic Physical Defense is an easy to learn, realistic approach to risk reduction and assault prevention. It is designed to develop and enhance the options of self defense, so they may become viable consideration to the woman who is attacked.

Topics of discussion include: Women empowerment, date rape, pattern of encounter, continuum of survival and basic principles of self defense:

Also covered are self defense tactics including: Vulnerable locations, principles of striking, ground defense.

Included in the program is a student manual and a free lifetime return and practice policy.

The Basic Physical Defense class is 15 hours, usually divided up into five, three hour days, once a week

Please call the police department for any unexpected changes in times or locations and additional classes not yet posted

R.A.D. Kids
This program is a realistic and practical approach to abduction prevention. The age ranges are from 5-7 and 8-10 years old. It provides educational opportunities for children and parents, concerning awareness and self defense strategies, instilling confidence, and reducing the possibility of adverse physical control or harm.

Topics of discussion include: School safety, home safety, "out and about" safety, vehicle safety, use of 911, good vs. bad touch, and stranger tricks.

Also covered are self defense tactics including: Personal weapons, rules of context, technique deployment, and realistic simulation.

Included in the program is a parents manual, child activity book, a lifetime return and practice policy.

Classes will be offered at varying days and times through out the year. The R.A.D. KIDS class is 10 hours, usually divided up into five two hour days.

Please call the police department for any unexpected changes in times or locations and additional classes not yet posted

Advanced Physical Defense
This program is an extension of the Basic Physical Defense. It builds upon the foundation of skills already learned and adds new strategies and techniques for additional self defense options. This program includes defense against weapons and multiple attackers. The techniques added are additional strikes, kicks, and ground defense. There is also a modified, optional, simulation.

Because this program is slightly more involved, there is a foundation needed to take this class. Basic Physical Defense is a prerequisite. The class is 18 hours, usually divided up into six, three hour days, once a week.

Coming Soon
Two RAD Systems Programs, Keychain Defense Options and Aerosol Defense Options are planned to be offered in the coming years, once instructors are properly certified to teach them.

Upcoming RAD Courses:
RAD Train the Trainer - November 10, 11, 12
For more information go to http:\\www.RAD-systems.com

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