Police Department Report, August 2013

Traffic Contacts – 206
Crash investigations – 20
Case Reports – 74
Public Assist – 306
Supplemental reports – 314
Fire Assists – 40
Law Enforcement Assist – 33
Business Checks -35
Parking contacts – 27
Car unlocks – 40
Arrest – 37
Charges – 32
Warrants served – 2
OWI’s filed- 6
.02 alcohol violations – 0
Vehicle inspections – 28
Animal Calls -40 time spent 10 hours
Total Calls for service for month by daily logs = 1411
HIGHLIGHTS
Training
Two officers attended the two week firearms instructor certification class at ILEA. Both officers passed and will assist the lead instructor with development of our department’s firearms training curriculum.
One officer attended the Standardize Field Sobriety Testing (SFSTs) instructor course in Altoona, Iowa. This officer will be able to instruct other officers from North Liberty or other jurisdictions in Iowa on impaired driving.
Two officers attended the training at JECC for Homemade Explosive Devices sponsored by the Johnson County Emergency Management Office.
A supervisor completed an online college accredited course on supervisor liability and management from the FBI-LEEDA (FBI- Law Enforcement Executive Development Association). He completed each module weekly and provided feedback to the other supervisors about this course.
Public Relations
Six officers assisted the Iowa City School District with mock active shooter drills at teacher in-service days for Van Allen, Garner, Penn Elementary and North Central Junior High. These drills lasted around 2 hours at each location. This was a great collaboration effort from our areas schools and the police department. Every participant learned something from this training and about their facility.
Two officers assisted with the Youth triathlon on August 4th with traffic control. Officer Juan Santiago volunteered his time and provided his DJ service for the youth triathlon. He also handed out safety information and stickers for kids and parents.
On August 24th, two on duty officers assisted with traffic for the Iowa Donor networks 5 K run.
On August 24th, local churches hosted Community Meals at Hope Community Church. On duty officers stopped in for a meal and to meet with community members.
On August 31st, two on duty officers assisted with We Run Glow Run on the Dubuque Street trail.
Equipment
We are looking at replacing or ordering yellow Tasers for new officers for the department. We also can slowly trade out the black Tasers as we replace them. The reason for this change, if an officer or someone from the public observes an officers with the yellow Taser, prior to verbalization, they will know that it is not a firearm.
We are looking at having all department owned handguns and upgrading our Glock firearms. This should be streamlined with our fall firearms qualification if we can get the timing right. All officers would have the same model. This improvement is for the consistency of the equipment/firearm, the department not repairing officer owned firearms, and the Glock manufacturer offering a great buy back price for older weapons the department owns. For the officers that own their own handgun, the department would require the new primary weapon be carried on duty.
The department also had vender software updates for our police accident reporting system (TRaCS) and the police reporting system (SMART/ TacX) this month.
Enforcement
The department dealt with multiple animal type calls this month and the numbers show an increase again from the previous month.
A meth lab was located at 40 Sugar Creek Lane. The subjects were arrested and the building was evacuated during the search warrant and disposal.
Several vehicle burglaries were reported in the early morning hours of August 21st and the 22nd. Most vehicles were entered from unlocked doors, and items taken were cash, electronic devices, medication and purses.
School started so enforcement in the school zones helped to remind drivers that school is in session and for drivers to slow down and use caution in the school zones.
Department Administration
Resumes were due by August 15th for the new officer selection process. Thirty-one (31) applicants submitted resumes with five (5) currently certified officers included. The department will host a written and physical testing on September 7th at the Rec Center.
An EPA reimbursement application was submitted for a clandestine lab at 9 Golfview from a motor vehicle for the cleanup, disposal and transport of hazardous waste material on May 25th, 2013. The cost of this cleanup was $3900 from a private company. Hopefully the EPA will grant the reimbursement and will find out in 6-8 weeks.
We are currently looking at having an officer join the Johnson County Dive Team and the cost associated. This is a joint effort between police, fire and private citizens. The benefit would be for the use if ever needed in North Liberty and the assistance that the department could provide our neighboring communities. The department would be responsible for the initial certification and wage, and the dive team would pick up the equipment and additional yearly training.