2023 Police Department Annual Report

O’FALLON MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT

END OF YEAR REPORT 202 3

BILL HENNESSY

MAYOR

MIKE SNOWDEN CITY ADMINISTRATOR

FRANK MININNI CHIEF OF POLICE

10 19 BRYAN ROAD O’ FA LLO N, MO 6 3 3 6 6

Bill Hennessy Mayor

Ron Epps Ward 1

Lisa Thompson Ward 2

Steve Koskela Ward 3

Jeff Kuehn Ward 4

Debbie Cook Ward 5

Deana Smith Ward 1

Tom Herweck Ward 2

Nathan Bibb Ward 3

Jim Ottomeyer Ward 4

Linda Ragsdale Ward 5

Frank Mininni Chief of Police

Derek Myers Major

Jeff Lange Captain

Pat Hossenlopp Captain

Mat Wolf Captain

Mike Snowden City Administrator

CALLS FOR SERVICE

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department answered 26,758 calls for service or approximately 73 calls for service per day. The most received type of a call was for Public Service with 5,406 calls, followed by Suspicious Circumstances with 3,805 calls, Auto Accidents at 2,238 and finally Traffic Service with 1,473 calls. *See Appendix A for more detailed information.

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department conducted 31,194 self-initiated field activities, or approximately 85 per day. Leading the way in these community contacts were officers making 18,873 traffic stops, an average of 52 stops per day.

In a continuing effort to recognize, prevent, and deter traffic related problems, the O’Fallon Police Department utilizes several strategies. During 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department issued 9,726 summons and 8,960 written and verbal warnings. During the same period, traffic accidents increased 3.9 % from 1206 in 2022 to 1253 in 2023.

In 2023, one fatal traffic accident occurred within O’Fallon city limits.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Animal Control/Park Rangers

The O'Fallon Police Department's Animal Control/Park Ranger Section responds to calls involving domesticated animals and specific wildlife nuisance cases.

During 2023, this unit responded to 901 animal incidents, transported 271 cats and 166 dogs to the kennel, and dealt with several wild animals. The Animal Control Officers/ Park Rangers are also responsible for patrolling our parks and addressing any concerns specific to those areas. As in years past, the Park Rangers, along with Officer Sid McDonald staffed the Celebration of Lights during the holiday season.

At the conclusion of 2023, the city continues their agreement with St. Charles County to house our impounded animals at the Pet Adoption Center. This decision has proven to save money and allow us to house these animals with the surrounding jurisdictions of St. Peters and Wentzville. Housing all impounded animals in one centralized county location aids the pet owner in quickly locating their animal.

The unit addresses animal complaints regarding barking dogs, “at large” animals and strays, dog/cat bites or scratches, unwanted pets, humane trapping of pets, and lost and found pets. The Rangers also uphold the City's animal ordinances and handle violations occurring within the City's parks.

The section was staffed in 2023 by Animal Control Officers Kitsmiller and Lunatto while being supervised by Sergeants Bill Stringer and Jill Bloomfield. Officer Sid McDonald patrols city parks and participates in community outreach events.

2023 Animal Control Numbers

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), using the model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide use of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since then, CERTs have been established in hundreds of communities.

CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during training. These skills can help save lives following a disaster until professional first responders arrive.

Since establishing CERT in 2009, O’Fallon has grown to 46 members in 2023, 16 of which are also Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed amateur radio operators. CERT has a general member training meeting once a month and recently and recently began additional monthly meetings for the amateur radio operators. CERT has several practical field exercises annually, giving the opportunity to put their training to use in a simulated emergency.

In 2023 O’Fallon Police Department hosted (1) free CERT (G317) three-day basic training course graduating 12 trained members of the community. While the course is required to be on the team, it is not a requirement to join the team to attend the training. CERT’s goal is to build a more disaster resilient community through training and preparedness. A few of the topics covered during the training are Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Medical, Disaster Psychology, Fire Safety and Light Search and Rescue Operations.

Over the years O’Fallon CERT has volunteered thousands of hours participating in community events and assisting the police department. The team again received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for volunteering 1048.5 hours in 2023, with one long time members being awarded for volunteering 100 or more hours each during the year.

CERT is managed by Emergency Management Coordinator Officer Gene DeLaney.

CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM (C.I.T.)

Crisis Intervention Team Training is a collaborative effort between behavioral healthcare providers, law enforcement, and advocates for those with lived experience

The Great Rivers CIT Council identifies the community’s needs for St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren Counties, agrees on strategies for meeting those needs, and facilitates training for Law Enforcement ensuring best practices. The goal is to improve outcomes with those with behavioral challenges during police interactions and introduce those in crisis into the behavioral healthcare system instead of the criminal justice system. One of the key components of the training is de-escalation. This benefits all residents, along with the Police Department on more than just behavioral health related calls.

Currently 98% of O’Fallon Police Officers are CIT certified along with several civilian Rangers and Confinement Officers. In 2023, our department responded to 401 calls for service that were solely classified as a CIT call for service. However, many calls for service had a behavioral health component but were classified as something else if there had been a criminal offense committed.

O’Fallon Police Officers Brian Wilcox, Robert Fincher, Dan DeSpain and Evan Oelklaus were all recognized at the 2023 Great Rivers CIT Officer Appreciation Banquet for going above the call of duty with someone in a behavioral health crisis and providing them with the behavioral health services they required.

Sgt. Rob Kendall continues his duties as Chairman of the Great River CIT Council. He is responsible for the coordination, planning and improvement efforts between law enforcement and providers of behavioral health services in the three counties covered by the Great Rivers CIT Council.

