Merriam Police Department 2010 Annual Report

Proudly Serving Since 1951

2010 ANNUAL REPORT “TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES”

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

2

Message from the Chief

3

Citizen Volunteer’s

4

Community Service

5-8

Organizational Chart

9

Department Photographs

10 - 12

Budget Report

13

Criminal Activity

14

Reported Crime

15

Crime Statistics

16

Patrol Division

17 - 19

Citizen Feedback

20

Police Training

21

Officers at Work

22 - 24

Traffic Unit Enforcement

25

Motor Vehicle Crashes

26 - 27

Investigations

28

Forfeiture

29

Use of Force

30

Support Services

31 - 32

Community Service Officers

33

Administration

34 - 35

Message from the Chief Dear Council members and Merriam citizens,

As you will discover by reading this report, 2010 was another active year for the police department. To be this busy, and to have enjoyed so many successes, takes a combination of professionalism, dedication, compassion, integrity, teamwork and pride.

Not surprisingly, these are the very values that form the foundation blocks that this department is built upon. The significance of these values is understood and shared by every police officer and civilian employee. This is why in past annual reports I have attempted to convey the admiration and respect I have for all the police department personnel. However, there is another unheralded group of team members that I have been remiss in acknowledging - our civilian volunteer force.

For years the department has been blessed with citizens that have donated their time and talents for the good of the organization while asking for nothing in return. People like Pastor Quinton Jones, Pastor Mike Jacobs and Pastor Charles Boyce have been spiritual pillars for both the officers and citizens during some very traumatic times.

Ruth Terrones is not only a true pleasure to work with; she has been unfailing in her commitment to help out the front office staff. Citizen’s Police Academy graduate, Suzette Mack’s work can be seen semi-monthly on the police department’s webpage under Crime Bulletin. I continue to be in awe of how well Suzette publishes this much information in such a short period of time!

Lastly, I would like to extend my thanks to Citizen Police Academy graduates Nancy Hupp, Annette Cole, Suzette Mack, Vince Rodriguez, George Argeropoulos, and Christy Secrest as they continue to stay involved with the department. Their help with events such as the DUI check lanes, the Turkey Creek Festival and the National Night Out Against Crime is much appreciated.

Again, I hope you are as proud of your police department as I am. They are truly a remarkable group of individuals. It is the partnership and camaraderie between the sworn officers, the civilians, and the citizens that we serve, which makes this an exceptional community in which to live!

Chief Bill Lietzke

3

CITIZEN VOLUNTEER’S The police department has several volunteers who help out with a variety of projects. We have citizen volunteers who help enforce handicapped parking violations, help in records, and produce crime bulletins, along with helping during DUI check points and other city events. We wish to thank all of our volunteers for the hard work they put in. Team Merriam!

Ruth Terrones started volunteering in 2009 and works with the records department on statistical gathering and analysis. She works 2-days a week and has become a very valuable asset. She made herself available to help out the records unit when one of our paid employee’s went on a 2-week vacation.

Ruth demonstrates integrity, teamwork, professionalism, respect and compassion. We are forever grateful for all of her hard work.

Volunteer Ruth Terrones Serving Since 2009

Volunteer Suzette Mack Serving Since 2008

Suzette Mack is a graduate of the Merriam Citizen’s Academy. After her graduation she wanted to continue to stay involved. Since then she has been involved by producing the Merriam Crime Bulletin. The Crime Bulletin is full of safety tips and crime statistics. You can find copies of the Crime Bulletin on our webpage, www.merriam.org/MPD. The Crime Bulletin is published twice per month, we are always looking for ideas, so if anyone has questions or concerns that they think would make a good article in the Crime Bulletin please contact the police department at police@merriam.org.

INTERN PROGRAM: The Merriam Police Department offers non-paid internships to college students who are seeking degrees in Criminal Justice. These students get the full experience of working in a police department. They work in all areas of the department. They help with data collection, statistical analysis, and general station duties. They observe the investigations and patrol functions by riding with the officers as they do their jobs.

Intern/Volunteer Christen Secrest is currently an Intern. She is a Junior at Washburn University in the Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Bachelor’s Program. Christen is also a graduate of the 2008 Citizen’s Police Academy.

She has volunteered for many of our projects since graduating from the Citizen’s Police Academy. She has worked at our DUI check lanes, assisted at the annual Turkey Creek festival and she was one of our undercover minors during our Alcohol Compliance programs.

4

Intern/ Volunteer Christen Secrest Serving Since 2008

COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN PROGRAM: Chaplain’s Mike Jacob and Charles Boyce volunteer their time to assist our officers with death notifications. They assist the officers by providing support to grieving family members at accident and crime scenes. In addition to these critical duties, they offer spiritual guidance to police employees and routinely ride with the officers during their patrol shifts. Mike is a Chaplain at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and a Merriam resident. Charles is a youth minister, a Merriam resident and a martial arts instructor with a 4th degree black belt in Tsuruoka Karate.

