Towns to benefit from regional safety grant
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

An additional $30,000 will be targeted to the Fitchburg Regional Internet Crime Analysis Project, which will allow Westminster and Ashburnham to share more detailed information with surrounding communities.

The crime analysis system is used to link the information obtained by neighboring police departments. Through a federal grant received in 2005, Fitchburg was able to link its data with Leominster and Gardner. Now it will link in information from Westminster, Ashburnham, Winchendon, Lunenburg and Shirley.

"The goal is to get North Worcester County all on it together," said Fitchburg Mayor Dan Mylott.

The police departments involved will send in their information, to be analyzed and reformatted by the crime data analyst at the Fitchburg Police Department.

This information can be sorted by any type of crime, location, date or time, and put into maps or charts, said Fitchburg Acting Chief and Westminster resident Philip Kearns.

"By advancing this initiative, it gives the chiefs a better chance to track ones that harm our loved ones," said state Sen. Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster) during a press conference last month in Fitchburg to present the additional funds.

Antonioni said the number one thing he hears from constituents is the importance of feeling safe.

During the budget discussions for Fiscal Year 2008 state budget, Antonioni and state Rep. Stephen DiNatale (D-Fitchburg) were successful in garnering the $30,000 for the project from the budget.

DiNatale said during his foray with the budget it was important to him to seek out this money.

"It shows our commitment to addressing the challenges facing crime in the city," said DiNatale, during the press conference.

As of last week, Ashburnham Police Chief Loring Barrett Jr. said he had not heard about the grant money, but said it could only be a positive thing for the town.

"It represents a paradigm shift for us," said Planning Coordinator David Streb, as the city moves away from old ways and embraces new technology.

Streb said he has been doing geographic information tracking for Fitchburg since 1990, and he is happy other communities will get the benefit of this now.