The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutItem 05.dSteven C. Mielke, City Administrator City of Lakeville This year has been one of continuing success in the delivery of public safety services for the Lakeville Police Department, built upon our tradition of working hard to provide the highest level of public safety services to our citizens. Our proven three -point formula of creating strong educational and crime prevention partnerships in the community, coupled with providing proactive law enforcement services and effective criminal investigations of crimes has helped to make Lakeville a safe community to live, work, and visit for all citizens. One example of this year's success is the 3 percent reduction in Part I crimes (the most serious crime categories) and the 4 percent reduction in Part II crimes in the past year in Lakeville. This reduction of the occurrence of crime in our community has continued to reduce the risk of crime for all residents and businesses in our community. As acknowledgment of the low crime rate, the City of Lakeville has been recognized for the first time in our history as one of the Top 100 Safest Cities in the United States by the Neighborhood Scout organization. Innovatively creating effective partnerships with other organizations and within the community that we serve has been found to have a "force multiplier" impact on our ability to fight crime. In a unique Law Enforcement/ Community Corrections partnership started this year we provided visiting office space to Dakota County Community Corrections and assigned patrol officers to liaison directly with the probation officers. In addition, we improved the efficiency of all our crime prevention and community outreach programs by streamlining them into one position. The high quality and professionalism of our personnel is well recognized within the Law Enforcement community. Lakeville North School Resource Officer Andy Hentges was awarded School Resource Officer of the Year by Minnesota MADD in 2012. In addition, this year Sergeant Andy Bohlen moved on to be named Police Chief of the Faribault Police Department. The dedication and professionalism of the men and women that make up the officers and staff of the Lakeville Police Department has been fundamental to our success in maintaining this community as one of the safest cities in the state of Minnesota. Their hard work, innovation in problem solving, and compassion for the citizens that we serve are the reason that we achieve success in providing outstanding public safety services, year after year. Thomas E. Vonhof Chief of Police 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 1 April 2013 On behalf of all the citizens of Lakeville and the City Council, I am pleased to receive the 2012 edition of the Lakeville Police Department Annual Report. We commend and thank the men and women of the Lakeville Police Department for their outstanding achievements in the past year in providing the highest level of public safety services to all our citizens and the businesses in our community. A key highlight of the 2012 Annual Report is that the City of Lakeville was designated as one of the top 100 Safest Cities in the United States by the Neighborhood Scout Organization. This recognition is the result of the hard work and dedication of our police officers, our professional staff, and the vigilance of our community members. The 2012 Annual Report also highlights significant progress we have made in crime reduction and improvements to our Police Department capabilities. The occurrence of serious crimes continued to decline. The Police Department established a special Traffic Safety Unit and Street Crimes Unit to respond proactively to citizen concerns. And, the establishment of a high technology computer forensics lab has resulted in greater efficiency and effectiveness in the investigation of cyber- crimes. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the men and women of the Lakeville Police Department. The City Council and the community understand that it is your professionalism and dedication to serving every day of the year that makes our city a safe place to live, work, and play. Sincerely, Matt Little Mayor 2 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Chief Thomas Vonhof's Letter 1 Mayor Matt Little's Letter 2 Table of Contents 3 Mission Statement 4 Organizational Chart 5 2012 Department Members 6 2012 Personnel Changes 9 2012 Statistical Data 10 Department Awards 16 Reserve Officer Unit 18 Police Chaplaincy 20 Crime Prevention 21 Night to Unite 22 Police Week Open House 23 Lakeville Police K -9 Unit 24 Computer Forensics Unit 27 Traffic Enforcement Unit 28 New Police Vehicles 29 Street Crimes Unit 30 Police & Dakota County Community Corrections Liaison Program 31 Dakota County Multi - Agency Assistance Group (MAAG) 32 Dakota County Drug Task Force Partnership 33 Community Events 36 2012 Notable Cases 38 Storm Response 40 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 3 Maintain A Healthy Balance Take Responsibility Mission (Why are we here ?) ims40 *la In partnership with the community, we are dedicated to reducing crime, problem solving and ensuring the quality of life in Lakeville Values (How do we do business ?) Vision (Where are we headed ?) Work Hard Have Fun To be regarded by our community and our profession as the premier law enforcement agency in the state. 