2012 ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Message from the Chief
1
Department Photographs
2-5
Organizational Chart
6
Administration
7-8
Budget Report
9
Forfeiture Report
10
Criminal Activity
11
Reported Crime
12
Crime Statistics
13
Use of Force
14
Police Training
15
Patrol Division
16 - 18
Traffic Enforcement Unit
19
Motor Vehicle Crashes
20 - 21
Investigations
22
Community Service Officers
23
Support Services
24 - 25
Officers at Work
26 - 28
Community Service
29
Citizen Volunteers
30 - 31
Citizen’s Police Academy
32 - 33
Citizen Feedback
34 - 35
Retirements / New Officers
36
Employee History
37
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF Dear Mayor, Council Members, and Merriam citizens,
I have now completed my first year as Chief of Police. Reflecting back, the one word that comes to mind to best describe the year is “interesting.” The two Lieutenants and I all worked in new roles that were filled with challenges and surprises throughout the year. One of the biggest challenges was hiring six new officers and coordinating their training. One experienced officer, Larry Birt, retired and four other officers left the department for various reasons. Needless to say, this created numerous issues during the year. Thanks to great personnel we worked through these staffing problems and look forward to 2013. This year also saw the retirement of the venerable Ford Crown Victoria police production model. This has been a cost effective police car for well over a decade. A committee was formed and they reviewed all the new models specifically designed for police usage. After many meetings and numerous test drives, the committee selected the Ford Police Utility vehicle. We also decided to retire the old black and white look, primarily because of cost savings. The new patrol cars will be solid grey with distinctive lettering (featured on the front cover). Our annual report document has been produced for well over twenty years. During the past few years the reports have contained much more than just information related to our department’s activity and calls for service. We have included our department’s commitment to the community through volunteerism, Citizen’s Police Academy training, and a sampling of letters provided by citizens to our officers for excellent service. We also include significant events that occurred during the year and photographs of all our officers. As you read this report, 2012 was another active year for the police department and it included our first murder investigation in several years. The incident involved drug activity at a hotel on East Frontage Road. The Metro Squad assisted with this investigation and the case was solved quickly with an arrest and conviction this year! We are proud to have experienced officers that led this investigation to a successful conclusion. Our calls for service were slightly up and all reported crimes, including part one crimes (page 13), were in line with five year averages. Even with reduced staffing our officers maintained a high level of self initiated activity. This overall high level of activity again shows the professionalism of our officers. In an effort to better document the diversity of our calls for service we include the “Officers at Work” section. We encourage you to read these pages to better understand the difficult situations our officers face on a daily basis. We should never underestimate the dangers associated with this profession. Our officers maintain quality standards while providing excellent service to our citizens and the community we serve. This has been an “interesting” year and all members of the administration have become better leaders because of these challenges. The officers on the department have worked diligently throughout the year filling many holes in the patrol schedule to insure proper staffing. I have been a member of this great organization, proudly serving since 1982. In the past thirty-one years I have witnessed many challenges for our department and the community. I have also seen positive growth throughout this time. Merriam continues to be a great place to live and work because of citizen involvement, great city government and wonderful city staff. We look forward to 2013 with high expectations for our department and the city’s continued growth. Sincerely,
Chief Tim Burnett
2
DEPARTMENT STAFF
Chief Tim Burnett Serving Since 1982 Lieutenant Michael Daniels Serving Since 1987
Sergeant Todd Allen Serving Since 1996
Corporal James Browning Serving Since 2006 2
Lieutenant Darren McLaughlin Serving Since 1989
Sergeant Troy Duvanel Serving Since 1995
Corporal Jeremiah Waters Serving Since 2003
Sergeant John Walton Serving Since 1998
Corporal Chris Brokaw Serving Since 2001
Sergeant Jason Reynolds Serving Since 2000
Corporal Phil Lewis Serving Since 2002
DEPARTMENT STAFF
Detective Wes Waller Serving Since 2005
Master Police Officer Todd Sparks Serving Since 1990
Detective Steven Wechsler Serving Since 2006
Detective Nick Weiler Serving Since 2005
Master Police Officer John DeMoss Serving Since 2003
Master Police Officer Gerry Eickhoff Serving Since 1991
Master Police Officer Seth Mullis Serving Since 2010
Master Police Officer Corey Herron Serving Since 2009 3
4
DEPARTMENT STAFF
Police Officer Jeff Magee Serving Since 1987
Police Officer Tim Filson Serving Since 2006
Police Officer Laura Naegele Serving Since 2010
Police Officer Cara Palmer Serving Since 2011
Police Officer Cameron Husom Serving Since 2012
4
Police Officer Aaron Simmons Serving Since 2012
Police Officer Roxanne Kegin Serving Since 2009
Police Officer Adam Taylor Serving Since 2012
Police Officer Vincent Rock Serving Since 2012
DEPARTMENT STAFF
Community Service Officer Jaime Brokaw Serving Since 2009
Community Service Officer Charlie Yocum Serving Since 2009
Records Clerk Lisa Jacobs Serving Since 1991
Records Clerk Karen Gibson Serving Since 1993
Records Clerk Ronda Brumbaugh Serving Since 1999
Crossing Guard Doris Hillhouse Serving Since 2002
Crossing Guard Cynthia Knapp Serving Since 1997
Crossing Guard Dave Thomas Serving Since 2009
5
6
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Chief of Police
Patrol
Investigations Commander
Commander
Shift 1
Shift 2
Shift 3
Corporal (2)
Detective
Community
Sergeant
Service Officers
Records
Detectives
Corporal
Corporal
Patrol
Patrol
Patrol
Crossing
Officers
Officers
Officers
Guards
Clerks
Manpower Alocations
Traffic
Administration Patrol
Traffic 2
3
3
Investigation
2 Traffic
4 CSO
20
6
Records
ADMINISTRATION/ SUPERVISION The Administrative Unit of the Merriam Police Department is responsible for a variety of different functions of the department. There are three administrative officers: Chief Timothy Burnett, Lieutenant Michael Daniels, and Lieutenant Darren McLaughlin. These veteran officers have a combined total of over eighty years of police experience.
