Iowa State University Department of Public Safety Annual Report 2017

Pursuing excellence in public safety while moving forward building community.

GET IN TOUCH Iowa State University Department of Public Safety Police Non-Emergency 515-294-4428

Help Van/SafeRide 515-294-4444

Parking 515-294-3388

Emergency 911

FOLLOW US @ISUPD

Editor-in-chief Emily Barske

Cover Jon Hesse

Managing editor Emily Blobaum

Design Peter Lemken Isaiah Johnson Jon Hesse Kelsey Garin Jayden Pond

News editor Danielle Gehr

CONTENTS OPENING LETTER

07

ABOUT US

08

ONE MIND CAMPAIGN

11

ARMED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

17

REACHING OUT

25

SAFERIDE

31

ANSWERING THE CALL

35

INTRODUCING BODY CAMS

38

HIRES AND PROMOTIONS

42

SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM ANNIVERSARY

45

ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION OFFICERS

48

Published in partnership with the Iowa State Daily in April 2018

Peter Lemken/Iowa State Daily

Opening letter Dear Iowa State University community members,

variety of graphics, photos and stories outlining the work of DPS. With the department consisting of the university

Each year the Iowa State Department

police, the parking division and the

of Public Safety does a great deal of

Sexual Assault Response Team, there

work on campus in partnership with

was a lot to cover.

the community. While the department publishes much of this information,

We felt this approach to an annual

we have not done a traditional annual

report fit the overall style of the

report on the work the department did

department given our relationship

in the previous calendar year.

with the overall community. We hope this publication gives you some

Instead of doing a traditional annual

perspective about the status of safety

report like many departments do, we

on our campus and the initiatives the

decided to do things a little differently.

department feels most passionately about.

The department approached the Iowa State Daily about partnering together

Sincerely,

to publish the 2017 report — and that brings you to this publication.

Michael Newton, Chief of Police/Assistant Vice President

It is the desire of both DPS and the

Iowa State University

Daily to inform you about efforts to keep campus safe and gain a better

Emily Barske,

understanding of what it takes to do

Editor in Chief

that. In this publication, you’ll see a

Iowa State Daily

7

About us The Department of Public Safety at Iowa State University is a team of law enforcement and parking professionals working in partnership with the university community to improve the quality of life by enhancing safety, personal security and campus access services for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The police department has 38 sworn, state-certified police officers and 14 full-time civilian staff.

The parking department has nine full-time civilian staff. Âť Mission:

Caring

To create a safe and secure learning

Having the sensitivity to see the

and working environment by providing

needs of others and demonstrating

proactive police and parking services

compassion for all people.

and a high level of preparedness for the university community. The

Honor

philosophy of community-oriented

Having the esteem, respect and

customer service is instrumental to

reverence for our personal and

the manner in which the department

professional family, as well as our

functions and operates. Our team is

fellow citizens.

committed to maintaining a high level of professionalism.

Excellence The personal and professional

Âť Core Values: (RICHES)

standards through which all of our

Respect

behaviors, performance and attitudes

Being able to recognize the inherent

shall be judged. A continual journey

worth of all by treating people as they

not a destination.

should be treated, with understanding and compassion.

Service Putting responsibilities before self-

Integrity

interest, performing duties to meet the

Having the honesty and moral courage

needs of others, promoting partnerships

to act reliably and responsibly by being

to identify and solve problems, doing

a positive role model.

what is right for the community.

8

BY THE NUMBERS: CALLS FOR SERVICE:

21,105

TRAFFIC STOPS:

NEW CASES:

3,673 1,819 NUMBER OF ARRESTS:

933

FIRE

ALARM

PULL DOWN

SAFERIDE TRIPS:

18,495

FIRE ALARMS:

303

SAFERIDE PASSENGERS:

23,038

426 2,329

OUTREACH EVENTS:

EXTRA PATROL:

TOTAL CHARGES FILED:

1,420

Mikinna Kerns/Iowa State Daily

One mind campaign

By Emily Barske and Danielle Gehr

An adorable husky puppy with a green bandana named Oliver was quite a hit on campus in October. But he was more than just a spectacle for those passing by.

Oliver wore the bandana as a part of

Mental Illness (NAMI). Looking into

ISU Police’s collaboration with Iowa

NAMI Iowa, Newton makes mental

State’s chapter of the National Alliance

health a priority. Newton ser ves as the

on Mental Illness (NAMI) for the

adviser for Iowa State’s NAMI chapter.