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

The 2023 O’Fallon Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy was another huge success in attendance and was our 6th class at the new Justice Center. The 2023 class had 30 attendees.

The program was led by Officer Tim Bateman and assisted by Officer Dave Goewert. Classes met every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. for six (6) weeks. The program is designed to provide a working knowledge and background of the O’Fallon Police Department, and to foster a closer relationship between the police and the community. The academy provides an avenue for community involvement and provides a first-hand experience of policing.

The Citizens Police Academy was created to develop a harmonious working relationship between members of the community and law enforcement. It is an opportunity for citizens to learn more about their local law enforcement, ask questions, and gain a more thorough understanding of the inner workings of the O’Fallon Police Department.

Citizen Police Academy graduates typically return to their communities as better-informed citizens, capable of using their newly acquired information to help improve the conditions and quality of life in their community.

CHAPLAINS

The Police Chaplain unit was established to be utilized to assist the Department in handling situations involving the need for emotional, spiritual, or humanitarian aid, and assist with community service functions. Chaplains are utilized as a resource in emergencies and large-scale disasters or major events.

Pastor Brandon Buford (Lead Chaplain)

Sister Joan Reuter

Pastor Randal Lee

Rabbi Chaim Landa

Dr. Brandon Kiesling

Pastor Mike Atherton

Light House Church

Sisters of the Most Precious Blood

Light House Church

Jewish Center of St. Charles County

First Baptist Church of O’Fallon

First Baptist Church of O’Fallon

During 2023, the Chaplains listed above provided approximately 200 volunteer hours through the Chaplain’s Assistance Program. Officer Pat Budds is the liaison for the Chaplain Program.

L-R Chaplains Atherton, Kiesling, Buford, Landa, Reuter, Lee, Officer Budds

COFFEE WITH A COP

2023 was the 8th year of the Coffee with a Cop program. We host an average of 5-7 events each year. As the years pass, we notice that our community is becoming more and more comfortable bringing their concerns to our attention. We pride ourselves on being present and available to build relationships with our residents and collaborate with them to improve quality of life in the city of O’Fallon. As in years past, we also scheduled our seasonal “Cocoa with a Cop” in December.

It is a simple concept: Police Officers and community members come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues and provide opportunities for strengthening the partnership between law enforcement and citizens.

One of the keys to Coffee with a Cop’s success is that it removes the physical barriers that routinely exist between police officers and community members, allowing for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction which are the necessary foundation of partnerships. Informal contact in a friendly atmosphere increases trust between police officers and the members of our community which is critical to public safety and problem solving.

DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION

The O’Fallon Police Department currently teaches D.A.R.E. to 13 elementary schools, instructing 5th graders with the information and skills they need to avoid tobacco and alcohol and to live drug-free and violence-free lives. In 2023, Officer Dave Goewert and Officer Bryan Shepard taught close to 600 children.

During 2023, the above Officers wrote approximately 30 reports (including mini reports and supplements) while tending to their assigned schools, allowing patrol officers to continue concentrating on their assigned sectors.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL D.A.R.E. OFFICER

Westhoff, Rock Creek, Forest Park, Mount Hope, Assumption, Progress South, J.L. Mudd

Emge, Twin Chimneys, Discovery Ridge, Pheasant Point, Crossroads, Dardenne

Drug Take Back Program

Officer Bryan Shepard

Officer Dave Goewert

Prescription drugs are widely abused amongst teens today. The goal of this program is twofold. The primary function of this program is to keep unused or expired medications out of the hands of children and teens who may abuse them. The second benefit of the program is to provide a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of unused prescription drugs, as there are very few alternatives for safe disposal.

The preferred method of incineration keeps the drugs out of landfills and groundwater. This program is only for unused prescription drugs, not illegal drugs. This program is supervised by Sgt Jill Bloomfield.

During 2023, this Department collected and properly disposed of 461 pounds of medication.

DRONE PROGRAM

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department’s Drone Program expanded as the new technology has become more integrated into normal police work. Over the course of the year, the department has expanded its drone fleet to accommodate its increased use and now has eleven small, unmanned drones. These drones have been used for many tasks, including searching for missing persons, tracking fleeing suspects, traffic flow studies, accident scene investigations, and community service events. As the drone program has grown, the number of officers interested in becoming pilots has also increased.

The department now has 10 commercially certified Part 107 pilots. Drone technology is continually advancing, and the O’Fallon Drone Program will be sure to grow as well. In 2023 the department conducted 123 drone deployments.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Emergency Management Division of the O’Fallon Police Department provides guidance, support, and resources to the city in times of emergencies. Emergency Management maintains the city’s Emergency Operations Plan, recommends, and coordinates Incident Command Systems (ICS) training for employees, maintains emergency equipment and monitor’s potential emergency situations.

This Division works with various government agencies such as the Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). Emergency Management also works with private groups. such as American Red Cross, United Way, and numerous faith-based organizations. These cooperative partnerships allow for a whole community response to emergencies.

The city’s 16 outdoor warning sirens are managed by Emergency Management ensuring they properly function through monitoring, maintenance, and testing on a regular basis. In 2023 three of the outdoor warning sirens were replaced with new models. The Adopt a Siren Program creates a network of citizens that attend monthly siren testing and emergency use of the sirens to aid in identifying any issues. Currently 11 of the 16 sirens have been adopted by citizens.

Additionally, the Emergency Management Division maintains and deploys the city’s Mobile Command Post. The Mobile Command Post allows for command and control of an incident to be handled in the field. The Mobile Command Post is self-contained and equipped to run dispatch operations, resource management and tactical planning.

O’Fallon’s CERT Program, staffed with 46 trained volunteers, is another asset under Emergency Management available to assist the community in times of emergencies.