CHIEF OF POLICE: Tim Burnett’s primary duty is the overall responsibility of the police department. He works as the liaison with all elected officials, community leaders and residents. He prepares the budget and manages all department spending. It is his job to manage department liability and risk management. He also makes the final decision concerning employee hiring, termination and discipline. Chief Burnett is on the Board of Directors for the Metro Squad and is the 2nd Vice President of the FBI National Academy Associates in the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter. INVESTIGATIONS COMMANDER:
The Investigations Commander is responsible for supervision of the
Investigations Unit, Records Management, Property Room, and the Community Service Officers and School Crossing Guards. The training of all the officers from the Academy through the Field Training Program is accomplished in this division. During 2012 the Investigations Division was commanded by Michael Daniels. Lt. Daniels is also a staff officer (Officer-in-Charge) for the Metro Squad and a Lead Supervisor on the Johnson County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team. PATROL COMMANDER: Lt. Darren McLaughlin is the commander of the Patrol Unit which is made up of the uniformed officers. Manpower allocation and scheduling are his primary responsibilities. He must be familiar with all the current laws as well as contemporary police tactics and operations. He is also responsible for investigating citizen complaints on officers, internal investigations and all use of force incidents. Sergeant: There are four sergeants consisting of Sgt. Todd Allen, Sgt. Troy Duvanel, Sgt. John Walton, and Sgt. Jason Reynolds. One sergeant is assigned to each shift (days, evenings, and midnights) and is the overall supervisor for that patrol shift. The Sergeant oversees the handling of priority/critical calls, approves reports, ensures officers are performing their duties, completes officer performance evaluations, and handles immediate officer complaints among other numerous duties. One sergeant is assigned to the Investigations Unit and is in charge of approving reports, case assignment, crime scene response, and the day-to-day supervision of the detectives. Corporal: There are four corporals consisting of Cpl. James Browning, Cpl. Jeremiah Waters, Cpl. Chris Brokaw, and Cpl. Phil Lewis. One corporal is assigned to each shift (days, evenings, and midnights) and works under the direction of the sergeant assigned to that shift. The fourth corporal acts as a ―relief‖ corporal and may be assigned to various shifts to fill-in gaps in the schedule. The corporals performs duties assigned by the sergeant and act as the shift supervisor when the sergeant is absent. Corporals also approve reports, oversee priority/ critical calls, and monitor officer performance. 7
8
ADMINISTRATION
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:
Another important function of the Administrative Unit is
professional standards. This function is primarily the responsibility of the Division Commander, who conducts internal investigations of department personnel when necessary. The Division Commander is also responsible for ensuring that officers follow proper procedure and all department rules and regulations. There are four main aspects of police work that the Merriam Police Department tracks and investigates: officer complaints, vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits, and use of force incidents. During 2012 there were ten official complaints that were investigated, five were unfounded and five were substantiated which resulted in disciplinary action.
VEHICLE PURSUITS: The department has a very strict vehicle pursuit policy because of the dangers associated with this type of driving. When an officer engages in a pursuit the on-duty supervisor closely monitors this incident. The officer has the direct authority to discontinue a pursuit at any time or the supervisor may direct the officer to end the pursuit. All vehicle pursuits are investigated by the on-duty supervisor and
reviewed by the Patrol Commander to ensure all policies and procedures were
followed. There was one pursuit during 2012.
FOOT PURSUITS: Foot pursuits have proven to be a very high-risk activity for officers. This is due to the extreme physical exertion and unforeseen obstacles. In addition, most people running from the police are violent and combative when captured. Because of these reasons, each foot pursuit is carefully reviewed by the shift supervisor and the Patrol Commander to ensure all policies and procedures were followed. There were no foot pursuits in 2012.
JUVENILE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (JIAC):
JIAC processes juveniles that are
runaways or who have committed criminal acts. In 2012 the Merriam Police Department took 23 juveniles charged with a crime to the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center.
An additional 17
juveniles were taken to JIAC who were runaways or CINC’s (Child in Need of Care). These numbers do not include juveniles arrested or taken into custody who were released to parents or guardians.
8
BUDGET EXPENSE REPORT In 2012, the total police budget was $3,438,505. This amount includes all projected costs of personnel, contractual services, commodities and capital outlay purchases. Of the total budget, $3,070,427 (89%) is dedicated to employee salaries and benefits. During the 2012 budget year, the Merriam Police Department spent $3,136,368, which represents 91.2 % of the approved budget. Below is a breakdown of expenditures by major categories as of December 31, 2012. Personnel: This budget item includes salaries, benefits, overtime costs, and other expenses.
Budgeted– $3,070,427
Spent– $2,827,427
Percent of budget spent– 92%
Contractual Services: This budget item includes utilities, equipment rental and repair, custodial services, training expenses, vehicle repair, and building maintenance.
Budgeted– $187,935
Spent– $164,844
Percent of budget spent– 87.7%
Supplies and Equipment: Included in this budget item is office equipment, police equipment and uniforms, and gas and oil.
Budgeted– $172,450
Spent- $135,729
Percent of budget spent– 78.7%
At the end of 2012 the police department returned approximately $302,137 (8.8%) of our total budget to the general fund.
Five Year Budget Track $3,500,000 $3,450,000 $3,400,000 $3,350,000 $3,300,000 $3,250,000 $3,200,000 2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
9
10
FORFEITURE REPORT According to K.S.A. 60-4117, law enforcement agencies are required to report the status of their Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund in an “annual report.” The report must include the type and approximate value of the forfeited property received, the amount of any forfeiture proceeds received, and how any of those proceeds were expended. In order to ensure that the Merriam Police Department stays in conformance with K.S.A. 60-4117, this section is included in all annual reports. Any questions concerning specific details should be directed to the City of Merriam’s Finance Department.
DRUG FORFEITURE ACTIVITIES IN 2012:
On January 1, 2012, there was approximately $28,931.64 in the Merriam Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund. During 2012 the Merriam Police Department received $11,943.65 from drug forfeitures and/or drug taxes. The account earned $116.29 in interest. During 2012 the following purchases or expenditures were made with funds from the Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund:
Simunition Training Helmets & Ammunition
Treadmills $1,648.49
TOTAL EXPENDITURES IN 2011: $7,445.39 ACCOUNT CARRYOVER: As of 01/01/2013 = $33,585.69
10
$5,796.90
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
A
Grid Map The blue lines mark the boundaries of the grids.
B
U
Note: Grid ―Q‖ is the Merriam City Hall Complex. *
C T D
P
E F
H
G
*
N M
I
L
J K
S
R O
The Merriam Police Department has divided the city into grids. This allows us to track criminal activity and crime trends. The chart below will give you information on the number of criminal reports taken in each grid.
Grid
Burglaries/ Thefts
Auto Theft
Persons Crime
Drug Crimes
Other
A
43
6
38
4
24
B
56
11
46
3
19
C
28
7
8
3
36
D
9
0
6
5
4
E
20
6
20
0
13
F
4
1
5
1
4
G
10
1
4
0
4
H
13
1
3
2
8
I
9
2
4
2
5
J
25
8
28
3
22
K
20
4
18
1
8
L
43
8
31
1
8
M
11
3
5
0
3
N
48
6
29
16
35
O
10
0
3
2
6
P
17
3
19
8
13
Q
0
0
2
1
1
R
9
0
5
0
7
S
27
5
18
3
23
T
93
6
16
8
25
U
3
0
0
2
3
Contact the Police Department for Crime Prevention Tips.