4 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Captahri of Operations John Arvidson Captain of Sapp° rt Services Kevin Manias P a t r o l rol erg.ea Patrol Officers (32) Police C hapla (11.1 1 1 111 Reserves (15) itcvorii% Nopervisor 11 I Chief of Police I homas Vonhof Police Adraioislrative Assistants t5) AdIministrathe Sergeant ( »rug fraNk Force Agent I School Remit rce Officers (2) Property E.vidence To.'bnician ( 1 Seasonal (SO ( CO Pill muniiy Service Officers (St In estiga lions Sergeant 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 5 Captain of Support Services Kevin Manias Administrative Sergeant John Kornmann Andy Bohlen Bill Gerl Steve Klehr Jason Polinski Chief of Police Thomas Vonhof Patrol Sergeants Jay Castonguay Chad Hagen Tim Knutson Jim Puncochar Captain of Operations John Arvidson Patrol Officers Josh Berkebile Rick Bussler Doyle Cockrell Tom Danielson Bob Doerfler Jim Dronen Shawn Fitzhenry Chris Gartzke Rick Hakanson Jai Hanson Jason Haider Troy Hokanson Thor Howe Ron Hvinden Greg Jensen Jason Jensen Mike Katzovitz Mike Lamm Anna Limbeck Chad Loeffler Adam MacDonald Shawn McMahon Kevin O'Neill Sarah Parr Michelle Roberts Jim Stevens Nic Stevens Tom Stewart Adam Stier Jessica Swaner Sandy Thoeny Brad Wubben 6 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Michelle Bearth Genny Davis Drug Task Force Agent Jeff Hansen Investigative Sergeant Mike Sheady Detectives Kelli Coughlin Russ Helmueller Brad Paulson Michelle Roberts David Watson School Resource Officers Andy Hentges Todd Williams Evidence Technician Lori Clemmer Records Supervisor Valerie Kehrer Administrative Assistants Rachael Bond Shelly Tangen Susan Condon 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 7 Derek Jahn Captain Jim Beckman Secretary Stacey Hansen Jason Matthews Cindy Ryan Deb Starkman Jason Aguirre Jacob Edwinson Derek Jahn Animal Control Barb Maxwell Community Service Officers Sarah Brockman Justin Engle Nicole Martin Seasonal Community Service Officers Mary Kathan Reserve Officers Sergeant Mike Dodson Bryan Bixby Kyle Pruter Jeremy Schultz Susan Tvedt Chaplaincy Program Mark Bellows Jeremy Kuyper Sergeant Heidi Krane Bill Considine Rod Rees Denis Schweitzer Jerry Wilson 8 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Each new year brings its share of challenges that need to be addressed as well as opportunities for officers to grow and develop within our agency. For 2012, the personnel and responsibility changes that occurred are: Anna Limbeck Anna Limbeck Michelle Bearth Mary Kathan Jeremy Kuyper Justin Engle Michelle Roberts Adam Stier Jeff Hanson Mayor Bellows administered the oath of office to Anna Limbeck. Her father, an Edina police officer, then pinned on her badge. Michelle Bearth New Patrol Officer NewAdministrative Assistant New Seasonal CSO New Seasonal CSO New Part -time CSO Investigative Rotator Traffic Car DCDTF Agent Justin Engle 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 9 1 0 Each month the Lakeville Police Department generates and reports statistical information to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for compilation and state statistics. This information is then submitted to the federal government for the compilation of the Uniform Crime Reporting statistics for the nation. The statistical information generated in Lakeville is collected and compared with neighboring and similar venues to identify trends, problems, and efficiency. This information aids the department in addressing the needs of the citizens as well as future planning and allocation. Below is a listing of some of the collected data. City of Lakeville Population Estimate 2007: 54,076 2008: 54,731 2009: 55,262 2010: 55,954 2011: 56,455 2012: 57,740 est. 60000 50000 Population In Lakeville 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011. 2012 ••Population In Lakeville Citizen Responsiveness 2008 2009 2010 2011 Medical Emergencies 1,110 1,116 1,26 1357 Animal Related Calls 2,047 1,813 1,770 1,565 Alarms 1,638 1,613 1,551 1,434 Suspicion 2,092 1,975 2,136 1,944 Phone Calls Received by Record. 11,189 10,009 9,632 8,316 Lobby Walk -Ins 4,360 3,917 4,113 3,370 Police CAD Incidents 42,510 40,964 38,720 35,763 2012 1,503 1,697 1,334 2,215 8,743 4,394 37,786 12000 10000 8000 6000 40OL' 2000 0 Medical E rnergencies . Animal Related Alarms Suspicion Calls Phone Calk Received by Records tubby walk - Ins ✓ 2000 • 0109 • 2010 • 2011 ✓ 2012 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 4500 4000 3500 2500 2 1500 1000 0 CAD Inc idents Per Month Jan Feb Mar Apr Mar Jun Jul Aug Sep O L Nov Dec ■2009 -2030 -+1011 .06•02012 CAD Incidents Per Month 2008 3903 3523 3941 3383 3458 3976 3990 3558 3278 3487 3534 3289 2009 3478 3280 3529 3377 3554 3603 4159 3448 3290 3052 3440 2755 2010 3358 3291 3425 3188 3579 3579 3791 3345 2775 3245 2791 2497 2011 2672 2416 2863 2789 3007 3435 3818 3256 3017 3025 3007 2160 2012 1779 3444 3634 3310 3 747 3621 4468 3416 3081 3055 2707 2631 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 11 12 Park 1 Crimes Arson 3 4 $iy 121 169 Rape 9 5 Robbery 7 7 Aggrava Assault 18 8 Theitarceny 892 755 Auto Theft 15 17 Homicides 1 1 0 0 0 Part 1 Crimes Total 1066 966 848 803 778 661 643 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2011 - 2012 2012 Clearance Rate 6 0 3 300% 141 108 123 19% 5 1 <1 9 - 36% 6 3 1 -67% 0% 10 15 9 - °f= "A 66% 620 -46 36% 38% 19 20 13 -34% 0% -3a 33% 17% 66% NA Part 1 Crimes zau 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 2008 2009 2010 2011 Part 2 Crimes Assault Forgety/Counterfeiting ra Lid The:11- 0 the, r Weapons Other Sex Crimes 18 31 32 Damage to Property 328 311 275 120 13 184 110 80 91 Drugs Family/C hildren D1J1 Liquor All Other 0 tienses 106 Part 2 Crimes Total 1246 20 47 7 7 7 12 6 11 165 178 10 5 220 275 105 157 1272 1360 25 242 205 242 89 148 170 1254 1205 2012 2011 - 2012 % 109 98 112 95 10,7! 58 45 19 16 22 38% /0/ 40% 168 154 165 203 23% 5 7 31 267 10% 11% 169 -18% 94% 9 6 -33% 157 66 7% 90% -29% 24% 83% - 35% 99% - 26% 98% 15% -4% 2012 Clearance Rates 16% 100% 85% 57% 93% Part 2 Crimes 2006 2007 2008 2 0.09 2010 2011 2012 Part 2 Crime 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 13 14 Over All Crirn nal Case Clearance Rate (Part 1 & 2 Crimes) 2 2011 2012 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 2008 2 2010 2011 2012 Le Over All Criminal Calm Clearance Rate Part 1 & 2 Crimes) 4996 5036 5296 54% 5096 14 Over All Crirn nal Case Clearance Rate (Part 1 & 2 Crimes) 2 2011 2012 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report NICISI Frequent!) Issued Traffic tJtRUfl 2010 - - No Proof of Insurance or No Insurance 1535 1287 1127 Speed 1057 1198 1265 Driving After Cancellation. Revocation. or S uspeim ion - 1 7 6 483 497 Registration Violations 470 207 734 No Scathelt 234 252 234 Stop Sim Violation 131 147 130 Total 70.) 