In 2019 O’Fallon Emergency Management joined in a partnership with St. Charles County Regional Emergency Management. This partnership, along with Wentzville and Lake St. Louis, helps O’Fallon provide a more robust coordinated response to disasters and allows access to more resources. This regional team is based at the St. Charles County Emergency Operations Center located in O’Fallon.

O’Fallon’s Emergency Management Coordinator Officer Gene DeLaney oversees Emergency Management for O’Fallon and is assigned to the Regional Emergency Management Team.

POLICE EXPLORERS

Police Explorer Post 2943 provides area youth with the opportunity to learn about a career in law enforcement and to develop leaders within our community through this integral part of the O’Fallon Police Department. The Post is comprised of members 14½ to 20 years of age who are provided with opportunities to find out more about policing and their community while assisting the Police Department’s various community events.

Currently there are 15 active Explorers in the program that were supervised by Officers Andy Lubiewski and Bob Schoonover in 2023. The Explorers conduct regular meetings and have traditionally aided this Department during the Heritage and Freedom Festival, the Celebration of Lights, O’Fallon Jammin’, Food Truck Frenzy, National Night Out, and other various city sponsored events assisting city staff with the needs of the event including crowd control and parking.

During 2023, the O’Fallon Explorers dedicated approximately 350 hours of service between regular meetings and events. Officer Bob Schoonover and Officer Andy Lubiewski were on hand to supervise these hours.

SAFETY TOWN

O’Fallon Safety Town is a nationally accredited child accident prevention program that introduces safety awareness and preventive procedures to children, ages 4½ through 6½ years old. The program uses a simulated city layout, a classroom facility, and an off-campus field trip.

Under the guidance of police officers, a certified teacher, paramedics, fire-fighters, railroad police and trained volunteer staff, children experience “real life” situations. In accordance with their age and maturity, children learn to evaluate “safe from unsafe” and how to react safely when confronted with dangerous situations.

Safety Town is the foundation of safety education, and it is likely the only time in a child’s life that they will have an opportunity to attend a program exclusively designed to teach safety.

O’Fallon Safety Town celebrated its 39th year in 2023! The program was attended by approximately 245 students this year. There were four different sessions during the summer. There continues to be a very high demand for Safety Town here in O’Fallon, as these slots were again filled within just hours of opening registration. It should be noted that 140 area high school students received A+ hours for acting as student counsellors. Officers Bob Schoonover and Andy Lubiewski administered these events.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (SRO)

The SRO program is based on a philosophy that the School Resource Officer is an educator in safety and law-related issues, a law-related counsellor, a resource to the school administration and of course, a law enforcement officer. The officer, while in school, becomes involved in a variety of functions aimed at prevention of violence and crime.

SCHOOL OFFICER

Fort Zumwalt North High School

Fort Zumwalt West High School

Fort Zumwalt Hope High School

Liberty High School

Wentzville Frontier Middle School

Officer Nick Valenti

Officer Tim Bateman

Officer Andy Lubiewski

Officer Matt Wagner

Officer Patrick Budds

Fort Zumwalt North Middle School & Fort Zumwalt West Officer Bob Schoonover

Fort Zumwalt South Middle School

Officer Dave Pollard

During 2023, the above Officers wrote 247 reports while attending to their assigned schools, allowing patrol officers to continue to concentrate on their assigned sectors. This year marks the 5th year of School Resource Officers in the middle schools. Instead of teaching D.A.R.E. to 7th graders, these officers are now utilized the same as High School level School Resource Officers.

SHOP WITH A COP

In 2023 the O’Fallon Police Department, with the assistance of Wal-Mart, McDonalds, and Christian Foods held their seventh annual Shop with a Cop event.

There were 11 children selected from the local school districts and each were given $350 to shop at Wal-Mart.

The kids were also provided lunch and gift bags by Christian Foods at McDonalds. This experience allowed officers and the youth in the community to interact in a positive way and for the children to learn a little about the person behind the badge. This event was led by Officer Andy Lubiewski.

STATION TOURS

The Justice Center has been a popular location for local scout troops and civic groups since opening in 2017. The police department partners with the Renaud Center to coordinate the scheduling of tours through an online platform. This effort allows residents and groups to schedule a tour at their leisure with the dedicated dates and times arranged.

Tour groups are provided a guided tour of the facility by a police officer, answering a variety of questions, and sharing the information on the capacity and capabilities of our building.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS/TORCH RUN

The O’Fallon Police Department has been a member of the Law Enforcement Torch Run effort since 1986 when the first Torch Run was held in Missouri.

The Missouri Police Chiefs Association is the founding law enforcement organization for Missouri's Torch Run for Special Olympics. 2023 represents the 37th year that Missouri Law enforcement officers have supported Special Olympics Missouri.

The O’Fallon Police Department participates in all three statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run signature events. They are hosted and planned by Law Enforcement agencies for our charity of choice - Special Olympics Missouri.

These events are the Polar Plunge, Over the Edge, and Drive it Home Raffle. Raising funds and awareness is the mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and our agency is an actively recognized agency. This program involvement is led by Officer Nick Valenti.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The O’Fallon Police Department is dedicated to community outreach. Some of our outreach programs include.

1. Open House

2. Pop-up Patrol

3. BBQ in the Park with Officer Sid

4. National Night Out

5. Women’s Self-Defense

6. Teen Driving School

7. Trunk or Treat

8. Holiday Lights Competition

In 2023 we saw great citizen participation at the annual National Night Out event. This is an important event that helps neighbors get to know each other and get to know the police department. It helps the community grow together to solve problems.

