Woodstock Early Bird has learned that the Woodstock Police Department has added a new weapon to their law enforcement tool box: Assault “Patrol” Rifles, or AR-15’s, will now be carried locked up in some WPD cruiser trunks.
Police Chief Robbie Blish briefly acknowledged the added weapons to Woodstock Village Trustees last night describing a recent situation in Hanover in which Hanover PD might have been assisted by having these weapons on hand.
Later, Blish was asked to provide an explanation, in his own words, the reasoning for having these semi-automatic weapons at the disposal of Woodstock patrolmen and patrolwomen:
“The unfortunate reality is that VT is not immune to more violent crime and dealing with a more violent criminal. If an officer were to be confronted with an assault weapon or other type of rifle for that matter, they should have the capability to respond in kind. It’s hoped that we won’t ever need to use them, but I believe it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. They are really an added level of protection for not only the officer but the community.”
Blish also announced to Village Trustees that WPD will be taking part in a new inter-agency program to assist timely coordination in Windsor County of adult and child sexual assault cases. According to Blish, the program is being coordinated, in part, by the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office and The Child Advocacy Center at The Family Place. Here is a description provided by our Police Chief:
“The goal is to foster a cooperative approach by personnel from various disciplines who are responsible for recognizing, reporting and responding to allegations of child sexual abuse and/or assault(s). As part of this response, guidelines have been developed to ensure victim and family services/referrals are made and that effective investigations are being conducted to support the prosecution’s pursuit of successful outcomes in proceedings concerning the alleged perpetrators who may initiate the abuse and/or assault(s).
Furthermore, The agencies and individuals involved strive to foster collaboration, minimize the number of times that children are interviewed, and to provide swift, sensitive multi-disciplinary intervention and services to child victims and their families. This initiative is based on the philosophy that no attempt to prevent and treat sexual abuse is likely to be successful unless it involves a cooperative effort on the part of all involved agencies and individuals.”
Woodstock Early Bird will have more on the reasons for and mechanics of this program in a future post.
Woodstock Early Bird 