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8 V. Patrol Review <br />2014 Annual Report · Police Department · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota <br />V. Patrol ReviewV. Patrol Review <br />Prepared by Sergeant Jeff Spiess <br />The patrol offi cer, at one point or another, wears nearly every hat and does nearly every job in the <br />police department. Daily, the patrol offi cer does data entry and clerical work to make sure reports and <br />citations are completed correctly. They also serve as an animal control agent, who catches runaway <br />dogs and handles nuisance wildlife issues. They provide a safe and warm presence by tending to <br />the sick and the victims of crime. They have an open ear for the concerns and needs of neighbors, <br />business operators, school and government offi cials, and those who choose to recreate in the City. <br />Patrol offi cers are the most visible to the community in which they serve and have the most impact <br />on the relationships that are essential to a great community experience. The patrol offi cer receives <br />nearly every imaginable call for service, ranging from a broken furnace in the middle of the night to <br />an in-progress violent, felony crime. This requires that patrol offi cers are able to use discretion and <br />to consciously adjust their attitude, demeanor, and emotions to best fi t the situation in which they <br />encounter. They must be fully aware of City ordinances, State and Federal laws, and the current <br />status of case law. Patrol offi cers are also detectives, who conduct preliminary investigations and use <br />their skills to often solve crimes quickly and bring offenders to justice. These comprehensive set of <br />skills and responsibilities are what makes the job of a patrol offi cer sometimes diffi cult, but necessary, <br />and also rewarding, for the offi cer and the community. <br />A necessary addition to the patrol unit is the role of the Community <br />Service Offi cer (CSO). The CSO is a non-sworn member of the police <br />department, who serves the community in many ways. First, the <br />CSO is present in the community to serve as an extra set of eyes and <br />ears for the patrol offi cers. He also handles calls for service that do <br />not necessarily require the attention of a sworn police offi cer. These <br />services include parking enforcement, animal control, traffi c control, <br />community events, equipment maintenance, and building the same <br />relationships with the community that is important to all department <br />members. The job of a CSO is demanding, requires signifi cant <br />attention to detail, and a strong desire to serve the department and the <br />community. Since 2011, Andy Kukowski has refl ected the attributes <br />necessary to be a successful CSO with the St. Anthony Police <br />Department and has exceeded expectations. In December of 2014, <br />Andy interviewed and was ultimately appointed as a sworn police <br />offi cer with this department. We look forward to having him continue <br />his service as a valued member of our team. We also look forward to <br />welcoming a new CSO in early 2015. <br />Also of note from 2014, was the resignation of Offi cer Ryan Baker. <br />Offi cer Baker had served as a police offi cer with the department <br />since 2007 and was a very valuable member of the St. Anthony <br />family. Though a diffi cult decision, he elected to pursue other career <br />aspirations. His hard work and sense of humor will be missed around <br />the department and in the community.