11
12
REPORTED CRIME TYPE OF CRIME
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
TYPE OF CRIME
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Aggravated Arson
0
2
0
0
0
Forgery
8
2
1
6
16
Arson
1
2
4
1
0
Furnishing Alcohol/Beer to Minor
8
2
1
0
2
Aggravated Assault
12
14
9
3
11
Gasoline Drive Off
0
0
0
1
1
Aggravated Battery
3
7
9
4
11
Habitual Traffic Violator
0
0
0
0
0
Aggravated Burglary
6
11
8
3
3
Harassment by Phone
29
19
25
13
19
Aggravated Sodomy
0
2
2
1
1
Murder / Manslaughter
1
2
2
0
2
Aggravated Indecent Liberties
3
5
8
3
6
Indecent Liberties with a Child
0
1
1
0
0
Aggravated Kidnapping
1
0
0
1
1
Indecent Solicitation of a Child
0
0
0
1
0
Aggravated Robbery
6
7
4
3
9
Identification Theft
20
13
12
11
20
Aggravated Sexual Battery
0
0
0
0
1
Intimidation of a Victim/Witness
0
0
0
1
1
Assault
5
2
2
6
8
Kidnapping
1
0
2
5
2
Attempted Murder
0
0
0
0
1
Lewd and Lascivious Behavior
1
1
0
3
5
Attempted Theft
5
6
9
4
4
Littering
1
1
1
1
1
Battery
102
114
91
109
153
Minor in Possession of Alcohol
7
5
10
2
3
Burglary to Auto
109
151
186
166
158
Obstructing Legal Process
12
13
15
13
5
Burglary to Business
12
27
17
20
11
Prescription Fraud
2
2
2
6
0
Burglary to Residence
40
43
50
29
39
Controlled Substance Possession
45
56
51
37
53
Burglary to Storage Area
21
3
8
8
0
Drug Paraphernalia Possession
9
13
19
19
9
Child In Need Of Care
40
27
31
22
24
Drug Possession / Intent of Sale
12
19
18
4
3
Child Abuse
0
0
3
2
4
Possession of Stolen Property
6
4
9
4
5
Computer Trespass
0
1
1
1
0
Possession of Tobacco/Minor
4
2
0
3
1
Counterfeiting
0
2
0
0
0
Prostitution
10
24
39
0
25
Criminal Damage - Felony
19
12
32
9
8
Rape
6
3
4
5
10
Criminal Damage - Misdemeanor
95
58
66
90
78
Robbery
2
3
4
3
2
Criminal Deprivation of Property
9
8
4
9
3
Sexual Battery
5
1
1
3
3
Criminal Discharge of a Weapon
16
1
0
1
2
Endangering a Child
-
-
-
-
Criminal Threats
15
12
14
13
20
Theft of Auto
60
49
65
68
68
Criminal Trespass
7
22
13
7
11
Theft of Auto (Attempted)
17
4
18
13
10
Criminal Use of a Financial Card
21
27
21
77
18
Theft - Felony
56
40
84
24
41
Criminal Use of a Weapon
6
3
5
1
4
Theft - Misdemeanor
240
229
200
234
242
Cruelty to Animals
0
4
5
8
12
Violation: Court Protection Order
16
8
5
14
4
Disorderly Conduct
30
21
49
40
36
Worthless Check
0
0
0
0
0
Escape From Custody
0
0
0
0
0
Stalking
0
0
1
2
2
Falsely Reporting a Crime
0
1
1
1
0
Other Crimes Not Listed Above
17
24
25
38
26
False Writing
8
9
3
6
0
TOTAL 12
1220 1161 1300 1217 1220
CRIME STATISTICS PART ONE CRIMES IN 2012: Each year we report Part One crimes to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations. Part One crimes are determined by the FBI and used throughout the country as a benchmark for crime statistics. We are required to keep statistics on these crimes by the federal government to assist in tracking crime trends.
10-Year Trends CRIME
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
MURDER RAPE
0 8
0 3
2 8
0 13
0 6
1 6
2 4
2 4
0 5
1 10
ROBBERY
16
10
20
18
16
8
10
8
6
11
ASSAULTS
26
20
9
27
125*
122
137
111
122
183
BURGLARY
255
232
237
244
221
188
235
269
57**
53
THEFT
427
420
526
467
414
345
303
323
473
445
AUTO THEFT
77
97
90
100
103
60
49
65
81
68
ARSON
7
1
6
1
4
1
4
4
1
0
Total by Year
816
783
898
870
889
731
743
786
745
771
CRIME TRENDS: We had a mixed outcome with our 2012 Part One crime statistics. Unfortunately there was one murder in 2012. There was a noticeable increase of assaults as well as rape and robbery. Burglary, auto thefts, and thefts decreased. The total number of Part One crimes increased slightly in 2012.
Explanations: * This category was previously labeled ―Aggravated Assaults‖ and only captured limited Part One crime information. In 2007 we decided to include assaults and batteries which more accurately reflects the FBI definition. ** In 2011 we stopped including ―Auto Burglary‖ in the burglary category and putting them instead in the Theft category to accurately reflect the theft from a vehicle.
13
14
USE OF FORCE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS All use of force incidents must be reported and are reviewed by the Patrol Commander. A specific report is used that details the circumstances that led up to the use of force, the amount of force used and the results. It is the responsibility of the Patrol Commander to evaluate each use of force used by an officer to make sure it was within department policy. During 2012 there were 28 incidents where an officer deemed it necessary to use force to make an arrest. This number is up from last year. The number of use of force incidents in Merriam is extremely low considering the number of arrests (1,189) the officers made during the year. Highlighted below is specific information related to the use of force incidents in 2012.
Type of Force Used During 2012 Incidents Service weapon pointed at individual
9
Taser device pointed at someone
3
Taser device used on individual
0
Empty hand control techniques used
18
LVNR– Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint
2
12 10 8 6
# of Use of Force Incidents
4 2 0 Day Shift 14
Evening Shift
Midnight Shift
POLICE TRAINING The State of Kansas requires all police officers to complete a state sponsored police academy with a minimum of 560 hours of instruction. The Merriam Police Department also requires any new officer to complete a field training program consisting of 480 hours of additional instruction. Every certified officer is required to attend a minimum of 40 hours of training per year. Throughout 2012 the Merriam Police Department offered a variety of training classes for its officers and civilian staff to attend. Listed below are examples of some of those courses. Defensive Tactics: Ground Fighting
Supervisor Training: Supervision of Police Personnel
Use of Force Situational
Investigating Use of Force Cases
Weapon Retention
Employee Drug or Alcohol Abuse
OC Spray/ Gas Mask
Workmen’s Comp Law Reform
LVNR
Applied Leadership
Detective Training:
Risk Management
Child Sex Abuse
ICS
Interrogation
Asset Forfeiture
Death /Homicide Investigation
Internal Affairs
Economic Fraud Training
Law Enforcement Liability
Gangs
Patrol Training:
Clandestine Lab
Street Survival Course
Domestic Violence
DUI
Sexual Assault
Report Writing
Senior Abuse Cell Phone Investigation
Firearms Training:
(This does not include hours spent at the Police Academy
I-Leads Records Management System Active Shooter Excited Delirium
Handgun Skills and Qualification
Taser
Rifle Skills & Qualification
Racial Profiling
Low Light Shooting Skills
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Traffic Safety Training:
Every Merriam police officer received on average 94 hours of training in 2012.
