Chaplains

OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT—2018 Annual Report

Chaplains

Back Row Reverend Brent Carlson

Front Row Reverend Loren Olson Parish Nurse Nancy Deetz

What is the role of a Chaplain?

• To serve Owatonna Police Department members and the community with non-denominational spiritual care, • To provide assistance to police staff giving next of kin death notifications, • To provide confidential services to officers and their families involved in critical incidents,

• To attend and presents at city council and officer swearing-in ceremonies, and • To join officers on frequent ride-alongs.

General Overview—Detective Bureau

The Detective Bureau is a support division to the Owatonna Police Department and is currently comprised of a Captain, a Detective Sergeant, (2) General Investigators, (1) Child Protection Investigator, (2) School Resource Officers and an Evidence Technician. Detective Bureau investigators are tasked with investigating major crimes, financial crimes, technology crimes, child protection matters and crimes against persons & property and predatory offenders. In addition, the Detective Bureau sergeant serves as the commander of the South Central Drug Investigative Unit (SCDIU) which is a local and grant funded Violent Crimes Enforcement Team (VCET) that serves Steele, Waseca, Freeborn and Faribault counties and the cities located within those counties.

2018 Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance

The Owatonna Police Department, with the assistance of underage operatives, conducted alcohol and tobacco compliance checks at local retailers. Compliance checks provide a proactive approach to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of our youngest community members. These checks have been completed twice a year by our department since 1999. The operatives are trained, photographed and equipped with electronic listening devices so officers can monitor the conversations.

We conduct the checks with the anticipation that all businesses are complying with state and local laws. The sale of tobacco and alcohol to someone under the legal age is a criminal matter and may result in criminal charges to the employee who sold the product. The business may also face the possibility of a suspension or revocation of their tobacco or alcohol license by the City Council.

Twenty-seven establishments were checked for tobacco compliance in 2018. Twenty-three establishments were found to be compliant for an 85% compliance rate. A letter was sent to each business that passed congratulating them on their diligence and professionalism. A citation was issued to the employees that failed the check, and a letter was sent to the businesses reviewing their licensing requirements.

Tobacco

15% Non

85% Compliant

13% Non

87% Compliant

Alcohol

Forty establishments were checked for alcohol compliance. Of those, thirty-five were found to be compliant for an 87% compliance rate. Formal complaints were issued to the employees that failed the checks. A letter was sent to each business that passed congratulating them on their diligence and professionalism when asking and checking for the underage buyer’s identification and birthdate.