3574 3487 IWI Sup klus Activity(Person 213(1 Five Most Frequent Calls for Service Tiliel 2010 2012 1824 2201 Animal Complaints 1670 1460 1606 Alarms 1277 1656 1334 Medico's 1262 1254 1378 Theft 981 901 Total 7326 7095 7425 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 15 Detective Sgt. Andy Bohlen Detective Brad Paulson Officer Rick Bussler Officer Ron Hvinden Officer Adam Stier Chief's Award of Merit Officer Jeff Hanson Officer Michelle Roberts Reserve Captain Jim Beckman Randy Bachman Leah Mickschl Medal of Commendation Detective David Watson Written Commendations Detective Kelli Coughlin Sgt. Steve Klehr Officer Robert Doerfler Officer Mike Lamm Officer Sandy Thoeny Chief's Partnership Award Greg Boll Kathleen Schugel posewififtrinh .rte Pear dipherwirt Conk* sat am* ampe i 7 Detective Russ Helmueller Officer Josh Berkebile Officer Troy Hokanson Officer Kevin O'Neill 16 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report ACCOMPLISHMENTS BCA Law Enforcement Management Program Graduate Officer Troy Hokanson Detective Brad Paulson State Fire Inspector Certification Detective David Watson MADD Awards Officer Andy Hentges Outstanding School Officer of the Year Officer Adam Stier Outstanding Service /DWI All Star LPD Journal Host Award Officer Rick Bussler 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 17 Common duties include: Lakeville's Reserve Officers come from all walks of life... from young adults looking to get a foot in the door in law enforcement to parents with regular jobs to retired people looking to serve in their spare time. Police Reserve Officers have many reasons for volunteering their time. While some reserve officers are law enforcement students or future students intending to pursue a professional career as a peace officer, most reserve officers are community- minded adults with successful careers in another field (or are retired) who do not aspire to be full -time police officers. Many officers find their part -time career in reserve policing to be a welcome change from their professional careers and other involvements in the community, as well as an opportunity to develop leadership and management skills that carry over to their professional lives. One thing is certain — the officers of the Police Reserve Officer Unit represent the very finest of Lakeville's citizens. Police reserves work alongside professional peace officers as uniformed volunteers, providing essential support to the department. Each year members of this unit dedicate thousands of hours of their time to help keep Lakeville a safe and enjoyable place in which to live and work. • Patrolling highways, roads, parks, and schools • Assisting with low - priority calls for service, such as animal control, nuisance complaints, and prisoner transports, keeping licensed officers free for high - priority calls • Providing security and police presence at school and community events • Assisting stalled /stranded motorists • Assisting with crime prevention and other public safety programs • Handling found /seized property and impounded vehicles • Directing traffic No less significant is the ongoing role of the Reserve Officer Unit in the department's Community Oriented Policing (COP) philosophy. The value of "citizen police officers" as ambassadors of the department can be seen time and again as residents and visitors encounter the friendly faces of Lakeville's finest volunteers. 18 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Reserve Officer of the Year Heidi Krane Heidi Krane was selected to be honored as this year's Reserve Officer of the Year, based on her leadership and dedicated service to the Lakeville Police Reserve Unit. Heidi has served the City of Lakeville as a Police Reserve Officer since 2005 and over the years has put in well over 2,000 hours of volunteer time. Recently Heidi was promoted to the Rank of Reserve Captain, and in this capacity, is responsible for the administrative functions of the unit, which includes many additional hours of time scheduling and coordinating the various details and events that the reserve unit works throughout the year. Heidi's energy and dedication have been highly visible during the recruitment and training of our reserve recruits. Heidi has been on countless interview panels and sat through every session of the last two reserve academies. In addition to her leadership and her work with the new recruits, she has also managed to put in 235 hours of regular duty time during 2012. Heidi has demonstrated that she has the ability to oversee the reserve unit constructively while maintaining a positive example of service within the reserve membership. For her leadership and tireless dedication to the Lakeville Police Department Reserve Program, we honor her as our Reserve Officer of the Year for 2012. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 19 Progressive police departments recognize that an increasing number of calls for service are mental health related. They also are aware that the demanding profession of law enforcement requires that attention be given to officer wellness. Therefore, the Lakeville Police Department counts itself fortunate to be able to call on the professional services of Chaplain Mark Bellows. Bellows has served this department for 25 years in the traditional chaplain's role of assisting officers in death notifications and death scenes. But as a licensed therapist he brings an added dimension by providing emotional support and counseling to officers and their families. Another aspect to the services provided by Chaplain Bellows is that he acts as a liaison for the department to the community. SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and emergency personnel served as actors in the Mock Car Crash to bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse. 20 Chaplain Mark Bellows Sgt. Andy Bohlen, who was instrumental in developing Lakeville'sYellow Ribbon efforts, along with Chaplain Bellows and U.S. Rep. John Kline at an event that recognized several Dakota County cities as Yellow Ribbon entities. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Dedicated Community Outreach and Crime Prevention Officer new for 2012 It is the mission of the Lakeville Police Department... "In partnership with the community, we are dedicated to reducing crime, problem solving, and ensuring the quality of life in Lakeville..." In order to help achieve this mission, the department has always offered a range of services and activities to help educate citizens about community policing, crime prevention, intervention, and outreach programs. However, in the past, many of these programs have been run by different officers as time was available, depending on their shifts and requests from the community. This past year the Community Outreach and Crime Prevention Coordinator position was created as a proactive way to enhance how the police department provides the variety of services that inform, educate, and protect the residents of Lakeville. Officer Kevin O'Neill was selected to fill this role and organize all programs together out of one office with renewed efforts to solidify the relationships we have with the public. Officer O'Neill is a veteran officer within the police department and holds special certifications in crime prevention, community relations, and crime -free neighborhood programs. The goal is to ensure that together with the community, the police department can quickly and effectively address issues affecting our quality of life and uphold Lakeville's reputation as one of Americas safest cities. The Community Outreach and Crime Prevention Coordinator has the distinct responsibility of both community relations and crime prevention functions. These duties are accomplished by making personal contacts and connections with neighborhood residents, community groups, and businesses through programs and services such as: • • • Business and residential security surveys • Neighborhood Watch • Personal safety workshops • Business Watch • Workplace violence prevention • Child fingerprinting • Drug and alcohol awareness programs • Night to Unite / National Night Out • Bicycle safety presentations • Safety Camp • Station tours Attending various community and neighborhood association meetings Actively participating in community and school -based educational programs Engaging in public forums on safety Providing police- related information to citizens and media Initiating web -based and printed information for public awareness 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 21 Night to Unite Night to Unite is an effective and fun way to get to know your neighbors and prevent crime! Each summer, on the first Tuesday in August, neighborhoods throughout Lakeville are invited to participate in the annual Night to Unite crime and drug prevention event. Lakeville residents are asked to turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and City staff. This is a chance for neighbors to come together and strengthen their bonds aimed at increasing crime prevention awareness and building a strong community. During this time, many neighborhoods throughout Lakeville host a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, police visits, and youth activities. Members of the Lakeville Police Department and Lakeville Fire Department make an effort to appear at all registered block parties in the City. Night to Unite is designed to: • Get to know one another in your neighborhood • Build neighborhood involvement by bringing police and communities together • Bring awareness to crime prevention and local law enforcement efforts 22 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Ics5c1c1 are the f ca99rn for th y shall be fled biadricn of Qua. Every year in mid -May, we celebrate Police Week, which is set aside to honor those officers who have fallen in the line of duty around the nation. It also serves as a way for law enforcement to remind people of the value of the work that we do as police officers. To commemorate Police Week, the Lakeville Police Department teamed up with the Dakota County Sheriff's Department and the Minnesota State Patrol, and opened the doors to our police department for an open house. Along with station tours, we had several squad cars, the Crime Scene Unit, a Water Patrol boat, the State Patrol helicopter and even some horses from the Mounted Patrol around the outside of our facility for citizens to inspect. It was a fun day with many happy attendees who were full of appreciation for our efforts, both on that day as well as for the entire year. It is an honor to be a police officer in a community such as Lakeville, and it is events such as this that remind us that we truly have the support of our citizens. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 23 Officer Chad Loeffler and Tank The main mission of the police department's K -9 unit is to assist the patrol division. Because of the K -9's acute senses they are able to make the job of a patrol officer more efficient and safer on a daily basis. Lakeville currently has two K -9s that are certified as dual purpose. This means they are both certified for patrol work and also for narcotics detection. In order to maintain these certifications the handler and K -9 team spends hundreds of hours training on a yearly basis. This training and certification makes certain the team is ready when the need arises for their deployment. Due to the retirement of K -9 Shadow, K -9 Tank became a member of the Lakeville Police Department K -9 Team in October. All of Lakeville's previous K -9s have been German Shepherds, so K -9 Tank brings some change to the unit as a Belgian Malinois. K -9 Tank was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba by the Winnipeg Police Service K -9 Unit. The WPS K -9 Unit put many hours of quality training into Tank before he came to Lakeville. K -9 Tank and his handler, Officer Chad Loeffler, trained with Can /Am Tactical K -9 and the WPS K -9 Unit to achieve their basic certification. K -9 Tank also received a certification for tracking prior to beginning his duties on patrol, and has recently been certified in narcotics detection. K -9 Zeus makes