Chief’s Message

Citizens of Owatonna Mayor and City Council Members City Administration and Staff

The team at the Owatonna Police Department would like to share our 2020 experiences with our community. Despite the pandemic, we have been open for business. We had a few modifications; however, the staff made the best of things and managed to provide a top-notch service to our neighbors, friends, and visitors. We are thankful for a community that coalesces around its law enforcement professionals. The 2020 budget’s actual expenditures were 2.76% under the proposed amount. Fiscal management is a priority for all of us at the police department. We pride ourselves on reviewing our practices on a regular basis and we focus on service enhancements, efficiencies, internal and external collaborations, and cost savings. At times, our changes impact all areas. The majority of our budget is spent on our most valuable asset, our staff. In 2020, we added a Mobile Field Force Unit to our department. This unit supports anti-riot operations through the use of maneuver tactics aimed at dispersing crowds. The unit was deployed on several occasions and served along side many police agencies. The mission is to protect the constitutional rights of all! Safety and security is vital to our strategic initiatives. Part 1 crimes, or our more serious crimes, increased by 3.2% with murder, rape, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson on the rise. Part 1 crimes were on a decline for years, but we witnessed a small increase; however, any increase in serious crimes is concerning. Part 2 crimes decreased by 9.3% with drug abuse crimes influencing the reduction the most. Overall, the City of Owatonna experienced an overall reduction of 4.2% of reported crimes. Within a population range of 25,000-49,999, our city is the sixth safest out of 22 cities according to the Uniform Crime Report. All crimes impact our community. If you are a victim of a crime, please report it. Our community is a blend of experiences that shape a wonderful place to live, work, and enjoy recreation. As you read through the annual report, you will see how important it is to the police department. We value community engagement that reaches all our community members. I hope we got a chance to visit at one of those events. We can be very successful with everyone’s help and assistance. Safety is paramount to a great community and engaged citizens make it happen! Be proud to be part of Owatonna and contribute in ways that resonate with positivity and kindness.

My wish is for a safe and healthy upcoming year. Warmest Regards,

Keith E. Hiller, Chief of Police City of Owatonna, Minnesota Page 2