“Bandana Project.”

“One of my other strong areas that I The bandanas symbolize that you can

want to be involved in here is mental

approach that person about mental-

health. This is really important to me.

health-related questions and resources.

Making sure that we have the right systems and processes in place to help

The police have created a renewed

students, faculty and staff with mental

focus on mental health issues under

health concerns,” Newton said when he

Chief Michael Newton’s leadership.

first started at Iowa State.

In Wisconsin, Newton was the board president of the National Alliance on

“Over the years, law enforcement has sort of ebbed. We used to have a lot of

11

social service agencies and the social

***

service agencies that would assist with mental health issues and concerns.”

The agency launched the One Mind Campaign at Iowa State in October to be implemented in one to three years.

“This campaign has the ability to help officers change their overall mindset on mental illness.”

»» What Iowa State’s One Mind Campaign is started by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

»» Purpose Now, he feels that there has been an

The campaign seeks to unite

influx of mental health cases on college

communities, public safety organizations

campuses causing more of a need.

and mental health organizations so

These cases have often ended in arrest

the three become “of one mind.”

in situations where Newton said mental health treatment would have been the better solution.

»» Four steps • Establish a clearly defined and sustainable partnership with one

The training he would like to

or more community mental health

implement would deal with mental

organizations.

health, specifically teaching officers how to de-escalate.

• Develop and implement a model policy addressing police response to persons affected by mental illness.

“It also teaches that it’s the illness, not

• Train and certify 100 percent of the

the person,” Newton said. “It helps

agency’s sworn officers and selected

them recognize that sometimes people

civilian staff such as dispatchers in

who are in a mental health crisis act

Mental Health First Aid for

out and act differently.”

Public Safety.

• P rovide Crisis Intervention Team

Parts of the training also help the

training to a minimum of 20

officers think from the perspective of

percent of the agency’s sworn

the person bearing a mental illness.

officers, and selected civilian staff

This will lead to a better understanding

such as dispatchers.

of what it is like to have a disorder such as schizophrenia.

Mikinna Kerns/Iowa State Daily

A note from Chief Newton “Each and every time we provide services, we strive to treat people with respect, integrity and compassion. It does not matter whether the person is going through a mental health crisis, is suspected of committing a crime, or they are the victim of a crime. We need to approach people in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational way. Those who are suffering a mental health crisis are not always aware of their actions nor are they able to respond to traditional police techniques.

This campaign has the ability to help officers change their overall mindset on mental illness. The training involved will help officers understand the complexities of mental illness and will equip them with new tools that will help them help others. If we are going to be successful, we need a true partnership between police, community, mental health providers, the consumers and their families. Together we are stronger, and this program offers an opportunity to make mental health stronger at Iowa State University and the Ames community.�

13

WELFARE CHECKS Oftentimes, police must respond to welfare checks, a request that the police check on an individual due to concern about the individual’s safety and well-being. Here are the number of welfare checks from 2017 and which days of the week they occurred.

Police try to be out of uniform and in everyday clothes for these calls when possible to make the individual feel more comfortable.

SUNDAY

30 35

MONDAY

40

TUESDAY

38

WEDNESDAY

43

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

29 40

TOTAL 255 CALLS

CALLS FOR SERVICE

5.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY GENERAL COMPLAINTS

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

4.

EXTRA PATROL

6.

3.

7.

9.

ALARM

10.

FOLLOW UP

2.

TRAFFIC STOP AND ENFORCEMENT

8.

1.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

BURGLAR AND PROPERTY CALLS ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY

Max Goldberg/Iowa State Daily

Twitter profile:

Armed with social media

By Danielle Gehr

“Think twice, tweet once.”

A Post-it note containing only these words collects dust on the desk of Community Outreach Officer Anthony Greiter, guiding him as he holds all the power when it comes to the department’s Twitter account.

Since the ISU Police Twitter’s launch, Greiter has added color and humor to build its following to more than 17,000.

IowaStateU Police 18 Jan 2017

@ISUPD

Please stop vaping on campus. It’s getting hard to see the buildings.

Tweets such as turning a foggy day into a vape joke have caught the attention of the Iowa State community as well as people all around the world.

“The vaping tweet reached 1.8 million people across the world,” Greiter said.

“We had articles written about us across the world, and that’s a great way to show that law enforcement in the U.S., in this time when there’s a lot of tension

for departments to be part of their

between communities and police, can

communities. The police department

be real people.”

in Wyoming, Minnesota, which Greiter often pulls inspiration from, recently

Social media is now another tool

surpassed its town’s population in

on an officer’s tool belt as a way

followers.