The Pop-Up Patrols put officers on golf carts and bikes in neighborhoods throughout the city. This remains one of our most popular programs. As part of our continuing efforts in community outreach, the O’Fallon Police Department deployed a Ford Mustang. This vehicle is intended for community events to enhance our relationship with community members.

The O'Fallon Missouri Police Department’s Women’s Self-Defense Course equips students with essential skills to stay safe and secure.

Led by experienced law enforcement professionals, this course is tailored to address real-world threats women may face. From practical techniques to situational awareness, participants learn effective strategies for selfdefense in a supportive and empowering environment.

The three newest Outreach Programs are Stop the Bleed, Teen Driving School, and Women's Self Defense. All were all huge successes in 2023.

The O'Fallon Missouri Police Department offers a Stop the Bleed course designed for citizens. In this comprehensive program, participants learn crucial techniques in traumatic care, equipping them with lifesaving skills in emergency situations. From mastering the application of tourniquets to adeptly packing wounds, dressing injuries, and understanding the use of chest seals and hemostatic agents, students gain invaluable knowledge under expert instruction

SOCIAL MEDIA

The O’Fallon Police Department has a webpage, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor and LinkedIn social media accounts. The Public Information Officers utilize social media to announce events, provide safety tips, and other information suitable for public release.

The O’Fallon Police Department’s 2023 Facebook page increased to 46,000 “likes” from 44,000.

The O’Fallon Police Department’s Twitter account has 8.1K followers. Facebook continues to be the main social media platform that is used to communicate and engage our residents.

The O’Fallon Police Department’s Instagram page has 3,421 followers and is used to display pictures of police department events and happenings.

In 2019, the O’Fallon Police Department created a LinkedIn account, which is used to promote its employee’s careers; but it also allows the police department to recruit for various jobs, such as police officer, communications officer, and confinement officer. LinkedIn currently has 152 followers.

Please find and follow us at the following locations:

www.ofallon.mo.us/PD

www.instagram.com/ofallon_police

www.facebook.com/ofallonpolice

www.twitter.com/ofallonpolice

www.linkedin.com/company/o-fallon-policedepartment

The Police and Paws Project partners with a local business to assist in the adoption of abandoned dogs.

COMMUNICATIONS

The O’Fallon Police Department Communications Center is the main control center for the ongoing operations of the O’Fallon Police Department. The Center provides the agency with access to local, state, and federal criminal justice information systems. The basic function of the Communications Center is to answer emergency and non-emergency telephone calls and satisfy the immediate information needs of the Department during its normal daily activities and during emergency situations.

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Communications Center received 23,120 911 calls or approximately 63 calls per day. Beyond the 911 calls, the center handled a total of 108,524 incoming/outgoing telephone calls to the nonemergency lines or approximately 297 per day. The O’Fallon Police Communications Center entered a total of 69,690 CAD entries in 2023 or 191 per day.

The Communications Center is led by 1 Communications Manager and is staffed by 16 full time Communications Officers. After an extensive vetting process, a new Computer Aided Dispatching and Records Management program was selected. This project will be completed in 2024.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION

The O’Fallon Criminal Investigation Section, or Detective Bureau as it is commonly known, is staffed by eighteen commissioned personnel and one civilian clerk. In addition to three supervisors, there are nine criminal investigators who act as general assignment detectives when it comes to day-to-day investigations. Several of the nine detectives also have sub-specialties such as fraud, identity theft, and sex crimes. The other six detectives are detached to federal agencies and to the St. Charles County Drug Task Force. The Bureau is responsible for conducting follow-up investigations initiated by the Patrol Section and maintaining a caseload of self-initiated complaints.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION CASES ASSIGNED AND CLEARED

Note: Prior to 2020, case totals showed a comparison between “Cases Cleared” and “Cases Not Cleared”. Beginning in 2020, a more appropriate metric was examined, “Criminal Cases Cleared”. This statistic represents the number of criminal cases solved by the detective bureau. Also, this metric disregards cases still actively being investigated.

Therefore, the clearance of rate is continually changing. The UCR data clearance rate, however, does include active case statuses.

*2021 numbers were recalculated due to a clerical error the previous year.

UCR PART I CASES

In 2023, 387 cases were assigned to the bureau, 302 ultimately determined to be criminal. 126 of those cases were cleared, or “solved” by the Detective Bureau. The Criminal Investigations Section submitted 97 state warrant applications to the State Prosecutor’s office in 2023, which was an increase (+7.2%) from 90 in 2022.

The Evidence Section received 8,167 total pieces of evidence and disposed of 18,467 total pieces of evidence in 2023.

CYBER CRIME TASK FORCE

The St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force has been operational since August 2001. The unit serves St. Charles, Lincoln, Marion, Franklin, Pike, Ralls and Warren counties including the municipalities within each county. It is staffed by personnel from the St. Charles County, O'Fallon, St. Peters, St. Charles City, Moscow Mills, and Warrenton Police Departments.

The Cyber Crime Task Force lab conducts forensic analysis of media suspected to contain evidence of a variety of possible forms of criminal activity. The average case contains numerous computers, cell phones or other forms of media to be examined. The Task Force also conducts active investigations into illegal activity of individuals who prey on children via the internet.

In 2023, St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force conducted 209 investigations, 211 computer forensic exams, 364 cell phone exams, executed 171 search warrants and analyzed over 117.20 Terabytes of data.

The St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force website www.stcharlescyber.org provides helpful information and links for the community and Law Enforcement. It gives a brief summary about the unit and provides a place to report suspicious activity.

DATA ANALYZED BY THE ST. CHARLES COUNTY

The official Facebook page for the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force can be found at www.facebook.com/SCCCCTF The purpose of this page is to provide families a resource regarding Internet safety and information regarding outreach events.

