Police Report for November 2022

Traffic Contacts 136
Parking Contacts 13
Vehicle Inspections 21
Vehicle Unlocks 30
Crash Investigations 22
Public Assists 371
Assist other Agency 65
Crimes Against Persons Report 14
Crimes Against Property Report 23
Other Reports 21
Arrests 25
Warrants 3
Alcohol/Narcotics Charges 14
Crimes Against Persons Charges 9
Crimes Against Property Charges 1
Other Charges 20
Animal Calls 23
Total Calls for Service 1462
*Total Calls for Service for the year 20222

Training:

• Members attended monthly Canine, Bomb Squad, Tactical Team, and Dive team (64 hours)
• We completed our bi-annual firearms training at the Cedar Rapids shooting range for regular and night qualifications. (150 hours)
• An investigator attended an online course on investigative strategies for child abduction cases. (8 hours)
• Chief Venenga attended a weeklong Executive Leadership Development Course receiving the trilogy award for FBI-LEEDA. (36 hours)
• Our two tactical team members attended the annual International Technical Officers Association conference with the Johnson County SERT team in Illinois. (32 hours)
• One officer attended the city-wide sponsored training on Opioid Crisis, Naloxone, Stigma Reduction. (1 hour)
• A supervisor attended a 4-hour online course for managing investigative unit presented by Training Force USA. (4 hours)
• Four officers attended an online film screening and discussion for law enforcement for “Walking while Black: L.O.V.E. is the Answer” facilitated and directed by A.J. Ali (10 hours). Thanks to the Mayor and former Mayor for the invite.

Public Relations:

• Officers continue to work several university and high school sporting events at their request. We are reimbursed by the schools for the overtime.
• We held a public open house/PR event to introduce our new Mental Health Liaison, Kieonna Pope to the public. Thank you to communications for setting that up. She has been assigned and followed-up on 6 separate requests for North Liberty.
• We were invited to Grace Community Church for a safety and security conference. Officer Sammons attended the Saturday event, and we appreciate them inviting us.
• Officer Bryan Davis attended the lighthouse round table discussion with the library on police and community relations.
• We were invited to the Children’s Autism Project of Balance Autism for the first responder’s night. This was for Pre-K and elementary aged school children.
• Officers delivered Thanksgiving meals to several families in North Liberty. This is our second year for the program that was started by Officer Madole. 30 meals were donated by the police department. We worked with Z’s catering of North Liberty.  The funds were donated to the police department over the year.
• Several local school safety assessments were completed with the help of Johnson County EMA. These assessments were conducted to satisfy a State Grant to receive funds to enhance safety measures.
• Applications were sent out to schools and the Pantry for our annual Holiday giving tree.
• Officers joined area first responders for the Holiday Lights at the Lake. We volunteered to direct traffic, take donations and hand out candy canes.
• Planning is underway for a couple community events. The first is the Community Police Academy that will be held in January and will last 10 weeks. The second is next summer’s Safety Village.
• We hosted 70 elementary kids for PD tours from Penn Elementary.
• We completed 3 child safety seat inspections.

Equipment:

• All in-car radar units were calibrated for the annual inspection and certification.
• Our bomb team commander took a trip to Arkansas to gather supplies for the bomb team that could not be shipped. The equipment costs are split between the entities, with additional expenses being paid by the Johnson County EMA.
• Johnson Controls came to the PD to try to fix some of the heating and cooling issues we continue to have. To reduce our heating and cooling costs at the PD, we have been working with them to put the building on a schedule for when we are open and operating and when we are closed.
• We purchased a computer and desk for the cybercrimes investigator and have been planning for his training next year. The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) will provide funding for his training and certification. He also has a conference scheduled for his in-person certification in Orlando, Florida which will take place in April. ICAC will pay for this training, meals, lodging, and transportation through the State.
• Received Narcan through the State of Iowa grant process to upgrade all Narcan that the officers carry.

Enforcement/Crime:

• We sent out a public release for the Tobacco Compliance Checks that we will be conducting in the upcoming months.
• Investigators are following-up on leads for the break-in at Harold’s Jewelry store.
• We saw an increase in domestic abuse, as well as violations of no contact orders, this month. We generally see that more towards the end of the year.

Department Admin:

• We are continuing the hiring process for the non-certified individuals and held the physical fitness testing for one of the applicants. We have one certified individual that we will start our process on.
• Promotional announcements were made for changes that will take place in January. In a new position for the department, Rueben Ross will be promoted to Administrative Lieutenant and will oversee the administration division. Casey Wood will be promoted to the rank of Sergeant and will be assigned to overnight patrol.
• The union requires that patrol positions be changed or selected in December for January. Our new drug task force member will be Rick Vazquez, the new General Investigations will be Ryan Rockafellow, and our new (and first) Cybercrimes Investigator will be Bruce Sexton.  We also held interviews for a new tactical team member since Casey Wood has been promoted.
• This month we worked on the budget for FY2024.
• Chief attended several meetings for the local police chiefs’ meetings, ILEA council meeting, ILEA Rules committee meeting, ILEA meeting with the Governor’s representative, and Guidelink advisory board meeting.