Community Service Officers

Community Service Officers (CSOs) are uniformed, unarmed, civilian members of the Owatonna Police Department that engage in a variety of law enforcement/ community-related services including: animal control/complaints, parking enforcement, traffic control, private property accidents, motorist assists, ordinance enforcement and countless other duties.

CSOs usually handle non-criminal, lower priority calls which do not require a licensed police officer with arrest powers, essentially freeing our licensed officers to concentrate on those incidents requiring their specific skill sets. CSOs are considered a blessing for both the department and community they serve—they are often the department members seen leading a parade, funeral procession, or giving a squad and facility tour. The CSO program is a very successful, cost effective program that allows the Owatonna Police Department to continue providing several quality of life service services to the citizens of our community. The CSO Unit is currently staffed by (1) full-time and (2) part-timers.

A Tribute to Dave Schroeder

In 2019, we suffered a great loss within our department with the passing of a colleague and good friend, Community Service Officer David Michael Schroeder. David passed away on January 28, 2019, due to Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 63 years old.

In 1982, Dave earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in both Law Enforcement and Corrections. He retired from the Owatonna Police Department in August of 2011 after 25 years. Dave taught defensive tactics, served as an investigator and school liaison officer, and was a member of the regional SWAT team and a sniper. He loved working as a police officer and felt a great sense of purpose while serving as an officer. In 2014, Dave returned to the Owatonna Police Department where he served at the Owatonna Middle School as a community service officer.

He will be forever missed by his friends at the Owatonna Police Department. The strong bonds between him and his partners is formidable and unbreakable. We have a deep affection for him and his family along with his stories, laugh, talents, and smile. We hold him in great esteem for making all of us better at serving others. The badge is more than metal, it is a symbol that bonds our family together. He will always be part of our family.

PARKING CONTROL

It is the responsibility of the Owatonna Police Department to enforce parking regulations in the City of Owatonna that have been approved by the City Council. These violations can range from: short/long term parking, 48 hours, parking in yellow zone, obstructing driveway access, winter parking ordinance (odd/even winter parking restriction), school zone parking, downtown 2-6 a.m. parking and other enforceable offenses.

The winter parking restriction is something that always creates attention. The police department focuses on citizens each year on the reoccurring ordinance dates (Nov. 15—Mar. 30) and restrictive street parking hours. Winter Parking Ordinance signs are placed along all major thoroughfares as you enter the city limits and throughout the neighborhoods. Each year as the odd/even restriction approaches, officers will issue about 1,000 parking notices to residents who park in enforceable areas. A fine is not attached to this notice initiative, but rather to serve as a reminder and to educate those that may not know about the ordinance. The odd/even parking enforcement is not contingent on an impending snowstorm. The objective is to condition citizens to comply with the ordinance to avoid costly fines and possible tows so efficient street maintenance and snow removal operations can occur. Voluntary compliance, precipitated by consistent enforcement, results in a significantly more effective and efficient plowing operation. Funds collected from parking tickets are deposited into the City of Owatonna general fund. To find out more information on public and winter parking restrictions, scan QR code to the right.

ANIMAL CONTROL

CRIME SCENE UNIT Community Service Officers primarily handle animal control calls for the Owatonna Police Department. If a CSO is not on duty when a call for animal control assistance comes in to our dispatch center, a police officer will be dispatched as soon as possible. Our CSOs handled over 1,964 animal calls in 2019. If you have an animal complaint that does not need immediate attention, you are welcome to submit your complaint to the City of Owatonna website by filling out a nuisance complaint form. Nuisance Ordinance Violation Complaint

Animals impounded by the Owatonna Police Department are sheltered at the City Animal Shelter located at 1190 Industrial Road, unless special care is required. In 2019, of the 242 animals brought to the animal shelter (111) were adopted and (114) were claimed. Please check our animal control Facebook page if you have a missing dog or cat or are looking to adopt.

Owatonna Police Department Animal Control Facebook Page

CSOs handle and work with classification and registration of Potentially Dangerous or Dangerous Dogs. In 2019, 27 dog bite investigations for classification which resulted in (16) dogs designated as Potentially Dangerous, (8) dogs as Dangerous and (3) dog bites not classified.