The official Twitter page for the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Unit is found at www.twitter.com/STCHARLESCYBER. The purpose of this page is to provide families a resource regarding Internet safety.

CRIME TASK FORCE BY YEAR

EMPLOYEE TRAFFIC CRASH COMPARISON

During 2023 the O’Fallon Police Department had a decrease in employee involved accidents. Department employees were involved in sixteen (16) total crashes, which is a slight decrease compared to the 2022 total of seventeen (17). Six (6) of these crashes were chargeable to the officer/driver, which is an increase from the total of five (5) chargeable crashes in 2022.

Of the chargeable crashes, four (4) were single vehicle crashes. These single-vehicle chargeable crashes involved the employee striking a fixed object, with the predominant contributing circumstances being Inattention and /or Improper Backing. Of the twelve (12) multi-vehicle crashes, eight (8) were the fault of the other party, while two (2) were chargeable to the officer. None of the multi-vehicle crashes involved department vehicles responding to an emergency with their emergency equipment activated. There were two (2) non-chargeable multivehicle crashes involving a department vehicle and suspect vehicle involved in an active pursuit. Three (3) of the crashes involving multiple vehicles involved unoccupied department vehicles.

EMPLOYEE TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT

HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANTS

Grant Statistics for DWI Enforcement and Hazardous Moving Violations

January – December 2023

HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT HAZARDOUS MOVING VIOLATIONS 2023

DWI Arrests HMV Citations

The O’Fallon Police Department partners with the State of Missouri and is the recipient of grant funds to place officers on our highways and city streets to enforce and educate on the topics of Hazardous Moving Violations and Driving While Intoxicated.2022 had shown significant increases in traffic enforcement as we emerged from COVID related lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. During grant operations in 2023 there were 7 DWI arrests made by officers working grant details. However, officers working grant details were assisted by officers from the Traffic/Special Operations Section not working the grant detail. The O’Fallon Police Department used a blend of officers during peak times for impaired drivers during organized grant activities. This ultimately increased our overall department wide DWI arrests from 190 in 2022, to 196 in 2023.

Overall, during grant operations officers working the grant detail wrote 383 Hazardous Moving Violation summonses. 260 citations alone were issued for speeding; other violations that contribute to traffic crashes such as stop sign and electrical signal violations, careless and imprudent driving and failing to yield were also enforced. During grant operations, an additional 372 citations were issued for non-hazardous violations with the largest category being expired license plates and expired temporary license plates which have been an increasing violation the last two years regionally.

As mentioned above, in 2023 the O’Fallon Police Department conducted 12 organized details using grant funds. These details were typically conducted during the late afternoon and evening hours which are peak times for both traffic crashes and impaired driving. This more than doubled last 2022’s organized details.

This department strives to educate the community on traffic crash reducing behaviors both through social media and on individual traffic stops. The O’Fallon Police Department will continue to focus on speed enforcement using all tools available to us as speed remains the leading cause of traffic crashes statewide.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

In an effort to demonstrate and protect this Department's integrity, the O'Fallon Police Department will accept and investigate, fairly and impartially, all complaints of employee misconduct to determine the validity of the allegations.

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department conducted a total of 6 administrative investigations. There was 1 external complaint (complaints originating from the public) and 5 internal complaints (complaints originating from within the department). Administrative violations can be greater than the number of complaints due to some complaints involving multiple police personnel or multiple violations of policy by officers. After reviewing all reports, information, and recommendations available, the Chief of Police will dispose of the incident by classifying the complaint as one of the following:

UNFOUNDED – The allegation is false and not factual.

EXONERATED – The incident did occur but was lawful and proper.

NOT SUSTAINED – Insufficient evidence exists to either prove or disprove the allegation.

SUSTAINED – The allegations is supported by sufficient evidence.

NOT INVOLVED – The employee was not involved in the allegation. Discipline can range on a continuum from counseling up to and including termination.

In 2023 the complaints were classified as:

K-9 UNIT

The O’Fallon Police Department K9 Unit consists of four police canine teams and one supervisor/trainer. Having four canine units allows each of the shifts to have a canine team assigned The canine teams specialize in the tracking and apprehension of suspects, protection of the handlers and citizens, building and evidence searches. We know that knowledge and understanding about what we do is paramount to the continued success of our unit. Therefore, our unit makes it a point to give back to our community by providing a myriad of canine demos.

Our current Canine Unit consists of the following: K9 Loki who is handled by Officer Matt Frkovic, K9 Vegas who is handled by Officer Matt Vegovisch, K9 Bear who is handled by Officer Adam McClenning and K9 Rogue who is handled by Officer Drew Risley. In 2023 the Justin Delivers Hope Foundation awarded a grant to the O’Fallon Police Department for a fifth K9 in 2024.

In 2023, the K9 team made 30 apprehensions of criminal suspects. The teams were utilized 1034 times as cover for officers and the public. The teams conducted 79 drug sniffs and 4 evidence searches. The canines with their handlers conducted 11 building searches and 10 tracks. There were over 50 demonstrations for groups ranging from pre-school children to senior citizens throughout the year.

* Note: Missouri legalized marijuana in 2022 affecting drug seizure numbers and K9 usage.

L-R Officer Frkovic (K9 Loki) Officer McClenning (K9 Bear) Officer Vegovisch (K9 Vegas) Officer Risley (K9 Rogue)

PERSONNEL

The O’Fallon Police Department is authorized 167 Police Department personnel. These authorized positions include 121 full time Police Officers, a Part time Police Officer, 16 Communications Officers, 16 Civilian Support Staff members, 7 Confinement Officers and 2 Animal Control Officers/Rangers. The remaining authorized positions are 4 part time Civilian Support Staff members.