up the other half of the Lakeville Police Department's K -9 unit. Zeus has been with the police department since 2010 and is handled by Officer Jason Jensen. They have been very successful as a team in the three years that they have been on patrol, and are also certified in both tracking and narcotics detection. K -9 Zeus and Officer Jensen continue to find ways to improve their abilities as a team and make the City of Lakeville a safer place to work and live. Officer Jason Jensen and Zeus 24 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 2012 K -9 Deployments 120 100 60 40 20 Calls For Service Narcotic Sniffs Searches/Tracks Demos AOA ▪ 2011 O 2011 Shadow Retires K -9 Shadow began with the police department in May 2006 and served the citizens of Lakeville until his retirement in 2012. Because of some health issues starting to arise he was allowed to retire in October and currently resides with his handler, Officer Chad Loeffler. Shadow enjoyed every day he came to work and we believe the city as a whole is a safer place to live and work because of his service and the service of our current K -9 teams. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 25 Lakeville Police K -9 Unit K -9 Unit Commemorates 25 -Year Anniversary The Lakeville Police Department commemorated the 25 -year anniversary of its K -9 unit in April, including the dedication of a wall of photos of the six K -9 teams that have served in the department. The Lakeville Police Department K -9 program was established when Lakeville Officer Tom Hakala was assigned the first police patrol trained K -9, Dakota, in January of 1986. Since 1986, six additional K -9 teams (Buster and Officer John Arvidson, Kuffkey and Officer Beth Eilers, Blue and Sergeant Brigham Strole, Shadow and Officer Chad Loeffler, Zeus and Officer Jason Jensen, Tank and Officer Chad Loeffler) have served on the Lakeville Police Department. All of the Lakeville K -9 dogs have been German Shepherds, with the exception of Tank, who is a Belgian Malinois. They have all been trained as police patrol K -9 dogs and cross trained to detect narcotics. 26 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report With the growth of high technology crime, including computer- and internet - related crimes, the Computer Forensics Unit has proven to be a valuable addition to the Lakeville Police Department. With almost every criminal investigation involving electronic evidence, the unit was created in 2011 and the number of computers and electronic devices submitted to be processed and examined has more than doubled from previous year's totals. Detective Russ Helmueller is assigned to the Computer Forensics Unit and has been extensively trained in the investigation of computer use in the exploitation of children and trained in the methods of forensic analysis of computers used in criminal activity. As an affiliate member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force as well as the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), Detective Helmueller works closely with other agencies in the investigation of computer- related crimes. In 2012 the Lakeville Police Department purchased a new computer forensics machine to aid in the identifying, preserving, recovering, and analyzing of electronic evidence in a forensically sound manner. With few exceptions, the Computer Forensics Lab conducts examinations on static data instead of live systems to preserve the evidence in its original state. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 27 Traffic Unit Staff September 2012 marked the one -year anniversary of the Traffic Unit supplemental assignment. The position had been held by Officer Nic Stevens from September 2011 to September 2012. Officer Stevens focused his daily patrol activities on addressing a multitude of traffic- related safety concerns. In September, Officer Adam Stier was selected as the new Traffic Officer for the Traffic Unit. Officer Stier was selected among several other Lakeville officers based on his noted dedication to traffic enforcement as a patrol officer and his initiatives in taking impaired drivers off the roadway. Officer Stier has been routinely honored by the MADD organization for his efforts and has led nearly all other Minnesota officers statewide for arrests of impaired drivers. Goal of the Unit Although every officer is tasked with enforcing traffic laws, the Traffic Unit's goal is to reduce property damage and personal injury accidents through repeated directed patrols to problem roadways, increased school zone enforcement, seat belt initiatives, and conducting commercial vehicle inspections. The Unit works with other Dakota County agencies and the Minnesota State Patrol. 2012 Areas of Focus • Stop sign enforcement • School bus arm violations • DUI enforcement • Seatbelts • Speeding • Equipment violations • Residential traffic complaints 28 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report The year 2012 brought one of the largest changes affecting the day -to -day life of a patrol officer. The last Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor rolled off the assembly line in 2011. In June 2012, the police department took delivery of the first all new squad car from Ford in nearly 30 years. The vehicles are now delivered all black. The doors are wrapped in white vinyl and graphics applied over that to turn the cars into marked police vehicles. The process takes about two hours per car. Higher resale is expected when the cars are sold at 100,000 miles. The all -wheel drive should provide added safety during inclement weather. Rear Graphics Also in 2012, all marked trucks and vans received high visibility striping to the rear. Emergency vehicles and officers being struck by passing vehicles is a major concern. The reflective, high visibility striping will aid in keeping our staff working on or near the roadway safe. