Police report for April 2016

Traffic Contacts: 212
Parking Contacts: 20
Vehicle Inspections: 29
Vehicle Unlocks: 24
Crash Investigations: 24
Public Assists: 92
Assist Other Agency: 86
Crimes Against Persons Report: 7
Crimes Against Property Report: 13
Other Reports: 24
Arrests: 21
Warrants: 1
Alcohol/Narcotics Charges: 11
Crimes Against Persons Charges: 4
Crimes Against Property Charges: 4
Other Charges: 10
Animal Calls: 45
Total Calls for Service for April: 1,439
*Total Calls for Service for the year: 5,845
Training:

• Bruce Sexton graduated from the ILEA police academy April 15^th. He has now started the Field Training Program.
• Spence Madole started the ILEA police academy. This will be for 16 weeks.
• Mandatory Firearms and Defensive Tactics training was completed with all officers. (19 X 12 hours = 228 hours)
• North Liberty hosted Glock Armorer training. Three completed the training to recertify as a handgun armorer. (24 hours)
• Active Shooter preparedness was hosted by Homeland Security in Cedar Rapids. Two officers attended this free training to assist with civilian responses to threats. (16 hours)
• Chief attended the state All Participants Conference in Des Moines for the use of state databases, searches and missing persons. This was a free training. (8 hours)
• Chief and Alisha attended a presentation by Gordon Graham on Customer Service, Decision Making, and Risk Management in Des Moines at the APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Officials) in Des Moines (16 hours)
• A supervisor attended the Blue Courage training. This was a 4-day instructor course in Kansas City. He will be teaching a brief introduction what he learned at our next department meeting. He said this was fantastic training and encompasses all areas of policing.  (32 hours).
• The Annual Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC), FEMA functional exercise at Johnson County Fairgrounds was completed with a NLPD representative. The officer assisted in simulated radiation decontamination. (3 hours)
• Bomb squad training was completed this month (8 hours)
• Dive training was attended and the team dove at Turkey Creek along the quarry (8 hours)
• Travis Clubb, who conducts Child Safety Seat inspections, completed his recertification training (8 hours)
• All officers completed Lesson 2 on Fair and Impartial Policing with online Police Legal Sciences (18 X1 hour = (18 hours).

Public Relations:

• The investigator attended the Start By Believing open house at the RVAP (Rape Victim Advocacy Program) to focus on the public response to sexual assault.
• Officers attended and helped children fly kites at the annual Kites for Kids festival at NCJH.
• Citizen police academy graduation was held and several residents from NL completed the 12 week course.
• The Chief was on a panel discussion about law enforcement for three Criminal Justice classes at Kirkwood Community College. Her main focus was women in law enforcement, certification questions, hiring, discipline, media relations, and administrative questions.
• Allowed a graduate student to photograph the evidence room specifically for the storage and packaging of sexual assault kits. This is for an awareness campaign and her graduate studies. Survivor’s personal information was never compromised.
• Active Shooter or violent encounter training was presented at Centro for their administrators.
• ALICE- Active Shooter training was presented at the Community Center and drills were completed with staff.
• The department agreed to complete a stress related survey for a student at the University looking at job related stress and stress management techniques. Employees voluntarily completed the survey and we will get results and recommendations back from the student.
• North Liberty Living Center provided May baskets to all officers and first responders as a Thank You. This was thoughtful and very much appreciated.
• 4 Child safety seat inspections were completed for the month. Each of these checks takes about an hour for each car and car seat.
• Officers were invited to a spaghetti supper fundraiser to support a softball team going to the World Series at the Community Center. Two officers represented NLPD.
• Two officers assisted on Interstate 380 for the Crime Stoppers Cleanup from the 2 to 4 mile marker.
• The department participated in the National Drug Take Back program on April 30^th. An estimated 40 pounds of drugs were collected.

Equipment:

• The department is currently testing new body-worn cameras to replace the old ones.
• We are comparing costs for a small enclosed trailer that will be used to store range and Defensive Tactics (DT) equipment. This will house target stands, targets, ammo, and a cart with wheels. This equipment is needed during the 4 times for firearms training and annual DT training at the CR range. When not at the range, we will keep some of the equipment in the trailer instead of the basement allowing for more storage. The bed of a pick up is not enough space.
• Eye wash adapters were ordered and placed in all patrol cars. This can be used to flush debris out of the eye with any water bottle.

Enforcement:

• Officers spent time on numerous speeding complaints in the construction zones of Penn Street and Dubuque Street. The speed trailer and patrol cars were also parked in these areas to help drivers slow down.
• Officers followed up on two runaways this month. One left the state. Both were returned home safely.

Department Admin:

• Eric Kapfer accepted a conditional job offer to be the next hire for NLPD. He will start June 13^th and will attend the Cedar Rapids Regional Police Academy July 11th.  He was a college intern for the department in 2015.
• A Solon High School Senior was accepted as an intern until she graduates in May. She will complete 60 hours.
• Union mediations were conducted and an agreement was met.
• Several staff members assisted the chief with writing, researching, and reviewing a Federal Grant to get 50% funding for body-worn cameras in the amount of $14,910. This would purchase a new system since we are experiencing multiple failures with our current vendors. This took an extensive amount of time and research into manufactures, letters of support from the Union, City Attorney and County Attorney and drafting the multiple page documents and Appendixes.
• Worked with the County Attorney for the annual drug disposal. This is for the paraphernalia and drugs that were seized by the department and can be disposed of once the court cases are handled and an order is signed by a judge. This spring cleaning helps with space in the evidence room.
• 5 College students were interviewed for the summer intern position. One will be selected after the background and drug screen. These internships are usually around 80-100 hours for college credit.  We pay minimum wage for this position because they also handle administrative tasks that are normally handled by other staff members.