In 2023 the department hired a total of 18 new personnel: 8 Police Officers, 3 Communications Officers, 3 Confinement Officers, 2 Part Time and 1 Full Time Records Technicians, and 1 Evidence Specialist

In 2023 the O’Fallon Police Department resurrected our Police Recruit Program. Employees and citizens can be sponsored through the Police Academy.

In 2023, two employees graduated from the Eastern Missouri Police Academy. Officer Kelsey Kreuzer attended through our Recruit Program and was selected as class commander. Officer Justin Jones attended the academy under a state sponsored grant They both completed field training and are working in patrol in the Operations Division.

In 2023 members of the O’Fallon Police Department reached the following milestones:

Employee Milestones

20 Years

Robert Schoonover

15 Years

Police Officer Adam Dickison

Police Officer Ryan Dunn

Police Officer Holly Garza

Sergeant Scott Pierce

Police Officer Chris Sinnokrak

10 Years

Police Officer David Arnett

Police Officer Adam Backowski

Police Officer John Dreher

Police Officer Michael Manzella

Police Officer Tanner McMillin

PA Clerk Leigh Olendorff

Police Officer William Stearns

Sergeant Jon Weiland

5 Years

Police Officer Jessica Misuraca

Police Officer Joe Judge

Police Officer Clint Koons

Police Officer Drake Nelson

Public Safety Software Admin Mike Nunnery

Retirements

Evidence Specialist Lisa Harke

Police Officer Diana Damke

*Milestones are in 5-year increments

AWARDS BANQUET

On Saturday, April 8th, 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department held its 3rd annual Awards Banquet, an event aimed at honoring the exceptional efforts of officers and professional staff. This gathering serves as an opportunity for the department to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable work performed by its dedicated personnel daily. Through this banquet, the O’Fallon Police Department underscores our commitment to recognizing the tireless dedication and outstanding contributions of its members to the safety and well-being of the community they serve.

Caroline Hecker, of KMOV News, hosted as the Master of Ceremonies and presented awards to 58 individuals including Letters of Appreciation, Chaplains Award, Productivity Award, Administrative Commendation, Unit Commendation, Exceptional Service Award, and The Chief’s Commendation Award.

The award ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Officer of Year Award.

Detective Sergeant Jodi Weber, a 23-year veteran of the O’Fallon Police Department, received this award for her unwavering work ethic and knowledge in the field. The combination of her knowledge and skills led her to solving a decades old serial murder case where the remains of one the victims was found in the city of O’Fallon in the early 1990s. Beyond the obvious necessity to identify and criminally charge the perpetrator of these vicious acts; Detective Jodi Weber brought some closure and answers to family and friends of deceased.

Training Coordinator Kara Ellis received the Civilian Employee of the Year for her dedication to the department in the Training Division.

Communications Officer Amanda Ditch was awarded the Dispatcher of Year. She received this award for many reasons, especially her ability to handle high stress calls promptly and professionally.

AWARD BANQUET SPONSORS

A&C Logging, Inc.

CHGO Law

Chic Fil A

Country Club Carwash

Crooked Feathers

El Mazon

Krey Distributing Company

Longhorn Steakhouse

McKelvey Homes

Nightshift Bar & Grill

Nathan Bibb

O’Fallon Plaza J Rich Corporation

Quik Trip

SAK

Ultimate Defense

Five Youngs, Inc (Serv Pro)

The Grow Room

Injectables by Rebecca, LLC

*The Christy Banquet Hall provided venue and food enjoyed by the attendees

The department thanks the sponsors for their generous donations in recognizing the men and women of the O’Fallon Police Department.

POLICE VEHICLES

During 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department’s 85 vehicles traveled approximately 1,173,858 miles. These 85 vehicles encompassed the Patrol Fleet, Traffic Division, Special Operations, K9 Units, Criminal Investigations and Detective Bureau, Command Staff and Administrative Division, Community Services, Emergency Management, Park Ranger, Neighborhood Police Officer, and Animal Control.

In 2023 the rough cost to completely build and outfit a police vehicle is $90,000. The vehicle is $50,000 and $40,000 is for the computer, dash camera, light bar, cages, radio and assorted equipment.

The O’Fallon Police Department in conjunction with the Fleet Department obtained permission in 2023 to initiate a Vehicle Longevity Program allowing vehicles to be assigned to individual officers instead of having pool vehicles. This program is expected to begin in 2024.

2023 Mileage Compared to the Previous Three Years

RACIAL PROFILING

During 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department conducted 19,191 traffic stops. Their supervisors review each officer’s traffic stops and any causes for concern are investigated and remedied, if necessary, in a timely manner.

In accordance with Department Policy 17.15, “Professional Traffic Stops”, an administrative review of biased based policing including Department practices, citizen concerns and any corrective measures taken was conducted for the calendar year 2023.

Throughout 2023, all commissioned officers received training on biased based policing as an element of Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) mandated continuing education, which requires in part, that “The training shall promote understanding and respect for racial and cultural differences and the use of effective, non-combative methods for carrying out law enforcement duties in a racially and culturally diverse environment.” New officers received biased based police training as part of the requirements to obtain a Missouri POST Peace Officer license.

Section 590.650 RSMo. requires that all officers report specific information, including a driver’s race, for each vehicle stop made in the State of Missouri. The Department must provide this data to the Attorney General by March 1,2024. As required by law, and after it was reviewed by the Chief of Police, the mandated information was supplied to the Attorney General.

In 2023, there were no complaints filed alleging biased traffic enforcement.

