Agenda Packets - 2024/02/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View Police 2023 Synopsis The Mounds View Police Department continues to strive to improve levels of proactivity and outreach while, like most police agencies, struggling to hire quality police candidates. This year was challenging with manpower and staffing levels. The main focus in 2023 was to continue to hire quality candidates after we had officers retire or leave the profession. First and foremost, Chief Nate Harder retired after over six years as Chief of Police with the Mounds View Police Department. He has served over 26 years in law enforcement and he will continue to serve first responders with his faith based non-profit Protectors Peak. We wish him a healthy and fulfilling retirement as he enters into a new chapter in his life. With that said, at one point during 2023 we were five officers short. Fortunately, we were able to hire Officer Kammerer who came to the MVPD with previous experience and by all accounts he is doing very well and fitting into the MVPD culture. There has been several opportunities for specialty assignments throughout the year. After Chief Harder's retirement, Deputy Chief Zender was appointed to the Chief of Police in April. After his successful 6-month probationary period was completed, a Deputy Chief position opened. We had two well qualified candidates (Inv. Hellpap and Sgt. Knitter). After an extensive selection process, Inv. Hellpap was selected as the new Deputy Chief of Police. This in turn opened up an investigator position. We had several applicants for that position and Officer Solz was selected to that position. Due to the VCET Investigator's hard work, dedication, and proactive investigative efforts, we decided to extend his specialty position three more years (possible extension two more years after that) and he was also selected and approved as a Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force Officer (DEA TFO). This will be a great opportunity and experience for this officer. Lastly, we plan on conducting a sergeant process at the beginning of 2024 which will again allow for more opportunities for the officers. Despite staffing levels, officers continue to be proactive while still committing to numerous outreach events. Mounds View officers responded to almost 10,500 calls for service which includes an attempted homicide shooting, aggravated assaults, domestic assaults, sexual assaults, robberies, and burglaries. Our Violent Crime and Enforcement Team (VCET) investigator continues to address large and small narcotics cases. Numerous arrests have resulted in not only felony or federal charges but have taken dangerous individuals, narcotics, and firearms off the streets. For a variety of reasons, these cases and arrests have made a direct positive impact to our community and the quality of life in Mounds View. Traffic enforcement efforts continue to be a priority. We work closely with the Toward Zero Death (TZD) and the Ramsey County Traffic Safety Initiative (RCTSI) programs in order to address traffic needs through enforcement and education efforts. Officer Dison has been our TZD/RCTSI coordinator for the past couple years. In order to continue to address traffic concerns, two portable speed signs as well as the radar trailer were deployed throughout the city. Two solar powered speed signs were purchased this year as well. With four portable traffic signs, a radar trailer, and officers being visible in the community, we will continue to educate the public as well as provide enforcement efforts as needed. With city council approval, we also purchased Flock safety systems to assist officers and investigators with clearing cases, solving crimes, and improving