17

“We are able to reach a much larger audience with social media, but there’s still something to be said about the personal contact.”

Greiter has found that this humorous

He cited what he called “the medieval

style works with this audience of mostly

sock scare.” A prop, which was simply

young college students who tend to

Styrofoam in a sock, left by members

“wake up and most know that it’s going

of the Live Action Role Playing Club

to be a good day.”

turned into a bomb scare.

He joked that he often draws the line

Though the situation turned out to be

and then puts one toe over it because

harmless, the ISU PD reached roughly

this edgy style is what has kept the

100,000 people with its warning within

department relevant.

the first 10 minutes that it was sent out. It was one of the first times it used

“It is a tough balance because we’re

social media for this type of situation.

working with sensitive information and sensitive topics, but at some point if

Social media has its pros compared to

we don’t lighten up and provide some

ISU Alert, Greiter said. Most people

comic relief, people will stop paying

don’t get ISU Alert, limiting the number

attention,” Greiter said.

of people that it reaches.

Maintaining a Twitter that is light and

Though Twitter is the department’s daily

fun has been a goal of Greiter’s since

contact with the community, Greiter

pitching the Twitter account to the

incorporates face-to-face, more personal

department. He explained that if people

types of events for the department

genuinely enjoy the content that they

through his community outreach.

are putting out on a regular basis, their audience will be attentive when there

“We are able to reach a much larger

is an actual emergency or at least a

audience with social media, but there’s

possible threat.

still something to be said about the

IowaStateU Police 28 Feb 2017

@ISUPD

What in blood alcohol concentration?!

“Let me say this one more time.

I arrested this kid and he said, ‘You guys are awesome.’ To me, that’s a win.”

It was bad in that it engendered corruption.” personal contact,” Greiter said.

The response to the unethical behavior “The coffee with a cop, the citizen’s

was to completely separate the police

police academy and the opportunity for

and the community. One method that

people to come in and ask us questions

Delisi spoke of was the implementation

and have conversations.”

of cars. Officers who used to walk around and engage with the community

Today, all police departments in the

now drove in cars, communicating only

United States make community policing

with other officers through the radio.

a priority. Though, Matthew Delisi,

Corruption was then replaced with

professor of sociology and coordinator

another issue: estrangement.

of the criminal justice department, said that this has not always been the case.

“You had the police really only responding to calls for service and

Early on, being connected to the

then they would react to whatever

community was uniform for police

it was, and there were a lot of angst

departments across the country. This

and problems in the mid-to-late 20th

all changed once these practices led

century,” Delisi said.

to corruption.

Realizing that the separation of “Policing used to be very politicized

police and community only caused

and very closely connected to the

problems, departments began practicing

communities,” Delisi said. “That was

community policing again. Delisi said

good because there was a lot of strong

that, when talking to police departments

relationships and a lot of rapport.

seeking to hire students, he found that

they are looking for smart people who

Their Twitter showcases a clear

have people skills.

understanding of internet culture, which is the main appeal to most of

“That’s what a lot of policing is. It’s

the younger audience and is something

relationships, it’s managing very

that Greiter did not decipher alone.

different kinds of people,” Delisi said.

Ian Jamieson, a software engineering student at Iowa State, works alongside

The ISU Police have already seen

Greiter, enlightening him on what’s

an improvement on already strong

trending on social media and what will

community relations since its Twitter

likely go viral.

became popular.

When it comes to internet humor, Greiter said he has had officers come

Jamieson said Greiter caught on pretty

up to him and say that while they were

quick.

arresting someone, the arrestee said, “Are you the one that runs Twitter?

“[Greiter] really enjoyed that humor

That’s awesome. I love you guys.”

and the connection he was making with students, which is something

“Let me say this one more time. I

that is pretty hard to do as a police

arrested this kid and he said, ‘You guys

department, especially at a university

are awesome.’ To me, that’s a win,”

police department,” Jamieson said.

Greiter said.

20

After meeting Greiter while working at

difference maybe not in some drastic

the orientation fair, Jamieson jokingly

way, but I know that it’s helping build

said that the department should hire

that community.”

him, to which Greiter replied, “OK.” Though he receives help from Jamieson, What were already positive feelings

Greiter still has full control over the

toward police turned into even more

account, and he is grateful that the

respect over the months that he has

department has given him free reign.

worked at the department.

