Review of Stillwater Police Activity in 2010

During Tuesday night's City Council Workshop, Stillwater Police Chief John Gannaway gave a review of police activity in 2010.

The number of calls for service remained relatively similar to past years, Chief Gannaway reported, but "the nature of the calls has changed."

The Stillwater Police Department continues to operate two sworn officers below the department’s authorized strength, Gannaway said. The department is also short one full-time administrative staff position.

Some of the main points of the police chief’s presentation were:

Crime

* Last year police responded to an average of 37.6 incidents or calls for service per day, which was a slight increase from 2009 and a slight decrease from 2007 and 2008. In all, police responded to 13,737 calls for service in 2010, up from 13,700 in 2009, but down from 15,389 in 2008 and 15,806 in 2007.

* Last year there was an 8.7 percent increase in Part 1 crimes (most serious) due in large part to theft from motor vehicles. In 2010, police responded to 1 homicide, 21 reports of criminal sexual conduct, 15 reports of aggravated robbery, 509 reports of larceny/theft, five reports of arson and 179 reports of fraud. In all, police responded to 844 reports of Part 1 crimes, up from 737 reports of Part 1 crimes in 2009.

“Theft from motor vehicles has been the bane of our existence,” Gannaway told the City Council. “We are asking people to please lock their vehicles.”

* There was also an 8.3 percent increase in Part 2 crimes, which stemmed largely from the theft and swindle reports from the Mad Capper. “This was not the Mad Capper’s fault,” the chief said, noting that 370 of the 397 fraud and swindle reports came out of the incidents at the restaurant last year. This continues to be an ongoing investigation, Gannaway said.

* Police responded to 417 calls for service during Lumberjack Days.

Police Participation:

Last year, police participated in the DARE program at St. Croix Catholic; had a school resource officer at Stillwater Junior High; crime prevention efforts including a crimes against the elderly task force and three Neighborhood Watch areas; a K-9 team; code enforcement; National Night to Unite; a motorcycle unit for traffic patrol; and firearms safety training.

2011 Goals and Initiatives

* Expand the Crime Prevention Program

* Expand communication via social networking sites

* Will be part of a new records management system headed up by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in February 2012.

* Better police presence downtown with reserve officers

* Expand and “tweak” the reserve officer program