Sovereign Citizens
Doppler Radar and Lidar Training
Emergency Vehicle Operation Course
Drug Impairment
Crime Prevention
Accident Investigation
Terrorism
15
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PATROL DIVISION When most people think about the police they commonly visualize a uniformed officer who is assigned to patrol. It is the most visible unit of the police department. It is also the largest unit with twenty-one officers (75%) assigned from a total of twenty-nine. Their primary duties include responding to calls for service, patrolling the neighborhoods and business areas looking for criminal activity, stopping traffic violators and assisting the public as needed. In addition to routine patrol duties the officers spend many hours each year in District Court, Municipal Court, Driver’s License hearings, and attending training classes. The dedicated officers of the Patrol Division provide the primary function of the police department, as highlighted below through calls for service.
CALLS FOR SERVICE: The primary duty of any police department is answering the public's calls for service (911 calls). A police officer must be ready to respond 24/7, 365 days a year. In 2012 the Merriam Police Department received 13,168 calls for service. The chart above represents a breakdown on the calls for service since 2003. Please note the fluctuation from year-to-year. Many factors affect the calls for service numbers and these factors may include, but are not limited to, crime rate/trends, changes in our response to certain calls for service (example: theft of gasoline, non-injury private property accidents), increase in retail businesses, inclement weather, road construction, etc. 2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
15,997
15,753
14,412
15,639
14,342
14,185
12,769
13,233
12,769
13,168
SELF-INITIATED ACTIVITY: After calls for service, the patrol officers spend the remainder of their time on self-initiated activity and routine patrol. Self-initiated activity includes, but is not limited to, traffic enforcement, business checks (convenience stores, banks, bars, etc.), building checks, occupied and unoccupied vehicle checks, pedestrian checks, park checks, motorist assists and surveillance of problem areas for criminal activity. During the year our officers were involved in approximately 23,832 self-initiated patrol incidents.
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PATROL DIVISION There are no two eight-hour patrol shifts that are the same. Officers must come to work prepared to handle many different types of calls and activities during their shift including: weather related events, traffic accidents, surveillance, responding to high stress calls (i.e., armed disturbances, armed robberies, domestic disturbances, etc.), investigating residential and business burglaries, felony and misdemeanor arrests, directing traffic and being involved in community meetings. In addition to these various types of calls they also must routinely complete reports to document the above activity.
IMPORTANT PATROL FACTS FOR 2012: July was the busiest month in which we responded to 1,248 calls. The police department writes, on average, 22 traffic tickets per day. The police department makes about 2.6 arrests per day. Each officer will: drive 31 miles per day. answer on average 3 calls for service each day. average 3.4 self initiated calls for service each day. There are three shifts staffed by write an average of 1.15 police reports each day.
the Patrol Division.
make on average 1.5 traffic stops.
Midnight Shift 11:00 P.M.– 7:00 A.M. Day Shift
Shift Call Load 26%
Midnight Shift Day Shift Evening Shift 45% Traffic
24%
7%
7:00 A.M.— 3:00 P.M. Evening Shift 3:00 P.M.—11:00 P.M. Traffic Unit: Day or Evening Shifts as needed
17
18
PATROL: TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT Traffic enforcement has always been a large part of the everyday duties of a Merriam patrol officer. Statistics and studies have shown that in areas where there is more traffic enforcement, there are also fewer accidents. Studies have also been done that suggest that aggressive traffic enforcement in an area can reduce crime overall. High profile cases like the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, have Patrol car struck by drunk driver. been solved by an officer making a routine traffic stop. In 2012, Merriam officers made 5,464 traffic stops, issued 4,109 moving violation tickets and 3,679 non-moving tickets (total numbers including the Traffic Unit). TRAFFIC STANDARDS: For the past ten years there has been a minimum traffic standard in existence. The standard for each patrol officer is to write two tickets per eight-hour shift. Traffic officers have a standard of one ticket per hour. Fifty percent of the tickets issued should be for moving violations. This standard was adopted in conjunction with our community policing philosophy. 2012 Traffic Citations
18
D.U.I.
88
Speeding
2572
Inattentive driving
114
Traffic light
233
Stop sign
102
No insurance
1470
Seat belt
791
Drivers license violations
650
Court
Expired/illegal tag
491
Parking
100
All others
944
Statistics Total Filing: Fines Collected:
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
10,159
8,913
8,913
8,163
7,841
$1,032,667
$999,654 $1,162,087 $1,027,293 $948,323
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT (TEU)
The Merriam Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit is tasked with enforcing traffic laws within the city. Their efforts are concentrated in areas where there are a high number of accidents and traffic complaints. In addition, they participated in several saturation patrols for DUI and seatbelt enforcement. Listed
below are the 2012 statistics for the two traffic
enforcement officers: TEU Traffic Statistic Totals for 2012:
Traffic Stops Moving Violations Non-Moving Violations Total Tickets Issued Driving Under the Influence Arrests Speeding Other Moving Violations Seat Belts Accident Reports Shifts Worked Miles Driven
1,555 1,133 1,164 2,297 18 735 380 358 132 447 14,638
2012 ―Click it or Ticket‖ Campaign The STEP ―Click it or Ticket‖ campaign ran from May 21st to June 3rd 2012. During those dates, officers worked a total of 39 hours of overtime and wrote a total of 146 restraint tickets or 3.79 citations per hour. This ranked us state wide in 14th place just below the Olathe Police Department and Shawnee Police Departments.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit operates two radar equipped traffic speed trailers. These devices are placed in areas where there are traffic complaints or frequent accidents. The information is used to increase enforcement and determine the scope and time of day of the traffic problem. Citizens having a problem with speeders in their neighborhood should call the Patrol Commander’s office at 913-322-5587 and discuss the available options to resolve the problem.
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MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES TOP TEN CRASH LOCATIONS IN MERRIAM FOR 2012 ¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and I-35
68
¨ 75th and I-35
40
¨ Johnson and I-35
36
¨ 67th and I-35
26
¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch
17
¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Hadley
13
¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Mastin
12
¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Eby
9
¨ 75th and E. Frontage
9
¨ Johnson and Eby
8
Three Most Accident Prone Streets
I-35 Shawnee Mission Parkway Johnson Dr. All Other
Roll-over Injury Accident
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MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES One of the fundamental duties of any police department is to investigate motor vehicle accidents. The City of Merriam has 65 miles of roadway within its borders, including approximately 3 miles of interstate highway. According to data provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) the portion of Interstate 35, just north of 75 th Street, is the busiest section of highway in the State of Kansas. KDOT estimates that over 100,000 cars drive through the city each day.
