|
•
<br />•
<br />•
<br />COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 23, 1998
<br />The Police Department continues to strive to meet its goals and objectives and to adhere to its
<br />Mission and Value Statements while realizing that any future successes are based solely upon the
<br />Department's ability to enlist citizen support as police standards are raised and challenged. Chief
<br />Pecchia added the Police Department graciously accepts the challenge and looks forward to
<br />continued Council support and cooperation in the never-ending search for excellence.
<br />At the present time the Police Department consists of 18 full-time police officers (1 chief of
<br />police, 3 sergeants, 1 investigator, 1 youth resource officer, and 1 DARE officer), 2 full-time and
<br />1 part-time clerical positions, and 1 community service officer. Eighteen reserve officers are
<br />authorized. Chief Pecchia explained that the Department is in the process of utilizing the
<br />precinct policing concept, which provides for officers and supervisors to be assigned to the
<br />voting precincts within the City to deal with neighborhood issues.
<br />Sergeant Strege then, through use of visual aids, reviewed the Lino Lakes Police Department
<br />Mission Statement, its Values Statement, the Department's 1997 goals, personnel changes, use of
<br />federal and state grants, general and reserve activities, training, and statistical comparisons of
<br />alarms, assault, auto theft, residential and nonresidential burglary, auto accidents, careless and
<br />reckless driving, criminal sexual conduct, curfew violation, domestic assault, DUIs, fatalities,
<br />homicide, juvenile alcohol/tobacco violations, medicals, narcotics violations, personal injury
<br />accidents, property damage accidents, public assistance requests, calls for service, robberies,
<br />snowmobile thefts, suspicious activities, theft, threats, traffic citations, traffic warnings, and
<br />weapons violations over the past few years. Highlights of this presentation were the
<br />Department's ongoing efforts to enhance volunteerism through the addition of five (5) reserve
<br />officers who donated more than 3,000 hours of service, review and revision of hunting and
<br />snowmobiling ordinances by both the City and the Police Department as well as the creation and
<br />implementation of new pawn broker and parking ordinances, and continuing efforts to improve
<br />communication through team building meetings with City Staff, enhancement of monthly crime
<br />watch newsletters to neighborhood watch groups, utilization of the City quarterly newsletter, and
<br />presentation of meetings and video tapes regarding public safety through the cable television
<br />service.
<br />Council Member Lyden mentioned the increase in incidence of house alarm calls, asking if this
<br />represents concern to the Police Department. Officer Strege explained that the increase in calls
<br />does not represent a burden to the Department. In most cases no unauthorized entry is involved
<br />but it is better to respond to a suspicious call with no necessity for arrest than to be unaware of a
<br />legitimate break-in.
<br />Council Member Neal pointed out that other communities charge a fee for responding to house
<br />alarm calls, asking if this is the policy for Lino Lakes. Officer Strege explained that the first
<br />three (3) calls within any calendar year are free of charge. However, a fee is involved for
<br />subsequent calls.
<br />Chief Pecchia stated that in April of this year the Department hopes to have Minnesota State
<br />statistics available for use in creating a comparative study between Lino Lakes and neighboring
<br />communities, which will ultimately result in a supplemental report to Council.
<br />
|