Crimes Against Persons Property Crimes…………………………………………………………………………...……17 School Resource Officers………………………………………………………………………17

PATROL DIVISION

TRAINING

Defensive Tactics Instructors

Officer Sorensen and Officer Drenth are the defensive tactics instructors. These officers have received specialized training in defensive tactics and follow the Pressure Point Control Techniques (PPCT) training curriculum. The officers not only teach the tactics but help officers understand the physiological effects of the body and how that can affect an officer’s reaction or physical response. Each year, Officers Drenth and Sorensen dedicate a minimum of two full days of training to provide a minimum of eight (8) hours of continuing education to all sworn officers of the Owatonna Police Department. Defensive tactics instructors also utilize scenario based training strategies to assist with training officers using padded Redman suits. This form of stress inoculation training allows the officers to practice delivery and placement of strikes, kicks, stuns, and take down techniques that normally cannot be practiced in firearms scenario based training due to the greater probability of injury to occur. In addition, the participants can experience the human factors associated with use of force engagements: such as, increased heart rate, fatigue, exhaustion and how their body performs at different levels of deterioration.

In 2010, Officers Drenth and Sorensen certified each licensed peace officer with eight hours of defensive tactics training and an additional two hours of TASER training. Every three years, these instructors need to attend a three day PPCT Instructor Refresher Course to maintain their instructor credentials. Officer Drenth is the department’s in-house certified Taser instructor. Once every other year, the TASER instructors need to attend an instructor refresher course to stay current with safety, legal, warranty and equipment updates.

Because the TASER is recognized as a valuable tool to obtain subject compliance, to effect the arrest and/or to control non-compliant, potentially dangerous, aggressive, or assaultive subject(s) while minimizing injury to the officer/subject; the agency purchased additional X-26 TASERS so that each uniformed police officer/sergeant has an assigned Taser to carry on-duty.

INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

Criminal Investigations

The Investigation Division serves in a support capacity of the police department by concentrating on the investigation of criminal matters that have previously been reported to the Patrol Division. An investigator will take a proactive approach when the need arises, by gathering intelligence, conducting human and electronic surveillance, and installing portable alarms. The major components of investigations are case screening, follow-up investigations, and gathering criminal intelligence.

In 2010, the unit was comprised of the operations commander, a sergeant, three corporal investigators, an investigator trainee, and an administrative assistant. The operations commander oversees the operation of the division. The sergeant assigned to the Investigations Division currently serves as the commander of the South Central Drug Investigation Unit. In addition to these responsibilities, the sergeant oversees the Predatory Offender Program, screens cases for assignment, and acts as a liaison to the Steele County Attorney’s Office. One of the corporal investigators and the investigative trainee are assigned to the Owatonna Public Schools during the school year, serving as school resource officers. In addition to their responsibilities as school resource officers, one serves as the primary financial crimes investigator and the other serves as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor. The second corporal investigator serves as the primary property crimes investigator and the gang intelligence coordinator. The third corporal investigator serves as the primary investigator for crimes against the person relating to sexual assaults, and adult/child protection matters. The investigator trainee is assigned to general investigations, which include crimes against persons and property. Investigator trainees are appointed to the investigative division as a means of staff development and are in this assignment for at least one year. Trainees in this role receive specialized training in the areas of interview and interrogation, writing, crime and death scene investigations, and writing search warrants. The Investigations Division administrative assistant serves as the property and evidence technician for the department and also serves as the administrative coordinator for the South Central Drug Investigation Unit.

The types of cases referred to the Investigations Division are broken into two separate classifications, crimes against persons and property crimes. Crimes against persons involve criminal sexual assault, child/adult protection, assaults, arson, robbery, and homicide. Property crimes include: theft, burglary, fraud/forgery, financial, and computer crime. In addition, investigators conduct alcohol and tobacco compliance checks, coordinate predatory offender verifications, conduct pre-employment background investigations, oversee the Retailer’s Protection Agency (RPA) program, and gather gang and criminal intelligence.

INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

2010 Cases Referred to Investigations: 903

2009-2010 School Year Calls By Location Total Calls: 1029

Crimes Against Persons

Investigators spent hours working cases involving crimes against persons in 2010. Many cases were worked jointly with other agencies such as other local police departments, human services agencies, and federal agencies.

Property Crimes

A significant amount of time was spent on several high profile investigations in 2010.

School Resource Officers

With over 5000 students enrolled in the Owatonna Public School district, the school resource officers are assigned to help maintain a safe, secure, and uninterrupted learning environment for the students, staff, and parents in the district. The officers, one assigned the senior high school and the other assigned to the junior high and elementary schools, serve as a resource to prevent crime in the school as well as investigate incidents that occur on school property. The officers also serve as an education resource by bringing their experience and expertise as guest instructors in certain facets of educational curriculum.