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Does the Police
Department do fingerprinting and when can I have my fingerprints done?
Yes we do
fingerprinting for job applicants; you can stop in to the Police Department
or call and schedule an appointment, we recommend that you call first to see
if an officer is in at the police station. There is no charge for Hancock
residents.
Why did it take so long for the police to come when I called them?
All requests for police services are assigned a priority based upon the
seriousness of the call and the potential for injury or damage to property.
At times, calls of less urgent nature must be delayed so that we can respond
immediately to emergencies. We also operate as an on call agency, and
sometimes an officer is not on duty and has to be called out to respond.
Why do they ask so many questions when I call the police?
Receiving dispatchers are trained to try and get as much information as
possible to best determine the nature of the problem and its seriousness. On
emergency calls, the dispatcher is already giving the information to the
officer while asking additional questions.
Can the police open my car if I have locked my keys inside?
The Hancock Police Department can assist with lockouts. There is no fee
for this service, however, a waiver and release of liability is required in
the event that damage does occur.
We have purchased special tools for unlocking cars and we now have
greater success with all types of vehicles.
Some one has abandoned a junk car on my property. Can the police tow it
away for me?
A property owner wanting to remove an abandoned vehicle left on the
premises may contact the Police Department for assistance. The police will
attempt to contact the owner, or determine if the vehicle is reported as
stolen. If the vehicle is abandoned, then with the property owner's
permission, the police can contact a local wrecker service to remove it from
the property. The towing charges will be held as a lien against the vehicle
to pay for the towing charges, and the last known owner may be subject to
being arrested and charged with a violation of New Hampshire Law.
How can I find out if someone is in Jail?
The Hancock Police Department does not have the facilities to hold some
one, if they are being held they may be sent to the Hillsborough County
Valley St Jail in Manchester
you can call them at 627-5616.
How do I get a copy of a police report?
You should submit a request in writing. You can mail in the request, fax
it or stop by the Police Department we recommend that you call first to see
if some one is in at the police station. There may be a processing fee
charged for the report.
Where do I pay my parking ticket or citation?
You can pay a Hancock Police Department parking ticket by mailing in the money to the
Police Department or stopping in during normal office hours.
Traffic citations are processed through the Jaffrey Peterborough District
Court located at 84 Peterborough
Street in Jaffrey, if you have any questions or
to request a hearing date, you can call them at 532-8698.
For a citation that
does not request that you appear in court, you can pay with Visa or
MasterCard by calling 1-800-272-0036, or you may appear in person at the
Department of Safety at 23 Hazen Drive in Concord between 8:15 AM and 4:15 PM
Monday through Friday or if you lost the Green envelope, you can mail it to:
Financial Responsibility Section – PBM, NH Department of Safety PO BOX
3838, Concord, NH 03302-3838.
Can I make a police report at any time of the day and do I need an
appointment?
The Police Department will respond 7 days a week 24 hours a day for
request for police service. Please remember that sometimes we are an on call
agency and items of a routine business matter should be dealt with during normal
business hours.
Should I report suspicious activity in my neighborhood?
The Police Department depends on citizens calling to report crimes or
suspicious activity. The dispatcher who takes your call will ask questions
about the activity to determine its nature and ask for descriptions of the
people involved you may be asked if an officer may contact you but you may
refuse. IF IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS PLEASE REPORT
IT. We would
rather check out five harmless situations then miss one crime that is about
to happen.
How do I find out information about a registered sex
offender?
The
State Police maintains a public list of registered sex offenders which
includes photographs of the offenders, physical descriptions, addresses and
offenses.
To access the state's
list of registered sex offenders, we have provided a link to the State Police
home page: www.state.nh.us/safety/nhsp
On the left side of the
home page, select Offenders Against Children where you can either fill in
someone's name or click Submit at the bottom of the screen to view all New
Hampshire towns alphabetically. The names of sex offenders are listed to the right
of the town names. Click on a name for information about that offender.
My friend or relative is overdue from returning home. How can I find out
if they were in a traffic accident?