RESPONSE TIMES

During 2023, O’Fallon Police Officers arrived on scene to a call within an average of 5:45 minutes. This “average” considers the time from the initial call for service to the arrival of the officer. This “response time” includes incidents of all types, including both emergency and non-emergency calls.

During 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department spent an average of just under 48 minutes on scene. Depending on the nature of the call, both these “averages” can be much smaller or much larger

The O’Fallon Police Department prides itself on quick response time and therefore has assigned 8 sectors of patrol within the city limits. At least one officer is assigned to each sector to give each citizen equal police protection and service properly and uniformly.

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department, aided by the GIS Division of the city, conducted a sector study. The purpose was to determine if our current policing plan was still effective or if a change in sectors was necessary to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and overall response times. In 2024 the Police Department went to a 10-sector policing plan.

O’Fallon Police Department All Calls for Service

* Incidents included: Alarm Business-Panic/Holdup/Duress, Alarm ResidentialPanic/Holdup/Duress/Medical, Assault-In Progress, Auto Accident-Injury, Auto AccidentUnknown Injury, Bomb Threat, Burglary-In Progress, Domestic-Physical, Fire Call-Emergency, Kidnapping-In Progress, Peace Disturbance-Emergency, Personal Injury-Life Threatening, Personal Sickness-Emergency, Stealing-In Progress, Suicide Attempts and Violation of Ex-Parte In Progress

* Stacked time is the time the call comes into dispatch to the time an officer is dispatched.

ST. CHARLES COUNTY REGIONAL DRUG TASK FORCE

In 2023, the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force completed 502 investigations to include 50 search warrants and 211 “hand-to-hand” drug purchases. The Drug Task Force seized $451,934.00 in U.S. currency through criminal investigations into area drug dealers. The O’Fallon Police Department has three detectives and one Captain assigned to the task force.

In our continuing effort to educate the citizens of St. Charles County regarding current drug trends and resources regarding potential drug abuse, SCCRDTF conducts numerous drug education classes to various organizations within the County to include schools, grand juries, and civic clubs. SCCRDTF considers knowledge a key component in the ongoing battle against drug usage/distribution in St. Charles County and we will endeavor to educate our citizens so that they can serve as our first line of defense in the war on drugs.

St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force 2023 Review

SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS (SWAT)

St. Charles County Regional SWAT was activated sixty-three (63) times in 2023. The activations were at the request of nine (9) separate entities.

*Margin of error is +/- 1%

1. St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force (SCCRDTF): 35 (57%)

2. Cyber Crimes: 12 (18%)

3. St. Charles County PD: 3 (5%)

4. St. Charles City PD: 1 (2%)

5. O’Fallon PD: 3 (5%)

6. St. Peters PD: 1 (2%)

7. Wentzville PD: 2 (3%)

8. Lake St. Louis PD: 1 (2%)

9. Federal: 5 (8%)

These activations were conducted in six (6) venues within St. Charles County and one (1) located outside of the County.

1. St. Charles City: 8 (8%)

2. O’Fallon: 14 (22%)

3. St. Charles County: 26 (45%)

4. St. Peters: 4 (6%)

5. Wentzville: 7 (11%)

6. Lake St. Louis: 2 (3%)

7. Lincoln County: 2 3%)

Of the sixty-three (63) activations, thirty-five (35) involved the execution of high-risk narcotic search warrants. Additionally, twelve (12) operations focused on Cyber search warrants, while eleven (11) aided area Detective Bureaus. Five (5) activations were carried out in collaboration with Federal Agencies. Three (3) involved armed/barricaded subjects, with one of them being a potential hostage situation, and the remaining five (5) were high-risk vehicle take-downs.

TEAM TOTALS

The team was activated for a total of 211.5 hours in 2023 (3.5 hours avg.). This compares to:

2022 211.5 hours (3.5 hours avg.)

2021 130 hours (3.9 hours avg.)

2020 217 hours (4.2 hours avg.)

The average activation of 3.4 hours in 2023 remains consistent with the patterns observed in the preceding three (3) years.

In 2023, the total man-hours devoted to tactical operations amounted to 5,149. In comparison to previous years, we observe the following statistics:

2022 5,142 staff-hours

2021 3,339 staff-hours

2020 5,792 staff-hours

2019 6,095 staff-hours

SUSPECTS DETAINED

During the operation period of 2023, 143 individuals were detained. This statistic compares to:

2022 156 individuals detained

2021 92 individuals detained

2020 145 individuals detained

2019 260 individuals detained

The team located 45 firearms in 2023.

TRAINING

St. Charles County Regional SWAT completed the mandatory sixteen (16) hours of monthly training and one (1) week-long (40 hours) training. Sixteen (16) hours were spent at Asymmetric Solutions Training Facility for various range, tactical, and medical training iterations. In 202, some team members attended additional specialized training such as Command, Team Leader, Decision Making Training, K-9, and Sniper Competition/Seminar training.

SUMMARY

SWAT, is a designated law enforcement team whose members are recruited, selected, trained, equipped, and assigned to resolve critical incidents involving a threat to public safety, which would otherwise exceed the capabilities of traditional law enforcement. The O’Fallon Police Department has seven (7) SWAT operators, three (3) negotiators, and three (3) drivers assigned to the SWAT team.

REGIONAL CRIMINAL INTERDICTION TASK FORCE

Prior to 2023 there was a growing volume of calls reporting stolen autos and vehicle break-ins, which highlighted a critical need for an increased and cooperative law enforcement effort in St Charles County. This cooperative effort was needed to address the concerns of both law enforcement and citizens.

