NORWICH – After a routine visit and inspection conducted by the New York State Commission of Corrections, the Norwich City Police Department is being instructed to hire a matron police employee to process female prisoners who are held in the NPD lock-up while waiting for arraignment.

An inspection from the Commission of Corrections is a regular occurrence and the absence of a matron officer at the facility has been overlooked for years, according to Police Chief Joseph Angelino. However, an increase in the number of female arrests in the city in recent years – which Angelino attributes to an increase in domestic violence – has led to concern from the commission regarding the department’s lack of a matron officer at the facility.

The commission is requesting that NPD address the issue and submit a plan to rectify it by May 18.

Recommendations have been made by NPD that the city’s Common Council create and approve the new position, which will then be forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for approval.