“I couldn’t do any of this if I were Jamieson enjoys the anonymity that

representing a department that’s full of

comes with this job, as most people

terrible officers and I’m not,” Greiter

don’t know of his role in it. When

said. “While we’re here to enforce the

people find out that he is behind many

law, we can do it with a smile. We can

of these ISU Police tweets that go viral,

do it in a friendly manner.”

they are often surprised.

“It’s always kind of exciting to see something you write be so popular,” Jamieson said. “It’s special to me because I know that it’s making a

21

Top tweets IowaStateU Police @ISUPD You’re under arrest Chris Jorgensen @cjorgensen79 You ain’t from Iowa if you never had one of these � Show this thread

10:18 am – 13 Nov 2017 240,269 Retweets 648,928 Likes 40,380,994 Impressions

IowaStateU Police @ISUPD Iowa State University Pumpkin Department

12:19 pm – 28 Oct 2017 349 Retweets

2,248 Likes

228,483 Impressions

IowaStateU Police @ISUPD You’ve heard of speed traps? We have weed traps

11:45 am – 20 Apr 2017 23,328 Retweets

65,546 Likes

5,054,599 Impressions

IowaStateU Police @ISUPD

Whether it’s drunk driving or drunk texting your ex, don’t be stupid this NYE 10:39 am – 31 Dec 2017 14,645 Retweets

55,374 Likes

2,464,305 Impressions

IowaStateU Police @ISUPD

Arresting Mother Nature isn’t exactly a breeze.

Liam Foy @LiamFoy29 Can we arrest this wind for disorderly conduct directed at my hair? @ISUPD

9:04 am – 13 Dec 2017 270 Retweets

3,810 Likes

210,546 Impressions

Hannah Olson/Iowa State Daily

Reaching out: 48,000+ people

By Tyrus Pavicich

ISU police officers are dead-set on increasing safety in any way they can.

Naturally, this means stopping crime and providing resources to students—but donuts might be their best weapon.

By hosting frequent and creative

to the campus police department so

outreach efforts, such as the “Donut

they feel comfortable communicating

Disrespect” campaign and their Coffee

with officers.

with a Cop breakfast events, ISU police are playing the long game of preventing

“We’ve done a lot of work to humanize

campus crime by bringing the student

our police department and show the

body together.

community that we’re approachable, that we’re here to help,” Greiter said.

With these outreach events and more,

“Donut Disrespect has really encouraged

the ISU police reached more than

people to come forward and talk to us

48,000 people last year.

a little bit more, even if it’s about the goofiest little things.”

In addition to increasing community cohesion, Officer Anthony Greiter,

This idea isn’t without precedent. An

who is in charge of outreach for the

article published in the Harvard Law

department, wants to connect students

Review in 2016 noted a clear connection

25

between better, more thoughtful

officers asking for stickers or a photo op.

policing and the public’s trust in their local forces.

But even though he’s proud of what the ISU police has accomplished in

This is particularly important after

strengthening community bonds,

recent events nationwide have, in many

Greiter said the most important work

areas, widened the rift between police

it has done is provide training to

and the communities that they protect.

citizens in the form of sexual assault programming and violent incident

Greiter believes that outreach efforts

response training.

have been successful in preventing any kind of divide in Ames, where he noted

“Those two are phenomenal,” Greiter

that students will regularly approach

said. “You can see an immediate

26

“Truly, the dayto-day interactions are what I live for.”

–Anthony Greiter Mikinna Kerns/Iowa State Daily

impact in people’s lives because we’re

positive everyday communication with

providing life-changing and life-altering

students in order to build trust and

information in a positive, light-

positive feelings. “Truly, the day-to-day

hearted way.”

interactions are what I live for,” Greiter said. “The majority of our interactions

In 2017, the ISU police scheduled

with people are happy, they’re positive,

426 outreach events, ranging from

they’re fun, and it’s a department-wide

donut giveaways to presentations on

effort to make that happen.”

sexual assault.

Greiter encourages students to follow With all of the active outreach programs

social media to see upcoming Iowa State

it does, however, the university

police-affiliated events, such as campus

police force still focuses heavily on

conversations and presentations.