The dispatchers do not have the names of people involved in accidents
available. If a person is injured in an accident and unable to call we will notify
their families.
How come the Police Department has to print the local police log in the
newspaper, and can't they limit what goes in there?
We strive to comply with the state and federals laws, and endeavor to
strike a balance between the public's "right to know", and a
citizen's right to privacy.
As far as what is reported by the press, the NH law known as the
"Right-to-Know" law mandates what can and cannot be printed, we
have no control over this. We are required to disclose all matters handled by
the department, and with very limited exceptions, these matters become a
matter of public record, open to any citizen or member of the press for
review at anytime.
Can I plow or blow my snow out into the road?
Town ordinances restrict such activity. Several motor vehicle accidents
have resulted from people doing this.
Can I call the Police Department to find out what the road conditions are?
Usually during a large snow or ice storm the dispatchers and us are very
busy dealing with accidents or storm related matters, we strongly discourage
any unnecessary driving during bad weather conditions.
Can I park my car on the side of the road in the wintertime overnight?
Per the Town of Hancock Parking Ordinance,
no person shall park on any street in the Town of Hancock, NH between 11:00 p.m. and
6:00 a.m. from November 1, 2003 until April 1, 2004. A full copy of the ordinance
is available at the Hancock Town Office.
I received a bad check, what can I do?
The Hancock Police Department has no limit on the amount of a bad check
that we will investigate. If you have received a bad check then we ask that
you send a certified demand letter (we have a copy of one here at the Police
Department) via US
mail with a return receipt demanding payment and then after 30 days after the
letter is mailed, contact the Police Department. When we begin
prosecution we will continue until the person is taken to court and the case
is adjudicated, however, we do not act as a collection agency.
I have been involved in a motor vehicle accident what should I do?
NH law RSA 264:25 states: that the driver of a vehicle who knows or
should have known that he or she has just been in a motor vehicle accident
which resulted in death, personal injuries or damages to properties, shall immediately
stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident and give to the driver or
owner of any other involved vehicle or person injured or the owner of the
property, the drivers name and address, license number, and the registration
number of the vehicle, and the name of and address of each occupant, unless
some one has left the scene due to injury, then the information shall be
given to the police officer arriving on the scene or at the nearest police
station.
You are also required to file a written report within 15 days (the Police
Department has copies of the operators reports), if there was any person
injured or killed or property damage is in excess of a total of $1,000.00
i.e.: $500.00 to one vehicle and $500.00 to the other vehicle for a total of
1,000.00, unless the accident is investigated by a police officer then the
police officer will complete the report.
I have found a stray dog will the Police Department come pick it up?
The Hancock police officers also act as animal control officers, it is
unlawful for any dog to run at large unless it is under the control of the
owner, it is also unlawful for a dog to be a nuisance, menace or vicious.
Any owner or keeper of a dog found in violation of the ordinance shall be
responsible for that animals conduct and they shall be responsible for any
and all incurred expenses, which shall include civil forfeitures, fines,
court fees, impoundment fees, veterinary expenses, medical expenses, town
clerk fees and police expenses.
Any dog impounded or unclaimed by an owner or keeper may be disposed of in
accordance with the law.
A complete copy of the Dog Control Ordinance is available at the town office.
I feel I need a domestic restraining order (Protective Order), how can I obtain one?
If you are a
victim of domestic violence and you believe that law enforcement protection
is needed for your safety. You have a right to request that the Police
Department assist you in providing for your safety, including asking for an
Emergency Order of Protection you may also request that they assist you in finding a
safe place.
You may also petition
the District or Superior Court for an Order of Protection against the abusive person. The
court will issue these Protective Orders after you have provided sufficient information
under oath. You should have specific dates and times of the abuse.
If either of the District court or Superior courts is not open the Police
Department will provide you with an Emergency Order of Protection
You can also obtain assistance by contacting the Woman's Crisis Services of
the Monadnock Region, 12 Court Street, Keene, NH 352-3782 / 924-6905.
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