With the types of roadways that run through Merriam, coupled with the high number of businesses and general drive-through traffic, the problem of traffic control and accident investigation is a full-time challenge.
2012 CRASH FACTS There were 457 motor vehicle accidents reported to the Merriam Police Department in 2012 compared to 486 in 2011. Of this total 128 of the accidents involved some level of personal injuries. A 13% increase from 2011. There were 274 accidents where damage was over $1,000. There were 30 accidents which were determined to be alcohol-related. A 15% increase from 2011. Hit-and-run accidents investigated in 2012 totaled 27. There were 32 private property and 54 minor accident reports taken in Merriam. There was 1 reported fatality accident in Merriam. It was in the 9800 block of W. 67th St.
NOTE: The above statistics do not include accidents reported to KHP that occurred on I-35.
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INVESTIGATIONS In 2012 the Investigations Unit detectives were assigned 626 cases and solved 155 for a clearance rate of 24.7%. These cases included homicides, rapes, property crimes, financial crimes and other types of offenses. Merriam detectives were also involved with Metro Squad investigations. Cpl. Browning and Det. Wechsler were each assigned to different Metro Squad investigations in 2012. The entire Investigations Unit was assigned to the Metro Squad team that investigated the Merriam homicide in January.
Total Cases Assigned by Year
Type of Cases Assigned by Year
700
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
600
Homicide
1
2
2
0
2
500
Burglary
39
46
43
29
50
400
Theft
98
95
101
106
114
300
False Writing Auto Theft Auto Burglary
3
2
1
22
16
25
20
27
38
65
10
49
49
45
47
Identity Theft
16
7
6
6
13
Robbery
8
11
6
6
11
Battery
17
33
30
17
41
Battery/DV
*
*
*
22
62
Felony Sex Offenses
15
9
15
13
20
Criminal Damage
12
12
13
29
24
Criminal Threats
6
3
7
7
14
Phone Harassment
9
5
10
6
14
Unattended Death
5
14
14
9
17
Child Cases (CINC)
15
4
12
17
12
Kidnapping
2
0
2
6
4
Arson
0
1
0
0
0
Assault
4
1
5
3
9
Credit Card Fraud
2
8
4
40
5
All Others
7
43
111
94
86
Total
287
365
458
509
626
200 100 0 2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
* indicates these numbers are not available
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COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER (CSO) The Community Service Officers are non-sworn members of the police department. Their job is to assist the public with various police-related functions that do not necessarily need to be performed by law enforcement officers.
DUTIES: CSO’s are assigned to many different tasks. They must be able to cover school crossings, perform records management functions, civilian fingerprinting, and routine walk-in reports. They are also act as the court bailiff. They can assist patrol with traffic control needs, motorist assistance, and other support functions. Their number one responsibility is animal control. This includes picking up strays, enforcing animal control ordinances, and helping control nuisance animals. www.merriam.org/MPD/Animal-Control/pet-registration.htm Last year the Merriam Police Department impounded 126 stray animals, including 28 cats and 101 dogs. Only 2 of the impounded cats were claimed and 40 of the impounded dogs were claimed by owners.
The following is a list of the CSO’s activity: Answered 324 animal control calls. Wrote 127 animal control related reports. Confirmed 48 warrants. Served 22 warrants. Answered 792 phone calls. 300 hours in court related duties. Took 16 walk-in police reports. Performed 132 civilian fingerprints.
In addition to these activities, the CSO’s are also attend training related to Taser, CPR/AED, Animal Control Conference, handcuffing, and records management training. 23
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SUPPORT SERVICES EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT:
One of the community service officers is assigned to help manage the department’s recovered property and evidence. CSO Charlie Yocum is responsible for properly logging and storing all recovered property and evidence. The property custodian is responsible for destroying evidence when it is no longer needed for court; disposing of other seized property by appropriate means or seeing that property is returned to the lawful owners.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Our Records Unit is responsible for the handling of police records once taken by a police officer. These reports have to be verified, stored, and properly distributed to citizens, courts and other law enforcement agencies. Lisa Jacobs, Ronda Brumbaugh and Karen Gibson are currently assigned to our records unit. If you have any questions or need help obtaining a report call 913-322-5560.
ALARM ORDINANCE: Each year hundreds of false business, residential, and robbery alarms are received by the Merriam Police and Fire Departments. The police department works with the alarm owners to find ways to reduce the incidents of false alarms. When the program was started in 1999 we had 601 false alarms. In 2012 the number of false alarms were 103. The city of Merriam collected $3750 in false alarm fines in 2012.
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SUPPORT SERVICES CROSSING GUARD UNIT: There are three school crossing locations within the city. Part-time employees assist school children crossing the streets at these locations twice per day (one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon). This unit, supervised by Lt. Daniels, is responsible for child pedestrian safety. The crossing guards also assist the department during the Turkey Creek Festival.
HOUSE WATCH PROGRAM: Each year a number of vacationing Merriam residents will register their homes with the police department for extra patrol. The Merriam House Watch Program is a crime prevention program that is designed to reduce house burglaries and provide citizens with a since of security while they are away from their homes. The citizen completes a simple form and officers spend designated times checking these residences while the owners are away. In 2012, 17 Merriam citizens took advantage of this program.
POLICE RIDE-ALONG PROGRAM: This is a community relations program that allows citizens to ride with a police officer during their normal shift. A citizen signs up to ride for two to eight hours on any shift they choose. They must complete a form that allows a records check to be conducted. The patrol shift supervisor coordinates with the citizen to schedule their ride-along visit. Persons under the age of 15 must have a responsible adult with them on the ride-along. In 2012, 31 citizens took the opportunity to ride with a MPD officer.
CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATION: CSO’s Jaime Brokaw and Charlie Yocum are both trained and certified in the proper installation of child safety seats. Appointments can be made with either CSO and the service is free to Merriam residents and $35 for non-residents. Bring your vehicle and the car seat you wish to be installed to the Merriam Police station and they will ensure it is properly installed.