27

OUTREACH IN 2017, ISU POLICE

SCHEDULED

426

OUTREACH EVENTS

REACHING OVER

48,000 PEOPLE

AT A GLANCE IOWA STATE POLICE ARE STOPPING CRIME AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO STUDENTS

WITH DONUTS AS THEIR BEST WEAPON

“YOU CAN SEE AN IMMEDIATE

IMPACT IN PEOPLE’S LIVES BECAUSE WE’RE

PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING AND

LIFE-ALTERING

INFORMATION IN A POSITIVE, LIGHT-HEARTED WAY.”

Courtesy of Ian Jamieson for ISU Police

SafeRide drives 23,000

By Tyrus Pavicich

After staying at the library until far too late cramming for a test surrounded by empty coffee cups and books galore, Iowa State students are then faced with the unpleasant task of sleepily stumbling across campus roads in an effort to make it home unscathed.

Cue SafeRide, a service provided by

of the SafeRide app at the beginning

the Iowa State University Department

of the 2016 fall semester.

of Public Safety that offers students free rides between any university-

The app was important because

owned locations.

drivers initially had used radios to receive assignments from police

The program employs students known

dispatch, adding additional strain

as community service officers (CSOs)

to the department’s system,

who operate parking division vehicles

Lederman said.

for SafeRide between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., during which time they continually

For riders, the app is easy to use:

ferry students across campus.

after logging in with a valid Net-ID, ordering a ride is as easy as dropping

“On a five-hour shift, you’ll probably pick up about 15, on a 10-hour shift

two pins on the map and submitting a request.

30-35,” said Sid Lederman, a CSO who has driven for SafeRide since October.

The ride information is then sent to tablets in SafeRide vehicles, through

Drivers took more than 23,000

which drivers accept trips and receive

passengers on 18,495 trips in 2017

information necessary to find and

alone, a number boosted by the release

transport riders.

31

The program looks a lot like a free

He recalled a coworker’s story about an

version of services such as Uber, but

intoxicated man who got in his car at

DPS consistently reminds students of

an intersection and asked for a ride. In

the key differences between them.

situations like that, “the CSO is gonna call it in and let dispatch know what’s

First, vehicles only run between

going on,” Lederman said. “Then it’ll

campus owned and affiliated properties

be up to the discretion of dispatch.”

such as residence halls and campus buildings. More importantly, though,

That’s because CSOs serve as the eyes

the program is meant to assist students

and ears of ISU police while they’re on

with safety, not to bring them home

the road, alerting them about crime

from the bar.

and potentially unsafe situations.

“The police really try to get it out there

Lederman’s primary focus as a CSO

that we are not your Uber,” Lederman

is working to make Iowa State a safe

said. “We are here as a safety service.

and welcoming place, and he views

If you are intoxicated, you should find

SafeRide as an important addition to

another ride.”

campus well-being.

32

Courtesy of Ian Jamieson for ISU Police

“Having someone not walk in the dark

the roads and sidewalks were slippery.

alone is definitely a plus,” Lederman

Walking by yourself at night, you didn’t

said. “Being able to give somebody

feel comfortable.”

a safe ride from point A to point B without them having to worry about

As a service to Iowa State students,

anything happening to them is good.”

SafeRide aligns with the ISU police’s goals of ensuring campus safety and

Iowa State student Jonathan O’Neill,

allowing students to feel comfortable

who is a sophomore in management,

by providing free, no-questions-asked

joked that he had ridden with

rides between campus-affiliated

Lederman at least three times in the

locations.

same day, adding that he tries to use SafeRide as much as he can.

Students can order a SafeRide between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. by using the app or

“It’s pretty convenient. The word just says it all. It’s safe.” O’Neill said.

by calling Iowa State police dispatch at 515-294-4444.

“When it was cold, it was good to use the SafeRide to get to places because

33

Jill Alt/Iowa State Daily

Answering the call

By Jill Alt

On the other end of a call to the ISU Police non-emergency number, a dispatcher is ready to answer questions and send help if needed. Many calls turn out to be less than pressing: a lost flip flop or a sock which appeared to be a pipe bomb.

Other times, and often moments after a

“One night I got a call for an active

light-hearted encounter, the dispatchers

burglary, and the caller was watching

must switch gears as they receive a

this guy come in and out through this

high-priority call.

window taking stuff out and putting it in his car,” Yates said.

“Each call is kind of different, and we have this understanding that when we

Yates said four officers responded to the

answer the phone it’s a different call,”

call, but when they caught the guy, it

dispatcher Zach Girard said.

was all a misunderstanding.