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 29 The Street Crimes Unit was operational for the full year in 2012. The philosophy of the Street Crimes Unit is to proactively investigate crimes and criminals through non - traditional means. The unit provides full -time attention to issues when the traditional marked squad car and uniformed officer isn't the best option for the situation. Oftentimes citizens have ongoing complaints of criminal activity in their neighborhoods; because of the way the Street Crimes Unit functions these concerns can be addressed quickly and effectively. A highlight from the Street Crimes Unit in 2012: After a month -long investigation, a search warrant was drafted for a home in Lakeville after citizens complained about possible drug activity. The Street Crimes Unit along with the Dakota County Drug Task Force executed the search warrant and a felony amount of narcotics was located. The suspects in this case were charged with felony possession of narcotics, and the case was forwarded to the courts for prosecution. The Street Crimes Unit drafted and served 12 search warrants of similar nature in 2012. According to the data below, the Street Crimes Unit had a very productive year investigating all types of crimes. Felony Narcotics Arrests 9r eg Marvin . „en ✓ Mbar Offense Level Breakdown &aid Misdemeanor kiarly •Number gri Arnmti JAW lataIh Street Crimes Unit Arrest Report September 2011- February 2013 Niurtaf!r Auto], 30 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Police & Dakota County Community Corrections Liaison Program In October 2012, Sergeant Jason Polinski conceptualized a program to collaborate Lakeville police officers with Dakota County Community Corrections (probation officers) personnel in an effort to improve information sharing and enhance communication between our two unique criminal justice organizations. The intent is to "bridge the gap" of information retained by the two agencies in an effort to provide better service in the area of local offenders on release status in our community. Officers Troy Hokanson and Sandy Thoeny were selected to represent the Lakeville Police Department under the supervision of Sergeant Jason Polinski. Police personnel met with Dakota County probation officers to learn roles and identify areas of mutual need for both agencies to prosper within this newly established relationship. Intelligence was shared regarding a possible gang member in Lakeville and the information was distributed to Lakeville police officers to improve officer safety. Probation officers rode along with police officers three times in 2012 and conducted six probation checks on supervised offenders. Of these six probation checks, three offenders were arrested for violations of their probation on Arrest and Detention (A &D) Orders issued by their probation officer. In 2013, Lakeville police will continue to look for new ways to collaborate with probation officers, develop intelligence, and build upon the successes from 2012. Lakeville Police / Dakota County Community Corrections Activity October 10, 2012 - December 31, 2012 ■ Meetings (2] • Intelligence Sharing {3) g Probation /Police OfficerA &D Order Arrests 13) • Police Officer /Probation Officer Probation Checks i61 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 31 Dakota County Multi- Agency Assistance Group (MAAG) . The Dakota County Multi- Agency Assistance Group (SWAT) responded to nine calls for service in 2012. The nine call outs consisted of six high risk warrants, two barricaded suspects, and one area search. In addition, the Bearcat armored vehicle was also used in four other call outs. The nine call outs occurred in the following communities: West St. Paul 3 incidents South St. Paul 2 incidents Apple Valley 1 incident Inver Grove Heights 1 incident Eagan 1 incident Northfield 1 incident Bearcat deployments: Empire Township 1 incident Rosemount 1 incident Lakeville 1 incident Woodbury 1 incident The Lakeville Police Department currently has four officers assigned to the MAAG team. Officers Josh Berkebile, Tom Stewart, and Adam Stier all serve as Tactical Operators. Officer Jim Dronen was promoted to Sniper in September 2012. December 10, 2012 Lakeville, Minnesota On December 10, 2012 the MAAG team, including the Bearcat armored vehicle, was deployed to the City of Lakeville in response to a suicidal suspect who threatened to kill himself with a loaded shotgun. The suspect's wife left the residence and called police. Lakeville police officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter, calling for the MAAG team to respond. Negotiations with the suspect were successful, and the suspect gave himself up prior to the arrival of the Bearcat. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. 32 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Dakota County Drug Task Force Partnership The Dakota County Drug Task Force (DCDTF) consists of 15 full -time and one quarter -time licensed police officers and deputies from Dakota County, 11 Dakota County cities, and the City of Savage in Scott County. Scott County borders the southwestern edge of Dakota County. Both counties sit geographically south of the densely populated Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The task force's jurisdiction includes 627 square miles, and has a population of approximately 425,000 citizens. Each participating agency recognizes that narcotic activity, part one violent crime offenses, and the property crimes associated with such activity remain a top public safety concern. These offenses are not limited to a specific geographical boundary or citizen demographic. As a result of this recognition, combined with the diverse nature of both the population density and large jurisdiction, Dakota County law enforcement cooperatively participates in task force enforcement efforts. Drug arrests continue to represent approximately one third of all cases charged by the Dakota County Attorney's Office. The DCDTF remains one of the most productive task forces in the state with over 700 arrests annually. The DCDTF is co- located in a central location within Dakota County. 2012 Dakota County Drug Task Force Statistics Arrests / Search Warrants / Presentations 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 33 20 2009 2010 2011 2°12 % change 3 Y ew Av .Arre 1s 686 710 591 706 737 439% 686 Search Warrants 139 185 161 226 207 -8,41% 183.fi 4 Of Presentatk i s 78 51 69 51 38 -25,49% 57A II In .