Bristol Police Log: Police received skills training in December

BRISTOL — During December, Bristol police officers took part in training four times, according to a recently released log for that month. That training included a refresher course in National Information Based Reporting Systems, an online testing certification to remain compliant with the NCIC national crime database, and eight hours of training on interacting with people experiencing mental health issues. Bristol Chief Kevin Gibbs took part in a training session for chiefs and the sheriff held at the Middlebury Inn.
Bristol police conducted 22 town-contracted patrols outside the police district during the month, including on Burpee, Monkton, Hewitt, Lower Notch and Stoney Hill roads; Lovers Lane; Route 116 near Daniel’s Four Corners; and Route 116 South and North. On these patrols officers issued seven speeding tickets, tickets for stop sign violations and no insurance, and many warnings.
On six occasions during December in which Bristol police were contracted to provide security for Mount Abraham Union High School basketball games, officers issued eight parking tickets and many warnings about parking violations, alerted several drivers that their vehicle inspections were coming due and stopped and warned the driver of one vehicle for using red lights without a permit.
Three times during the month, police verified the vehicle identification number for car owners; twice they collected a fee because the vehicle owner lived outside the police district.
In other activity in December, Bristol police:
•  On Dec. 1 responded to Living Well Community Care Home to assist the Bristol Rescue Squad with an uncooperative patient. Once police showed up the man agreed to go and was transported to Porter Hospital without incident.
•  On Dec. 1, after receiving a complaint, warned a driver for turning right on red from North Street and failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
•  On Dec. 2 checked St. Ambrose Catholic Church after receiving a 911 call from the elevator there. A priest said it was an accidental call.
•  On Dec. 2 received a U.S. Department of Justice Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers form from a local gun dealer. The dealer is required to file such a form with local police when selling more than one handgun to a customer at the same time. Police noted no problems.
•  On Dec. 3 logged a complaint from a parent regarding drug paraphernalia located in the bedroom of one of their teenage children. A consent search was conducted and revealed no additional paraphernalia. Police issued court diversion paperwork to the juvenile for possession.
•  On Dec. 3 at 10:05 p.m. checked the security at Mount Abraham Union High School and found numerous vehicles still parked in parking lot as a result of an away basketball game. No problems were found.
•  On Dec. 4 at 55 minutes past midnight stopped a vehicle on West Street for a defective headlight. After the officer found the operator’s driver’s license was civilly suspended the officer had the vehicle towed.
•  On Dec. 4 at 7:42 p.m. took a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Rite Aid parking lot. An officer located the vehicle and recognized the vehicle as one belonging to a subject who uses studio space on Main Street.
•  On Dec. 5 a Bristol resident approached an officer and reported a possible camp in the vicinity of the old dump. The officer investigated and found a “fort” had been built by kids on private property and that there was no camping going on.
•  On Dec. 6 stopped a vehicle on West Street for no registration, found that the operator’s driver’s license was civilly suspended and the plates on the vehicle were not assigned to it, issued a ticket and had the vehicle towed.
•  On Dec. 7 Chief Gibbs visited with “Hublings” at the Hub Teen Center for a bit over an hour answering a variety of questions.
•  On Dec. 8 cited Victoria Cousino, 39, of Lincoln for forgery and uttering a forged instrument. Police had received a report on Nov. 30 about a stolen check and found that it had been cashed at a Bristol business and the signature forged. Police used surveillance video from the business to identify Cousino as the suspected forger.
•  On Dec. 11 went to Bristol Elementary School to stand by during dismissal after receiving a report of an upset grandparent at the school. Upon arrival contact was made with staff and the grandparent who was upset about a parking situation. No police action was taken.
•  On Dec. 11 assisted a man who had fallen at a village home. The officer, who is an EMT, provided beginning medical treatment until the Bristol Rescue Squad arrived, but the man declined further assistance.
•  On Dec. 12 assisted the Bristol Fire Department with traffic control for a transformer fire on Pine Street.
•  On Dec. 12 at 3:20 p.m. contacted the owner of an unsecured Main Street business and the business was secured.