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OFFICERS AT WORK—2012 ROBBERY: On January 10th a male subject robbed Famous Footwear. The suspect got money from the business and left the area on foot. The suspect did not display a weapon. He was later arrested by Merriam officers after a short foot pursuit. He was interviewed by detectives and confessed to the robbery. The suspect was also identified as the same person who had previously robbed the same Famous Footwear. (Officer Dixon, MPO Sparks, Cpl. Waters, Det. Waller, Det. Wechsler) HOMICIDE: On January 20th officers were dispatched to a hotel on E. Frontage Road after housekeeping personnel found a woman in one of the rooms deceased and a large amount of blood. Responding officers determined the woman had been shot to death. A Metro Squad investigation was formed and twenty detectives were assigned to the case. The suspect, a 36-year-old male, was interviewed and confessed to shooting the victim after thinking she was a drug informant. The suspect has since pled guilty to 1st degree murder. (Sgt. Allen, Cpl. Lewis, Master Officer Herron, Officer Naegele, numerous others) RAPE: On February 18th a juvenile female reported that she was sexually assaulted by her father. The original report was taken by the patrol division and it was handed over to the Det. Weiler for investigation. The investigation resulted in a warrant being issued for the girl’s father who was apprehended out of state and returned to Kansas to face charges. (Cpl. Waters, MPO Lewis, Officer Magee, Det. Weiler, Det. Waller) BURGLARY TO AUTO: On March 30th a citizen noticed a male and female breaking into cars in the parking lot of Home Depot and wrote down the license plate number. The suspects were located in Kansas City, Kansas along with the stolen property and returned to MPD. Det. Wechsler was able to obtain a confession from one of the suspects and they were both charged. (Officer Magee, MPO Lewis, MPO Birt, Det. Wechsler) AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: On April 12th a man reported that he was involved in a road rage incident in the area of I-35 and 67th Street. The victim told police that a man had pointed a handgun at him. Det. Wechsler located the man obtained a confession. A search warrant was obtained and served in Blue Springs, Missouri where the handgun used was recovered. (MPO DeMoss, Det. Wechsler) ASSIST OVERLAND PARK POLICE: On May 17th Cpl. Brokaw was on patrol when he noticed a subject lying in a parking lot in Overland Park near 75th and East Frontage Road. When Cpl. Brokaw arrived, the subject was not breathing but had a very faint pulse. Cpl. Brokaw immediately began lifesaving efforts by attaching an AED which indicated no shock. Cpl. Brokaw initiated CPR and PO Mullis arrived quickly and assisted him. Once Fire and Emergency Medical personnel arrived, Cpl. Brokaw assisted the Overland Park Police with the gathering of information. The efforts of all involved resulted in recovery of the subject’s heartbeat and breathing. Cpl. Brokaw and PO Mullis received recognition from the Medical Director of Johnson County Med-Act, as well as from the Chief of Police, as a result of Brokaw’s attentive patrol and decisive actions which were instrumental in prolonging the subject’s life. (Cpl. Brokaw, PO Mullis) 26
OFFICERS AT WORK—2012 ROBBERY: On July 12th the Dominos Pizza on 75th Street was robbed. The suspect was described as a black male with a red shirt and a white cloth on his face. The suspect left the store on foot and was not located. During the investigation a suspect was identified. The suspect was located in jail in St. Louis Missouri. Det. Wechsler went to St. Louis, interviewed the suspect, and obtained a confession. (MPO Mullis, Det. Wechsler, Det. Weiler) SUICIDE: On July 25th midnight shift officers Walton, Lewis, Mullis, and PO Glavin (In-Training) responded to the area of Johnson Drive and Kessler reference a train/pedestrian incident. The body of a 23 year old male was found on the tracks in the area of 57th Street. The train crew reported seeing the subject laying on the tracks when it was struck by the northbound train. Day shift officers Duvanel, Eickhoff, and Magee, and Detectives Browning, Weiler, and Weschsler were called in to assist. The subject was later identified when his vehicle was discovered parked nearby. The scene contained biological evidence scattered well over 100 yards along the tracks. It was later learned that the victim was a drug user who appeared to be having financial difficulties. His death was ruled a suicide. (Sgt. Walton, MPO Lewis, PO Mullis, PO Glavin) CHILD ABLUSE: On July 28th Cpl. Browning responded to Shawnee Mission Hospital to investigate injuries to a 4-month old baby’s face. The baby had bruising that appeared to be from someone forcefully grabbing her face. Det. Waller responded to the hospital and interviewed both the mother and father. The mother had been working overnight and the child had been in the care of the father. The father told Det. Waller that he did not know how the baby got the bruises. Det. Waller continued with the investigation and interviewed the father a second time. This time the father admitted that he may have caused the bruises. The father was charged in district court with child abuse. (Cpl. Browning, Det. Waller, Sgt. Allen) ATTEMPTED MURDER: On September 7th midnight shift officers Walton, Mullis, and Rohrer responded to a shooting call at the King’s Cove apartments. The 52 year old victim was the calling party and remained on the phone with dispatch until just prior to officers’ arrival. Officers from the Shawnee Police were called to assist and, after securing a perimeter, a 60-year-old subject sitting on interior steps was taken into custody. Officers entered to secure the scene so medical personnel could enter and render aid to the 52-year-old victim, who had been shot three times with a .38 caliber revolver. A third subject was a witness to the shooting and was not injured. Detectives Waller and Wechsler, and Sgt. Allen responded, as did Lt’s. Daniels and McLaughlin. The subject on the steps was the suspect and later told police he shot the victim, who he has known for over fifteen years, because the victim kept ―running his mouth.‖ The suspect went on to confess to Detective Wechsler that it was his intention to kill the victim, and he would do it all over again. (Sgt. Walton, PO Mullis, PO Rohrer) ROBBERY: On September 27th a woman attempted to rob Long John Silver’s at the drive through window. The suspect put a sock over her hand and acted like she had a gun. An employee shut the drive through window and the suspect left in her car without getting any money. The suspect then drove into Shawnee where she tried to rob a bicycle store, but the employees tackled her and held her for the police. She was interviewed by Det. Wechsler and confessed. She told him that her drug dealer threatened to kill her if she did not commit the robbery. (PO Filson, MPO DeMoss, Det. Wechsler) 27
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OFFICERS AT WORK—2012 FATALITY ACCIDENT: On October 9th officers were dispatched to an injury auto accident in the 9800 block of W. 67th Street. Upon arrival they found three vehicles involved, one of which was on its side. The driver of that vehicle, a 20-year-old female, was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation determined the female and another male driver, both westbound on W. 67th Street were racing for lane position and traveling at excessive speeds. The female lost control of her vehicle and was struck by a third vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The case is currently under review by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. (Sgt. Duvanel, Cpl. Browning, MPO DeMoss, PO Magee) SUICIDAL SUBJECT: On October 31st officers were dispatched to a residence in the 10100 block of Edelweiss Circle to the check the welfare of a 34-year-old male. The man’s wife called the police after she received an email from her husband stating he was going to ―end it.