° Ache. ncc 2,535 1,469 1,615 2109 1419 _3232% 1329.4 Dakota County Drug Task Force Partnership The Dakota County Drug Task Force (DCDTF) consists of 15 full -time and one quarter -time licensed police officers and deputies from Dakota County, 11 Dakota County cities, and the City of Savage in Scott County. Scott County borders the southwestern edge of Dakota County. Both counties sit geographically south of the densely populated Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The task force's jurisdiction includes 627 square miles, and has a population of approximately 425,000 citizens. Each participating agency recognizes that narcotic activity, part one violent crime offenses, and the property crimes associated with such activity remain a top public safety concern. These offenses are not limited to a specific geographical boundary or citizen demographic. As a result of this recognition, combined with the diverse nature of both the population density and large jurisdiction, Dakota County law enforcement cooperatively participates in task force enforcement efforts. Drug arrests continue to represent approximately one third of all cases charged by the Dakota County Attorney's Office. The DCDTF remains one of the most productive task forces in the state with over 700 arrests annually. The DCDTF is co- located in a central location within Dakota County. 2012 Dakota County Drug Task Force Statistics Arrests / Search Warrants / Presentations 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 33 Dakota County Drug Task Force Partnership Reported State Forfeitures $50{,{00.00 $-000,000.00 $300,000 00 $20,000,00 $104,000.00 $0.00 Gross Distributed Cash Seizures 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 Arrests by Drug Type s Marijuana • Methamphetarnine ■ Prescription Drugs m Cocaine ▪ Heroin ▪ Ecstasy Crack Cocaine 34 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 200S 2009 2010 2011 2012 %chime 2011.2012 5 y+at Avg Distributed Ca h .Se' u ,s $142.330 $454.774 $295.125 $318,,023 $315597 -0.74% $305 4 Vehicles Scized 13 34 1.3 22 13 - 40,91'° 21 Firearms Seim/ 20 3S 21 .54 85 57.41% 434 Dakota County Drug Task Force Partnership Reported State Forfeitures $50{,{00.00 $-000,000.00 $300,000 00 $20,000,00 $104,000.00 $0.00 Gross Distributed Cash Seizures 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012 Arrests by Drug Type s Marijuana • Methamphetarnine ■ Prescription Drugs m Cocaine ▪ Heroin ▪ Ecstasy Crack Cocaine 34 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report i Da kota Co unty Drug Task Force Partn ership Drugs Seized in Weight V' amount includes DEA seizure within DCDTF jurisdiction) 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 35 2009 2010 2011 2012 change 2011 -2012 5 year Avg Amphetamine (doses) 5 28 19 367 1-49 -34.88% 131.6 Cocaine/ rack i'pounds) 6.67 1.55 L17 .49 2.A1-4.1 397.96% 2.4 Ecstasy (PADMAI ( &IN ) 152.738 1,573 525 340 503 47.94% 31135.8 Heroin (ems) 200 553 39 21.52 445.49 1970.12% 251.8 [vielharrsphetsmine (pounds) 1 2.18 2.87 * 25.20 8.29 - 67.10% 11.0 Marijuana (pounds I 1919 2411 118.7 656.27 302.16 -53.96% 302,2 Marijuana Hams 4112 976 1,776 831 1,49 79 1177.40 Ox yc€ tin idou ) 179 152 34 195.5 1315 - 32.23% 138.60 Prescription idoses 1.208 1?04 6.254 1,892 1965 3.86% 2504.60 i Da kota Co unty Drug Task Force Partn ership Drugs Seized in Weight V' amount includes DEA seizure within DCDTF jurisdiction) 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 35 Polar Plunge The Lakeville Police Department continued its participation in the annual "South Metro Polar Plunge" which is a significant fund raising event for Minnesota Special Olympics. On a bright and sunny February afternoon officers from the Lakeville police department joined a total of 940 "plungers" who threw themselves into the frigid waters of Crystal Lake to help raise money for Special Olympics. Officer Andy Hentges has been involved in helping to organize this event since 2006. In that year, the event drew 240 participants and raised $46,000 in donations. Compare that to 2012, where 940 plungers were able to raise in excess of $200,000 for Minnesota Special Olympics. That is remarkable growth for a seven -year period and a tremendous windfall for a very worthy organization. "Movember" Officer Jim Dronen organized a charity event involves officers starting out the month clean This year's team was made up of officers from Lakeville Police Department and the Dakota County Sheriff's Department, as well as two first -time plungers, including Mayor Mark Bellows and Council Member Matt Little. 36 during the month of November. "Movember," as it is called, shaven and then growing mustaches during the month to raise awareness and collect donations for men's health and specifically those types of cancers that men fall victim to. At the beginning of November, 26 officers in the department signed up to participate in "Movember:' During that one month, the department's "Movember" team raised $3,495 in donations. Though the mustache gives the officers a somewhat dated look, the cause is so significant that you can bet that you will see officers sporting the big bushy mustaches during the month of November annually from this point forward. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Salvation Army Bell Ringing Over the years officers have spent many hours volunteering their time at many worthwhile causes. This year one such cause was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army during the holiday season. Officers donated their time to stand outside in the cold weather and raise money for a worthy cause, while at the same time greeting our citizens with a smile and a ring of the bell. Officers Jeremy Lerfald, Anne Limbeck, and Jai Hanson chose an entrance at the newly opened Walmart to collect for the red kettle. They picked one of the coldest nights of the year to be out there, however Officer Hanson did say that at least his head stayed warm. Chief Vonhof, on the other hand, picked a nice sunny winter day to be out in the elements in front of Mills Fleet Farm. He was accompanied by several Lakeville North SADD students and their advisor, Lisa Holien. Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon Domestic violence has always had and continues to have a tremendous impact on the citizens of Lakeville. As law enforcement officers some of the most dangerous situations we respond to are the result of a domestic violence call for service. tdt ^.3GLa¢ 1- ur9+ °ItFaA1 Every year the Lakeville Police Department co- hosts the Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon, held at Brackett's Crossing Country Club. The year 2012 marked the 27th year that we have partnered with 360 Communities to bring this event to Lakeville. The keynote speaker was U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who gave a very a. impassioned speech surrounding the tragedies of domestic violence. Most every law enforcement agency from around Dakota County was represented at the luncheon, as well as many community and business supporters. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 37 Caught in the Act On a warm evening in mid - August, officers responded to a report of a residential burglary. A homeowner was mowing his lawn and was alerted by a neighbor that a possible burglary had just occurred at his house. The alert neighbor had noticed two unknown people exiting the victim's residence from a normally unused doorway. The suspects then ran off into the adjacent wooded area. While responding to the call, officers were provided with descriptions of the suspects and a suspect vehicle as described by the witness. The officers quickly located the suspect vehicle and stopped it near the location of the burglary. The two occupants of the vehicle matched the descriptions of the burglary suspects and were detained by the officers. The property stolen in the burglary was recovered nearby by assisting officers and the two suspects subsequently admitted to the burglary. The suspects were both placed in Dakota County Jail and charged with burglary. Fire Starters In the fall of 2012, officers responded to three small fires in the downtown area of Lakeville. Several portable outhouses were set on fire and the suspects even attempted to start the gas tank of a vehicle on fire. They attempted this by running a stream of flammable liquid from the open gas tank of a vehicle for several yards down the street. They also placed some sticks and cloth in the opening of the gas tank, so as to better get that area burning. They then lit the trail of gas, which ran up to the vehicle and started the side of the vehicle on fire. This caused damage to the vehicle, but the gas tank itself did not ignite. A subsequent investigation involving School Resource Officer Todd Williams and Certified Fire Investigator Detective Dave Watson revealed three juvenile suspects who were ultimately charged with the three fires. 38 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report Theft from Vehicle One morning in mid - October officers took several theft from vehicle reports from the same neighborhood. Unlike most theft from vehicle cases, in one of these thefts there was a witness who could provide a good description of the suspect vehicle. Officers put the information out to surrounding law enforcement agencies and about an hour later they were contacted by a Scott County deputy, who had a report of a similar suspect vehicle involved in a theft from vehicle just outside of Lakeville. The witness in the Scott County case obtained a license plate number. During a subsequent investigation, detectives were able to locate numerous items in the suspect vehicle that appeared stolen, including many mobile GPS devices. In checking with the victims of the thefts, they determined that 17 of the items had been stolen from vehicles in Lakeville. The detectives contacted the owners of the property and found that several of the victims were unaware that their property had even been stolen. The suspect was arrested and charged with multiple felony theft and possession of stolen property crimes. To the Rescue On a beautiful afternoon in late June, officers received a distress call from a boater stranded on Lake Marion. Since Lakeville Police do not have a watercraft, Officer Nic Stevens acted quickly and asked a nearby boater if he would lend a hand. The Good Samaritan picked up Officer Stevens and they responded to the middle of the lake where they were able to provide a tow for the stranded boater. During the ride back into shore, Officer Adam MacDonald was quick with the camera and captured Officer Stevens' heroic efforts. 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report 39 On June 19, 2012 at 4:00 a.m. a severe thunderstorm rampaged across the City of Lakeville. Damage was from a line south of 202nd Street to 220th Street from east to west and from north of 185th Street, to County Road 46 from Highview Avenue to the City border at the 4500 block. Trees were down on homes, power lines were down, and roads were blocked. No injuries were reported, but loss of property included outbuildings, mobile homes, and many single family homes and businesses. The police department responded with the assistance of fire and ambulance services to all emergencies by around 6:00 a.m. Roads were blocked which made getting around the City difficult, but Lakeville Public Works began clearing roadways immediately. Emergency Management Director, LPD Sergeant John Kornmann responded and coordinated the response from all City departments. By noon that day, most roadways in the City were either passable or blocked off awaiting the electric company to remove downed power lines. The Lakeville Police Reserve Unit spent many hours over the course of the event providing security and protection from power lines that were downed throughout the City and still potentially dangerous. Total cleanup took approximately four weeks and damage estimates totaled around $1 million. 40 2012 Lakeville Police Department Annual Report