In response to this alarming surge in motor vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles within St. Charles County by the end of 2020, the O’Fallon Police Department spearheaded a cooperative enforcement team with other agencies in the region. This effort was later named the Saint Charles County Regional Criminal Interdiction Task Force. This initiative was prompted by a nearly 65% increase in vehicle thefts and a 7% rise in thefts from vehicles throughout the St. Charles County Region, highlighting the urgency to act.

Since the establishment of the task force in March 2021, these proactive measures have yielded consistent declines in these crime rates. In the span of three years, from 2021 to the present year, there has been a remarkable reduction in vehicle thefts and vehicle break-ins across the county. This Task Force has resulted in the most innovative and effective efforts seen in the region as indicated by the below statistics.

The Task Force was operational on 36 occasions beginning January 17, 2023. Below are some key statistics from the campaign in 2023:

• Pursuits:

o Total Number of Pursuits: 53

o Pursuits Terminated: 18 (34% of total pursuits)

o Pursuits Successfully Spiked: 35 (66% of total pursuits)

 Suspects Compliantly Stopped Post Spike: 24 (45% of successfully spiked pursuits)

 Involved in Post Spike Single Vehicle Crash: 3 (6% of total pursuits)

o Arrests:

 Felony: 162

 Misdemeanor: 412

 Total: 574

o Stolen Autos Recovered: 2

o Guns:

 NCIC Checked 103

 Seized: 26

o Other Activities:

 Prisoner Transports: 253

 NCIC Checks: 703

 License Plates NCIC Checked: 2840

TRAINING

The Training Sergeant and Training Coordinator assigned to oversee all department training ensures the department provides the best possible training for our agency, while being fiscally responsible. Officers took time to review many different departmental polices and covered a number of training topics during their daily roll call sessions. Other course delivery methods included classroom attendance, off-site classes, outdoor and indoor range training, VirTra Shooting simulator, online courses, video presentations, and the use of printed materials. Obtaining the best training possible for our department, while ensuring fiscal accountability is the commitment of the O’Fallon Police Department.

In 2023, the department hosted thirty-two courses. Hosting these courses, permits our department to be more fiscally responsible than ever by saving registration and travel expenses. Class sizes for hosted training varied, from 16 to 45 students with an average class size of 22 students. Several of the students and instructors travel from across the United States to attend training at our facility. The department also coordinates with Economic Development to promote local hotels to offer competitive rates for our out-of-town guests and businesses.

In addition to Police Officer training, the O’Fallon Police Department maintains a vigorous continuing education program for our Communications Officers. In 2023 members of our Communications staff attended over 440 hours of communications training. Some of this training consisted of the National Emergency Number Association Conference, Missouri Public Safety Communication Conference, Initial Telecommuter Training, and the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement Training.

Below is a breakdown of the commissioned personnel 2023 training. On average each O’Fallon officer attended 53 hours of training from a Licensed Provider from outside of the department and 40 hours of training using Missouri State approved instructors within our department.

UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING

& ARREST 18 AND OLDER

As noted by the FBI, The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program has been the starting place for law enforcement executives, students of criminal justice, researchers, members of the media, and the public at large seeking information on crime in the nation. The program was conceived in 1929 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to meet the need for reliable uniform crime statistics for the nation.

In 1930, the FBI was tasked with collecting, publishing, and archiving those statistics. The UCR statistics are the crime numbers used for the City of O’Fallon as having one of the lowest crime rates in America.

The UCR Program collects offense information for murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. These are Part I offenses and are serious crimes by nature and/or volume. Not all crimes, such as embezzlement, are readily brought to the attention of the police. In addition, some serious crimes, such as kidnapping, occur infrequently. Therefore, the UCR Program limits the reporting of offenses known to the eight selected crime classifications because they are the crimes most likely to be reported and most likely to occur with enough frequency to provide an adequate basis for comparison.

In 2020, the department transitioned to the Missouri Incident Based Reporting System (MIBRS). This is part of a national initiative which will change the reporting standards to the FBI.

UCR PART 1 CRIMES

Totals may very slightly from monthly reports as some cases were UNFOUNDED in subsequent months.

USE OF FORCE

In 2023, the O’Fallon Police Department responded to 69,690 incidents. There were 2,011 arrests, which was a decrease of 66 (3% decrease) in arrests from 2022. There was a total of 110 Use of Force incidents filed, which was an increase of 44 Use of Force incidents from 2022

Contributing to the increase, the department added “Taser pointed or arc” and “K9 deployed” (in addition to “K9 bite”) as additional reportable incidents. These categories were added as a requirement for CALEA accreditation. Another contributing factor could be the department’s relatively recent change in its pursuit policy as part of the department’s participation in the St. Charles County Crime Task Force. Finally, the department added more Flock cameras alerting officers to wanted persons and stolen vehicles.

Video review of these incidents revealed an overall more brazen effort on certain suspects to not respond to applied de-escalation tactics, leading to some sort of use of force reporting. Many of these incidents had suspects displaying characteristics of a mental health crisis.

Use of Force reporting does not include placing a subject in handcuffs, which is done on every physical arrest. From the total reported Use of Force incidents, there were 26 incidents where the suspect was injured and 13 incidents where the officer was injured. This is an increase from 2022 where there were 16 incidents of a suspect being injured and 9 incidents where an officer was injured. However, only six of the suspect injuries required some sort of treatment at a medical facility and three officer’s injury required some sort of treatment at a medical facility. This is an increase from 2022 where there were 3 suspect injuries that required medical treatment at a medical facility and 1 officer who required medical treatment at a medical facility.

APPENDIX A

2023 O'Fallon Police Department Calls for Service

2023 Police Officer Self-Initiated Action Report

OBSERVANT