•  On Dec. 13 responded to the Living Well Care Home on Maple Street for an alarm activation but found no emergency had occurred.
•  On Dec. 13 at 11:45 a.m. took a report from a Main Street business of people yelling and using profanity in an upstairs apartment. The yelling was being disruptive to the business operation. The officer contacted a tenant and requested that they tone it down.
•  On Dec. 14 assisted an MAUHS driver education class by discussing breath testing procedures with students.
•  On Dec. 15 logged a report from a Bristol woman receiving unwanted calls from a Bristol man who had begun accusing her of stalking. Police warned the man against making further calls.
•  On Dec. 16 received report from MAUHS that a student had been receiving unwanted text messages from a person who resides in Vergennes. Police contacted the person, told that person about the report and offered advice that continued contact would result in criminal charges.
•  On Dec. 16 were told of a resident who might wander off and become disoriented. Police obtained a recent picture and contact information in the event assistance was needed.
•  On Dec. 17 were notified by MAUHS that a knife had been confiscated from a student in accordance with the weapons policy of the school and Vermont law. The student was cited to appear in Addison Superior Court, criminal division, for possession of dangerous or deadly weapon on school property.
•  On Dec. 18 received from MAUHS a truancy violation notice and police prepared a notice for delivery to the student’s parents.
•  On Dec. 19 at 20 minutes past midnight assisted a Bristol resident who had been threatened; the Bristol officer subsequently referred the case to the state police.
•  On Dec. 19 helped out the Bristol Rescue Squad, which was busy with another call, by responding to MAUHS for a medical emergency. A Bristol police officer treated a person with a head injury until arrival of and transport by Middlebury Regional EMS.
•  On Dec. 19 at 10:58 p.m. received a report from a police district resident who saw a suspicious bottle in her driveway. The complainant had heard voices in front of her residence earlier in the evening and had heard about incidents where soda bottles were used to make drugs. The officer checked the soda bottle, determined it was not dangerous and disposed of it.
•  On Dec. 20 logged a complaint of a gas smell in a Munsill Avenue apartment. The fire department responded and found no trace of propane or any other dangerous gases. The complainant was checked and cleared by the rescue squad for dizziness and light-headedness.
•  On Dec. 21 contacted the owner of a women’s wallet that had been found in the Shaw’s parking lot and turned in to police.
•  On Dec. 22 responded to a medical call on East Street and cared for the patient until the Bristol Rescue Squad arrived.
•  On Dec. 23 returned to its owner a wallet found on the side of a roadway in Lincoln and turned in to police.
•  On Dec. 25 at 11:35 p.m. conducted 20 minutes of foot patrol in downtown Bristol.
•  On Dec. 26 were told by a Mountain Street resident that someone or something had created a hole in the wire fence surrounding her backyard. She wanted police to be made aware for insurance purposes.
•  On Dec. 27 returned to its owner a credit card found at Shaw’s.
•  On Dec. 28 took a report from a Bristol resident of a lost drone. The drone was found at a Church Street residence on Dec. 29 and returned to the owner.
•  On Dec. 29 at midnight began clearing non-permitted vehicles from the back of the town park and checked all other district streets for vehicles parked on the streets or sidewalks. Three vehicles were ticketed and towed from the back of the park for not having proper permits.
•  On Dec. 29 served a no-trespass notice on a former landlord at the request of a district resident.
•  On Dec. 30 at five minutes past midnight checked district streets for violations of the winter parking ban, as it was snowing; police issued four tickets and had one vehicle towed.
•  On Dec. 30 received a request from a police district business owner that a no-trespass notice be issued to a former employee.
•  On Dec. 31 at 11:03 a.m. received a complaint of suspicious activity on South Street near the intersection of Main Street; it was suspected to be drug activity. Once police arrived, they identified two subjects and got consent to search a vehicle; police seized drug paraphernalia found in the search.
•  On Dec. 31 assisted state police with a traffic crash on East River Road in Lincoln.
•  On the evening of New Year’s Eve participated in a DUI checkpoint on Route 7 with Vergennes and state police, as well as sheriff’s department deputies.

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