With 36,000 students to look out for

“It turned out to be the resident that

on Iowa State’s campus, some pretty

had decided to move out of his dorm

wild calls come in for the Iowa State

through the window, instead of through

Police Department.

the door,” Yates said.

Hope Yates, a junior in kinesiology

Dispatcher Tammy Barker discussed

and health who works as a dispatcher

another incident that was not what it

for the ISU Police, once got a call that

seemed. Several years ago, a prop from

wasn’t what it seemed.

the Live Action Role Playing (LARPing)

35

The dispatchers urged students who witness an emergency to call 911. For non-emergencies, Iowa State Police can be reached at 515-294-4428.

Club caused some mass chaos

Dispatcher Hillary Anderson said her

unintentionally.

worst calls are suicidal situations.

“The LARPING club had left a prop in

Dispatchers said they get one or two

a box near the library,” Barker said.

calls involving suicide every week. An

“From a distance it looked like a pipe

officer takes extra shifts during finals

bomb. The bomb squad was sent out

to ensure that these calls are covered.

and it ended up being a sock.”

“Suicide calls are always emotional, They also get more obscure items.

especially when you have worried

Girard reported getting a singular

family members,” Anderson said.

flip flop once.

Dispatcher Julie Osborn said her worst However, these dispatchers’ jobs turn

calls are welfare checks. The police

heavy as calls can go from missing flip

will sometimes perform welfare checks

flops to suicide reports in an instant.

when friends or family members are unable to reach loved ones.

When taking calls, dispatchers urge callers to stay on the line to gather

Both Anderson and Girard said they

information for responding officers.

knew the job they were getting into

This led to a particularly awful call

when they started, and both find

for Girard.

ways to manage with the particularly rough calls.

“It was a domestic in progress, and we’re trying to have the caller stay on

“You’re talking to people on their worst

the line, and while it was in progress I

day,” Girard said. “You have to remove

had to listen to the assault go on while

yourself from it.”

they screamed and waited for the police to show up,” Girard said.

PEAK CALL TIMES The police get and respond to calls for service at all hours of the day, all days of the week. The below charts illustrate what times of the day and which days of the week the are most popular for officer-involved events.

EVENTS BY HOUR 1000

750

500

4:00

3:00

2:00

1:00

23:00

00:00

22:00

21:00

19:00

20:00

17:00

18:00

16:00

15:00

14:00

13:00

11:00

12:00

10:00

9:00

8:00

7:00

5:00

0

6:00

250

EVENTS BY DAY 2800

2100

1400

700

0

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Introducing body cams

By Danielle Gehr

After officer-involved shootings in the last few years, public outcry for police body cameras led departments across the country to implement them. With the incorporation of these cameras, police departments now receive additional evidence for investigations and have the ability to quickly resolve complaints against officers.

For ISU Police, though, the main

spontaneously start recording without

motivation to buy body cameras was

turning them on, and they immediately

transparency, ISU Police Chief Michael

fixed that stuff,” Newton said.

Newton said.

Now that the ISU Police have the “We’re able to show the community

second generation L3 cameras, these

that we’re doing the things that we say

issues have been resolved. The body

we’re doing,” Newton said. “It also is

cameras typically last around three

just another verification tool.

to five years. L3 also supplies in-car cameras for the ISU Police.

Cmdr. Geoff Huff of the Ames Police Department said Ames police will look

Newton said the ISU Police are in the

at what worked for the ISU Police as

process of deciding what they want

they plan to deploy their first body

to do long term for in-car and body

cameras by June 2018. The ISU Police

cameras, so they may see what the

piloted the body cameras in late 2016

Ames Police decide on and take that

and had full implementation by early

into consideration.

2017. ISU Police used a company called L3 to buy its body cameras.

ISU Police Officer Kaitlyn Boor hasn’t found many issues with wearing

“The first generation that this company

the body cameras besides sometimes

provided would sometimes just

forgetting to turn it on.

38

Lyn Keren/Iowa State Daily

“I guess to me when I first started this

“I think everybody around here is

job (in 2015), I think that was kind

actually pretty open to them,” Boor

of an expectation that I was going

said. “The only time where we kind

to be monitored in a way during any

of fret is when we have to go to the

interaction I had with the community,”

bathroom or something like that.

Boor said.

We’re like looking down making sure that they’re off.”

