2012 Patrol Highlights

ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The primary responsibility of Professional Standards is to ensure the integrity of the Owatonna Police Department and monitor the relationship between the community and the department, striving to create mutual trust. Professional Standards serves as a method of internal accountability by receiving, processing and investigating complaints concerning police conduct. These complaints may allege violations of criminal law, department policy or officer performance and may originate from outside sources or from within the agency.

The Owatonna Police Department makes every effort to act with professionalism and integrity in everything we do. However, in the event a complaint against an officer is received, an internal affairs investigation is initiated in an attempt to determine whether the act of misconduct occurred and disciplinary or corrective action is necessary or if the officer acted in a justified, lawful or proper manner. If criminal wrongdoing is alleged, the Owatonna Police Department often requests an outside law enforcement agency complete the criminal investigation.

In 2012, there were 20 internal investigations conducted involving twenty-one employees. These investigations resulted in twelve disciplinary actions, including six oral reprimands, four written reprimands, one one-day suspension from duty and one three-day suspension from duty. Disciplinary actions can include oral and written reprimands, suspensions, demotions or terminations. Five of the investigations exonerated the officer(s), meaning that after a fair preponderance of the evidence, the act or acts complained of did not occur; or the agency member named in the complaint was not involved in the alleged misconduct; or the acts that provided for the complaint occurred; however, the investigation revealed the act(s) were justified, lawful or proper. One investigation was halted when the employee voluntarily withdrew from the department. And finally, in two of the investigations, the complainants voluntarily withdrew their formal complaints against the officers. In 2012, there was one allegation of criminal activity brought against an employee of the Owatonna Police Department; the investigation was conducted by the Mankato Department of Public Safety and in March of 2013 resulted in a conviction for disorderly conduct.

PATROL DIVISON

The Patrol Division is currently overseen by the patrol captain. Captain Jeff Mundale supervises six (6) patrol sergeants who in turn are responsible the twenty (20) patrol officers. The patrol division has many specialized units within the ranks, such as a canine officer, field training officers (FTO), members assigned to the multi-jurisdictional SCDIU Tactical Team, firearms and use of force instructors, crime scene technicians, police chaplains, police explorers, and an administrative assistant/parking control officer.

Patrol Sergeants

The six (6) patrol sergeants are assigned police officers under their direct supervision. The sergeants supervise the day-to-day duties of the patrol officers and coordinate efforts with the officers assigned to each patrol district. Each sergeant is assigned to supervise a specialized unit that they have established a wealth of knowledge and training to supervise or participate in. The primary responsibility of a police sergeant is to supervise officers assigned to their specific shift and to hold the officer accountable for their day-to-day functions, activities, and duties. In addition, the sergeants are responsible to provide performance evaluations and create opportunities for the officer’s professional development. Upon the start of each patrol shift, the patrol sergeant will lead roll-call briefings, which is a summary of the previous shift activities, and to provide additional information for the safety and service to the community.

Patrol Officers

Patrol officers provide 24-hour police services to the citizens and community of Owatonna. Each officer and sergeant is assigned to one of three patrol districts established within the city. The patrol officer’s primary duty is to provide public safety through visual presence, enforcement, education, crime prevention, and problem solving throughout the city and in their respective districts. Each district patrol officer is tasked with becoming familiar with crime issues and trends, and to work in partnerships with the citizens and residents to improve the quality of life in each neighborhood or business district. A patrol officer’s daily activities also include: responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for service, conducting preliminary investigations of criminal activity, investigating traffic crashes, preparing incident, investigative, arrest reports, performing necessary follow-up investigations, making arrests and searches as required, identifying and attending to problem and directed patrol areas, identifying and enforcing criminal and traffic laws including city ordinances, preparing and providing courtroom testimony, and providing general security to business establishments, residential neighborhoods, school property, and the parks system.