‖ The man was reported to be distraught over marital problems and an impending divorce. Prior to arrival, officers were informed the man owned two guns. The man’s vehicle was present but he would not answer the phone or come to the door. The Lenexa S.W.A.T. team used a robot to search the house. The man was found lying motionless in the basement. Officers entered the house and found the man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. (MPO Herron, MPO Eickhoff) SUICIDAL SUBJECT: On November 2nd officers were dispatched to an apartment complex to check the welfare of a suicidal person. Management had received a letter from one of the tenants indicating he was suicidal. A check of the apartment revealed the resident, a 58-year-old male, had made plans to kill himself in his garage. The man was not at home when officers arrived. Over the next several days, officers made many attempts to contact the man. Less than two weeks later, the man confronted his brother at his place of employment in Mission, Kansas where he shot his brother several times, killing him. The man fled the scene and committed suicide later that same day in Kansas City, Missouri, as officers moved in on him. (Sgt. Duvanel, Officer Magee) AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: On November 29th officers were dispatched to the Quality Inn hotel for an armed disturbance. A man from Sacramento, California, who was staying at the hotel, called 9-1-1 because a male suspect came to his door and threatened him with a handgun. The suspect claimed the victim was hacking into his computer. The 44-year-old suspect was also a resident of the hotel and known to have mental problems. Officers set up a perimeter around the suspect’s room. The man was called out of the room and he exited carrying a computer. The man was taken into custody. He admitted he threatened the victim, however, he denied ever having a gun. Cpl. Brokaw interviewed the suspect’s girlfriend and was able to obtain a consent to search the room. A realistic black BB gun was located under a mattress. The girlfriend admitted the suspect had put the gun under the mattress just a few minutes before officers arrived. (Sgt. Reynolds, Cpl. Brokaw, MPO Herron, PO Filson, PO Naegele) SUICIDAL SUBJECT: On December 24th officers responded to a 40-year-old male on the roof armed with two knives and a collapsible baton. The man was extremely agitated and told officers he was going to jump off the roof and run. He also said he wasn’t going down without a fight and would rather die than go to jail. He threatened suicide by cop. Cpl. Waters eventually talked the man into dropping the weapons and coming down from the roof. The man was taken into custody and involuntarily committed to a state mental hospital. (Cpl. Waters, PO Naegele, PO Palmer) 28
COMMUNITY SERVICE CRIME PREVENTION: The department’s crime prevention specialist, Police Officer Tim Filson, manages a program that encourages people to have their home or business checked in an effort to protect them from criminal activity. An appointment is set up with Officer Filson and he meets with the resident, business owner or manager, and makes a full assessment of the building. A report of his findings is provided with suggestions for improvement. There is no fee for this valuable service.
FINGERPRINT SERVICES: The Merriam Police Department provides fingerprint services during normal business hours. Many times a year, individuals need their fingerprints taken for financial bonds, the insurance industry or other reasons. We will provide this service by appointment. Please call 913-3225560 to set up a time. There is a $35 fee for this service. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME: The Merriam Police Department believes crime prevention is a team effort. We encourage cooperation between the police and citizens. The National Night Out Against Crime is a national effort to get the citizens and their police departments together to discuss crime problems and most importantly solutions. In 2012 we held a National Night Out Against Crime and Open House at the Merriam Police Department. The event included a question and answer period, division demonstrations, barbeque (cooked by Merriam Police Officers) and a Taser demonstration.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN PROGRAM: Chaplains Mike Jacob and Charles Boyce volunteer their time to assist our officers. They assist the officers by providing support to grieving family members at accident and crime scenes. In addition to these critical duties, they offer spiritual guidance to police employees and routinely ride with the officers during their patrol shifts. Charles is a youth minister, a Merriam resident, and a martial arts instructor with a 4th degree black belt in Tsuruoka Karate. Mike, a Merriam resident, retired in 2012 as the Merriam Police Chaplain and has moved to Florida. He will be missed.
Chaplain Charles Boyce Serving Since 2005
Chaplain Mike Jacob Retired
POLICE OFFICER VOLUNTEERISM: The Merriam Police Department has been involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run since 1982. The Torch Run started in Wichita, Kansas and now has participants in all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Africa, China and Japan. The Merriam Police Department participates in events like the Polar Plunge, Cops on Top at Krispy Kreme, Popcorn Standoff at Cinemark, and the Torch Run itself throughout the year, to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. In 2012, the Kansas City Polar Plunge raised over $110,000.
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Police Volunteer Memories
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CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS The police department has several volunteers who help out with a variety of projects. We have citizen volunteers who help in records, during DUI check points and other city events. We wish to thank all of our volunteers for the hard work they put in.
Child fingerprinting
Turkey Creek Festival DUI check lane
Ruth Terrones volunteered from 2009 to 2012 working 2 days a week with the records department on statistical gathering and analysis. Ruth was a very valuable asset and demonstrated integrity, teamwork, professionalism, respect, and compassion. We are forever grateful for all of her hard work and wish her well in in the future.
Volunteer Ruth Terrones Serving Since 2009 INTERN PROGRAM: The Merriam Police Department offers non-paid internships to college students who are seeking degrees in Criminal Justice. These students get the full experience of working in a police department. They work in all areas of the department. They help with data collection, statistical analysis, and general station duties. They observe the investigations and patrol functions by riding with the officers as they do their jobs. Any students interested in this opportunity should contact the Merriam Police Department.
We had the pleasure of working with Intern Ellyce Steck, from Johnson County Community College. 32
CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY In 2008 the Merriam Police Department introduced our first Citizen’s Police Academy. Since then we have found this program to very beneficial to the citizens, the officers and the department. The citizens get a ―first hand‖ look at what a police officer does on a daily basis. The police officers get a chance to learn what the citizens know about law enforcement, which will help them to understand why certain things happen the way they do. The classes are based off the job of a Merriam Police Officer. The citizens are given the opportunity to participate in as much of the training as they feel comfortable.
These classes consisted of more than just watching videos and listening to lectures. Over half of the classes were actual hands-on training. The students went to the firearms range to shoot handguns and even fully automatic rifles. They learned and practiced defensive tactics and some even braved getting a shock from a Taser. In addition to all the classes, and probably the most informative, the students were able to ride with a police officer during an actual police shift. This gave them a better perspective on what they had learned and exactly how it is applied.
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CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY Domestic Violence Use of Force
2012 Citizens Academy Graduating Class John Adams Allison Olandese Terry Stutzman Sharon Vandenberg
Taser Firearms
Kevin Baker Charlotte Brown Michael Churchill Gage Grimes Douglas Vernier James Maddux Christopher Galloway Carol Lawrence
Defensive Tactics DUI Enforcement Police Equipment Basic Patrol Procedures Traffic Stops Radar/Lidar Search and Seizure Investigations
Firearms Range
Taser Demonstration
For more information or to sign up go to www.merriam.org/MPD 34
CITIZEN FEEDBACK Dear Cpl. Brokaw and MPO Mullis, In my review of EMS reports, I read the event that occurred on May 17, 2012. It was a 28-year-old male who was found in cardiac arrest. Both of you responded, applied your AED, and began life-saving chest compressions. I am writing to thank both of you for performing life-saving skills to the this victim. As a result of your efforts, his pulse returned and he began to respond prior to EMS leaving the scene. Police first-response plays a critical role in the success of out-ofhospital cardiac arrests (OOCHA). Repeatedly, it has been demonstrated that the sooner the victims of OOCHA receives chest compressions and application of an AED, the greater their chance of not only survival, but also improved neurological status. Clearly, your efforts were vital to the success of this resuscitation.
