Police department report for February 2015

Traffic Contacts: 198
Parking Contacts: 137
Vehicle Inspections: 30
Vehicle Unlocks: 19
Crash Investigations: 29
Public Assists: 139
Assist Other Agency: 66
Crimes Against Persons Report: 8
Crimes Against Property Report: 8
Other Reports: 25
Arrests: 25
Warrants: 5
Alcohol/Narcotics Charges: 16
Crimes Against Persons Charges: 1
Crimes Against Property Charges: 1
Other Charges: 8
Animal Calls: 32
Total Calls for Service: 1138
Total Calls for Service for the year: 2403
Training:

• Officer attended Ice Diving Training with the Johnson County Dive Team. ( 8 hours)
• The drug task force officer attended three days of training on the proper procedures and packaging to utilize the meth lab container program (24 hours)
• The Department 2 hour training was held this month and covered the following topics: Introducing the Mayor, public records, Taser training, and on-line crash investigations/reporting procedures.
• Online 2 hour training from Public Agency Training Council (PATC) was completed on best practices for Background Investigations (2 Officers- 4 hours)

Public Relations:

• Back in October, a “Lunch with an Officer” certificate was auctioned off at North Bend Elementary as a fundraiser. The winning bidder claimed their prize and Officer Tygart had lunch with a kindergartener in the school cafeteria.
• Officer Seymour taught at the Citizen Police academy. He instructed on OWI, drugged impaired drivers and traffic enforcement.
• Several phone calls and emails were received about an alleged animal abuse from social media sites. The correct information was shared with the public, as well as legal practices and the Iowa Code.
• A community forum was held at The First United Methodist Church about North Liberty and Cultural Diversity. Questions asked were how North Liberty can be a more inclusive community.   It was a way for leaders and community members to brainstorm about the future growth of North Liberty.
• Five officers attended a Pancake Breakfast fundraising event for a 5 year old boy with a brain tumor. The five uniformed officers made a huge impression on the boy, as well as friends and family. The officers volunteered their time to attend this function.
• An officer provided a safety presentation to two local Boy Scout troops.

Equipment:

• The investigator received a new computer that has the ability to burn blue ray discs. This is a need for investigations involving cell phone or other recording devices.  The data can be downloaded to a disc and the victim can have their cell phone back immediately.
• Several downloading issues became apparent with the patrol car cameras and for the body worn cameras. Updates were added to a software program that was incompatible with the devices.  After several hours of troubleshooting and contact with the software vendor and manufacturer, the problems were corrected.  All recording devices are functional.

Enforcement:

• Alcohol compliance checks were conducted this month on 20 liquor license holders. Letters were mailed to these establishments prior to the check. Minors were selected and agreed to participate in the compliance checks.  Sixteen liquor license holders passed the check and four did not. Employees at the 4 non-compliant establishments received citations for serving alcohol to a person under 21. We conduct these checks twice a year.
• Several snow emergency citations were issued again during the heavy snowfall.
• This department is assisting the Community Center on several disorderly youth issues in the evening. The individuals involved in the altercations were referred to juvenile court services for the diversion program. As another deterrent officers are spending more time at the community center.

Department Admin:

• Ben Campbell and Ricardo Vazquez were hired and will be starting the Hawkeye Police academy in Waterloo in March. Both officers are candidates for the 9 week academy based on their college degrees. The officers were sworn in by the Mayor and received their uniforms and equipment.  They also completed policy review, office training, and firearms training. They are now riding with officers on patrol until the academy.
• The meth lab container program is up and running. If a lab is found, the contaminated material can be transported and stored in the container for disposal.  This will save North Liberty money on overtime waiting for the disposal crew to arrive from out of state, and the actual cleanup/disposal cost.
• The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau grant was applied for. This grant provides overtime money and equipment like a PBT or in car camera for traffic and OWI enforcement.
• Research was conducted on a dry suit for our member on the dive team. The spare suit provided is too small for our officer, and borrowing another divers’ suit seemed impractical during emergent dives. Looking at making this purchase out of drug forfeiture seizure money.
• Review and update critical policies for the department. Officers received the update at department training and will be provided a CD with all department policies for their own use.