Before body cameras, police started using in-car cameras with microphones

Sometimes the police officers forget

on their belt. Newton said that when

and they have to redact the recordings,

in-car cameras were first used, officers

Newton said.

felt uncomfortable about being recorded, but as years passed, they

Parts of the community don’t like being

adjusted to it.

recorded by officers, and many will ask

40

Hannah Olson/Iowa State Daily

if they are being recorded. Police

transparency any more.”

are encourage to tell them if they are being recorded. If the officers are asked

Supervisors will randomly select

if they can turn the recording off,

footage to review. They also use the

typically the answer is no.

footage as a training tool. When using the video as evidence, officers often

Boor said she feels it helps the

have to watch themselves on screen.

community because “if an officer acted

Some may find this cringy to hear their

poorly during a certain situation, then

voice and see their mannerisms, but

we have these to fall back on.”

Boor sees it differently.

Huff said, “Everybody wants

“To me it’s always more so intriguing

transparency until it’s them that’s being

reliving a situation more than cringing

recorded, and then they’re not so big on

or anything like that,” Boor said.

41

Courtesy of Anthony Greiter for ISU Police

Hires and promotions In 2017, the Iowa State University Department of Public Safety had eight new hires and one promotion. Chief Michael Newton took over as the head of the Department of Public Safety in April 2017 after coming from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Police New Hires:

Parking New Hire:

Michael Newton

Kim Skelton

Police Chief and

Dispatcher

Assistant Vice President Andrew Starcevic

Dispatcher

Police Promotion:

Brandon Bjoin

Police Officer

Aaron DeLashmutt Assistant Chief

Julie Osborn

Dispatcher

Jake Comstock

Dispatcher

Scott Lindley

Police Officer

Tanner Hanson

Police Officer

42

IN THE

“BE A FAN STANDS

138 OWI 197 *1st, 2nd, & 3rd offense

PUBLIC

INTOX *1st, 2nd, & 3rd offense

331

POSSESSION OR PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL UNDERAGE *number represents one person

NOT A PAIN IN THE GRASS”

Luke McDonell/Iowa State Daily

SART celebrates 20 years

By Lindsey Settle

For more than 20 years, the Story County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) has created a survivor-centered approach that bridges all professional agencies involved in providing the best care possible to victims of sexual assault.

Formed in 1997 from a grant, SART

That team includes a sexual assault

celebrated its 20th anniversary of

nurse examiner, a sexual assault

serving sexual assault survivors in 2017.

advocate and a law enforcement officer.

“These different organizations came

The process of aiding a survivor can

together to submit a paper to ask

begin in a variety of ways, but one way

for more funding to support this

when a survivor is in need of care,

idea of putting this team together

begins with medical attention.

to better respond to sexual assaults that are reported,” said former SART

After the initial response, the

coordinator Julie Roosa about the team

prosecuting attorney, the fourth agency

forming in 1997.

group within SART, may pursue legal action if desired by the survivor.

Currently composed of 11 agencies, SART’s goal is to provide a multi-

Working within SART as sexual assault

disciplinary coordinated response that

advocates, “ACCESS (Assault Care

best supports a survivor’s needs.

Center Extending Shelter and Support) is truly the glue that holds everyone

Once a SART agency is contacted by a

together,” said SART Officer Anthony

survivor, a three-person team responds.

Greiter.

45

ACCESS supports the survivor through the process of reporting a sexual assault as well as for any future support. It is ongoing advocacy that a survivor can call upon at any time.

SART is confidential to the extent possible and helps the survivor seamlessly transition from one agency to the next agency that’s needed.

Dave Konopa, former Ames Police

Although more commonplace today,

detective, said, “It has definitely grown.

SART was a new concept to aiding

From what I’ve seen, looking back, it’s a

survivors in 1997.

lot better than what it used to be. There was a lot of confusion.”

“At the time this was new,” said Roosa, who was the SART coordinator for Story

Konopa was referring to a lack

County from 2002 to 2003.

of coordinated responses. SART’s initial challenge was communicating

“This idea of having a sexual assault

consistently with each agency,

survivor go to the hospital and be

participating in SART.

examined by a professional who is sensitive and trained to do that, and

Today, the three-person response team

then that advocate comes in, supports

of a nurse examiner, advocate and a law

that person,” Roosa said.“The police

enforcement officer are all present for

officer is there as a resource, if wanted,

the initial response, but that’s not how

but not demanding that necessarily,

it always was.

really letting the survivor decide.”

“It wasn’t everyone responding at the During the first few years, SART’s

same time,” Konopa said. It has been

mission included re-examining the

a great aid to the survivor that an

question, “What if our common goal

advocate is present during the process

is to best support a sexual assault

if the survivor needs it.

survivor, whatever that looks like for that survivor?” Roosa said.