On 08-08-12, Ms. Brown called to say how ―blessed‖ she was that Officer Naegele had helped her through two Domestic Violence incidents in July of 2012. Her professionalism and empathy helped her through this most difficult of times.
As I continue to urge our police agencies to engage in first responder compressions and AED application, I am so glad to see that you and the Merriam PD are active participants in this effort.
Dear Chief and all of the police officers of the Merriam Police Dept. and also all the staff members,
Thank you both for helping to save a life. Well done, Officers!
I have moved from Merriam but I hold fond memories of you all in my heart. In my 30+ years of living in Merriam, I always felt safe and secure thanks to you all. You are the greatest. God Bless you all,
Lester E. Richardson Johnson County EMS Medical Director
Rose Yesterday our neighbor passed away. 9-1-1 was called, as we were also, being very close friend’s of the Moore’s. EMT’s and your people responded wonderfully. On behalf of ourselves and the Moore Family, we cannot say enough good things about how the entire event was handled. Your officers and detectives went out of their way to make sure the family survivors were cared for, and considerations made to insure their feelings, and the shock they were experiencing, was foremost during the process of having to do their jobs. MPO Eickhoff and Sgt. Duvanel especially deserve recognition for their delicate handling of everything. They left us with the feeling that they went above and beyond, and for all this we thank them and the department.
Dear Policeman, I am writing to show my appreciation. Thank you for helping us, keeping us safe, and being brave. Being a policeman must be a hard and scary job. You are risking your life to keep us safe as well as our community. Thank you for being brave. You must be away from your family a lot. I appreciate you being our hero. Sincerely,
On behalf of the Moore Family, we thank you.
Sydney
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CITIZEN FEEDBACK Dear Chief Burnett, Please allow this letter to serve as a commendation for the assistance provided to the Kansas City Metro squad by Detective James Browning for which AT&T is extremely proud and thankful. As you know, in the early morning hours of September 19, 2012, our technician, a 40 year employee of AT&T, was beaten by an unknown assailant while working at a telecommunications cross box and subsequently died as a result of his injuries. Because (the victim) fled the scene of the attack and stopped his vehicle in a location not readily visible to the street, officers and communications personnel worked diligently to locate him so assistance could be rendered. After (the victim) was located and transported to the hospital, Detective Browning and other Metro Squad detectives came together to assist the Gladstone Police Dept. The KC Metro Squad began to investigate the incident and spent numerous hours following up on information as it became available to them. AT&T later offered a reward for information concerning (the victim’s) death and as a result of a tip received; officers were able to garner the necessary information to arrest a previously convicted felon. The Metro Squad’s assistance and that of Detective James Browning was invaluable. As a retired police detective myself, I know the hard work police investigators worked to solve this homicide and properly document the investigation. I wanted your investigators to understand that we here at AT&T Asset Protection, as well as the investigators from our Kansas City office, Kent Willnauer and Linda Sanchez, are proud of their work and effort in solving this crime and bringing the person responsible to justice. Thanks again and kudos to the officers of the law enforcement agencies who dedicated their time in the successful pursuit of this dangerous criminal who put the public at risk. Your city is safer because of their actions.
Sincerely,
William L. Jones
Dear Merriam Police Dept.,
On Saturday November 17th my cat KC found himself in trouble so Jaime Brokaw, Community Service Officer, knocked on my door! I want to thank her & the Merriam department for having such a wonderful kind and caring officer on staff. She made my first experience (lets hope only) easy for myself and KC.
Thank you so much for your quick response and your medical assistance. The death of my dad was very difficult but your kindness and support helped us through this situation. Everyone was so genuine and sympathetic.
Sincerely, Thank You,
Kathy Bengston
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The Settle Family
RETIREMENTS / NEW OFFICERS
Police Officer Larry Birt Retired
March 1988 - July 2012 Police Officer Larry Birt retired after twenty-four years of dedicated service. Officer Birt was the department’s Alarm/Crime Prevention Specialist and provided security assessments for residential and business owners. During his tenure, Officer Birt was in charge of the DARE program which aimed at educating school-aged children about the dangers of drugs. Over the years, Officer Birt taught the program to hundreds of children throughout several elementary schools in Merriam. The friendly, positive image he portrayed was evident while handling calls, as he was often recognized by previous students. The most often asked question from children was: ―Do you know Officer Birt?‖ Larry will be missed by more than just his fellow officers!
Officers Hired in 2012 Police Officer Adam Taylor Adam Taylor was hired in June 2012. Taylor served in the United States Marines for 8-years and recently worked as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan.
Police Officer Cameron Husom Cameron Husom was hired in December 2012. Husom has a Bachelors Degree in Law Enforcement and previously worked as a reserve police officer in Crystal, Minnesota.
Police Officer Aaron Simmons Aaron Simmons was hired in December 2012. Simmons has a Bachelors Degree in Communications and served 8 years in the Army Reserve.
Police Officer Vincent Rock Vincent Rock was hired in December 2012. Rock has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology.
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Proudly Serving Since 1951 Retired Members of the Merriam Police Department Serving 10 or More Years:
Years of Service
Police Officer Larry Birt
March 1988
July 2012
24
Chief William Lietzke
December 1979
December 2011
32
Sergeant Dan Kellerman
January 1984
June 2011
27
Police Officer Charles Yocum
July 1977
February 2009
32
Sergeant Albert Jones
May 1983
December 2008
25
Sergeant Randy Davis
January 1981
February 2007
26
Chief Kenneth Sissom
January 1979
December 2005
26
Sergeant Robert Smith
June 1977
November 2002
25
Sergeant Winfield (Syd) Tubbs
August 1979
September 1997
18
Sergeant Jerry Bybee
October 1963
March 1992
29
Chief James Browning
November 1979
June 1992
12
Captain Gene Nicholson
June 1969
1984
23
Chiefs of Police Through the Years: Chief Tim Burnett
2012 - Present
Chief Bill Lietzke
2006 - 2011
Chief Kenneth Sissom
1992 - 2005
Chief James Browning
1979 -1992
Chief Donald Lemos
1977 -1979
Chief Douglas M. Haynes
1966 -1977
Chief Joseph ―Mike‖ Donahue
1962 -1966
Chief Jack Dodson
1956 -1962
Chief Jack R. Sherman
1955 -1956
Chief Perry Sarver
1953 -1955
Currently Merriam’s Mayor!
1965 Chief’s salary was $650 per month!
For more detailed history please view our website: www.merriam.org\MPD 38
Proudly Serving Since 1951
Merriam Police Department 6190 Eby St. Merriam, KS 66202 (913) 322-5560