SART’s establishment was a big step in the right direction for local agencies

Over time, SART’s continual internal

to seriously address the issue of

development has added to its success.

sexual assault.

46

“I think it was to be able to provide

trained in the SART process, including

better services to victims, better

officers from the Ames, Iowa State,

collection of evidence, better response

Nevada, Huxley and Story City police

to their needs, better prosecutions in

departments and Story County

the end,” Konopa said.

Sheriff’s Office.

SART’s focus has always been about

The elimination of a SART

putting the control back in the hands of

coordinator today speaks volumes

the survivor.

to the team’s success. The role was discontinued because of

Today, that effort includes the Start

SART’s ability to communicate

by Believing campaign. The campaign

effectively between agencies.

aims to bring awareness to the topic of sexual assault as SART incorporates a

SART agencies collaborate during

survivor-centered approach into that

monthly meetings where they do case

education effort.

updates and clarify whether further follow-up is needed.

“We always start by believing,” Greiter said. “We need that friend or trusted

SART agencies include:

person to start by believing to ensure

• ISU Police

that victim makes it to us.”

• Ames Police • Story County Sheriff’s Office

Another one of the biggest

• Nevada Police

improvements to the program was the

• Huxley Police

24-hour, seven-day staffing of trained

• Story City Police

SART nurses within Story County.

• ACCESS

Today 13 nurses are trained to respond

• Mary Greeley Medical Center

to any call.

• Thielen Student Health Center • Story County Medical Center

Shannon Knudsen, the sexual assault

• Story County Attorney’s Office

nurse examiner (SANE) coordinator for Story County, said training for nurses on how best to respond is based on national protocols.

An officer from every Story County law enforcement entity also has been

47

Engagement and inclusion

By Alex Connor

During the summer of 2017, ISU Police were getting ready for the fall semester. At the forefront of these preparations was building community and developing leadership. One of the solutions for Iowa State Police was changing the name of the police department’s Multicultural Liaison Officers (MLOs) to Engagement and Inclusion Officers.

“Engagement and Inclusion Officers is

outreach and assistance to all members

not just a name change — it’s a rebrand

of the Iowa State community.

of what those officers are for,” Chief Michael Newton said.

The engagement aspect of the rebrand aims to establish a partnership with the

Newton said one of the common

community rather than just knowledge

things he was hearing from students,

of the issues at hand.

faculty and staff before summer break was confusion on the role of

As for the inclusion portion of the

the police department’s Multicultural

rebrand, Newton and the police

Liaison Officers when that was already

department want all students, faculty

a program developed within the

and staff to know they are there

academic departments.

for them.

“We really felt as we talked as a

“One of my visions is moving forward,

group and talked to faculty and

building community,” Newton said.

staff and students that by having an

“And I can’t just build community

Engagement and Inclusion Officer we

with one segment of the population or

were wrapping into the whole of the

pockets of the population.

community,” Newton said.

The program is also being expanded, The intent of the Engagement and

with more officers within the

Inclusion Officers is to provide

department filling the responsibilities

48

that comes with the position, to

to be involved in engagement and

provide more opportunities to interact

inclusion — including the chief. I’m

with students in non-police settings.

going to be out there going to events and talking to people because that’s

“We want to engage the community

how we build community and that’s

differently,” Newton said. “And I also

how we have successful community

look at it as all of our officers need

engagement.”

A Statement from ISU Police:

Multicultural Liaison Officers embedded in academic departments across campus.

The ISU Police Department Engagement and Inclusion Officers (formerly MLO’s) provide outreach and assistance to all members of the ISU Community. In consultation with a

Allow for expansion of the program from three to seven officers with additional officers to join in the near term.

number of campus stakeholders, we made

Engagement represents our desire to be

the decision to change the name from MLO

an active partner in improving climate and

to Engagement and Inclusion Officers to:

inclusion represents our belief that our entire community should be invested in

Establish an identity more closely aligned

cultivating an inclusive campus. We have

with the principles and practices of the

established a formal partnership with the

community policing models used by law

Office of Diversity and Inclusion to increase

enforcement agencies nationwide.

opportunities for interfacing with students in

Avoid any confusion with the expertise or

non-police-related settings.

duties and responsibilities currently held by

49

THANK YOU for keeping us SAFE!

*and for ALL the donuts!