Chaplain Charles Boyce Serving Since 2005

Chaplain Mike Jacob Serving Since 1998

POLICE OFFICER VOLUNTEERISM: The Merriam Police Department has been involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run since 1982. The Torch Run started in Wichita Kansas and now has participants in all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Africa, China and Japan. The Merriam Police Department participates in events like the Polar Plunge, Cops on Top at Krispy Kreme, Popcorn Standoff at Cinemark, and the Torch Run itself throughout the year to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. In 2010, the Kansas City Polar Plunge raised over $100,000.

Special Olympics 2010 Torch Run

5

CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY

In 2008, the Merriam Police Department introduced our first Citizen’s Police Academy. Since then we have found this program to very beneficial to the citizens, the officers and the department. The citizens get a “first hand” look at what a police officer does on a daily basis. The police officers get a chance to learn what the citizens know about law enforcement, which will help them to understand why certain things happen the way they do. The classes are based off the job of a Merriam Police Officer. The citizens are given the opportunity to participate in as much of the training as they feel comfortable.

These classes consisted of more than just watching videos and listening to lectures. Over half of the classes were actual hands-on training. The students went to the firearms range to shoot handguns, and even fully automatic rifles. They learned and practiced defensive tactics and some even braved getting a shock from a Taser. In addition to all the classes, and probably the most informative, the students were able to ride with a police officer during an actual police shift. This gave them a better perspective on what they had learned and exactly how it is applied.

"I have a new sense of community after my participation in the Merriam Citizens Police Academy. I wouldn't trade this ongoing hands on learning experience for anything! I also have a new sort of respect for each officer as a person and an understanding of the amount of time and work they put into their jobs everyday to keep us safe. Thank you Merriam Police Department for making a difference!" Stacey Barner

For more information or to sign up go to www.merriam.org/MPD

6

CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY The 2010 Citizens Police Academy class started August 11th, 2010 and ran through October 20th, 2010. Each of the Wednesday night sessions lasted for three hours. The following is a list of classes: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Domestic Violence Use of Force Taser Firearms S.W.A.T. Demonstration Defensive Tactics DUI Enforcement Police Equipment Basic Patrol Procedures Traffic Stops Radar/Lidar Drug Enforcement Search and Seizure Investigations

“Before going through the Citizen’s Police Academy I was not aware how involved the police are in our community. There is a lot more to the job that what is on the surface. It has given me a better understanding of how they make our city of better place to live!” Michael Beaven

“I attended the Merriam Citizen’s Academy during my final semester of college while studying criminal justice. The experiences I had during the course not only solidified my passion for law enforcement, but made me feel more connected to the community.” Stacy Franklin

“I loved the Citizen’s Police Academy! I learned a lot, made some awesome friends, and got the chance to interact with people who work for the Merriam Police Department. My experience has led to several volunteer opportunities, including helping with DUI check lanes and helping compile the Crime Bulletin that goes out twice a month.

Being part of the citizen’s academy has helped me better understand how difficult police work is, and how citizens can have a positive effect on the criminal justice field. “ Suzette Mack “The Citizen’s Police Academy is an excellent opportunity to get a better understanding of the process used to recruit, hire and train the exceptional officers who serve Merriam residents and visitors every day. Additionally, class participants are educated in the extensive resources available to officers as they perform their daily routine.” Nancy Hupp

“It was an excellent experience, one that I would do over again. After being a Merriam resident for over 25 years it was nice to meet the fine men and women that serve our community.” Vince Rodriguez

7

COMMUNITY SERVICE CRIME PREVENTION: The department’s crime prevention specialist, Master Police Officer Larry Birt, manages a program that encourages people to have their home or business checked in an effort to protect them from criminal activity. An appointment is set up with Officer Birt and he meets with the resident, business owner or manager, and makes a full assessment of the building. A report of his findings is provided with suggestions for improvement. There is no fee for this valuable service.

FINGERPRINT SERVICES: The Merriam Police Department provides fingerprint services for all Merriam citizens and business persons during normal business hours. Several times a year, individuals need their fingerprints taken for financial bonds, the insurance industry or any other reason. A Community Service Officer will complete this service by appointment. Please call 913-322-5560 to set up an appointment. Unfortunately there is a fee for this service.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME: The Merriam Police Department believes crime prevention is a team effort. We encourage cooperation between the police and citizens. The National Night Out Against Crime is a national effort to get the citizens and their police department together to discuss crime problems and most importantly solutions.

In 2010 we held our first combined National Night Out Against Crime event in Vavra Park. The event included a question and answer period, swimming in the pool, set belt demonstration, barbeque (cooked by Merriam Police Officers) and a Taser demonstration.

We would like to thank George Argeropoulos (Citizen Academy Graduate) for volunteering to participate in the Taser demonstration.

8

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Chief of Police

Captain

Shift 1 Sergeant

Shift 2 Sergeant

Shift 3 Sergeant

Corporal

Corporal

Corporal

Patrol Officers (3)

Patrol Officers (4)

Patrol Officers (5)

Investigative Lieutenant

Administrative Lieutenant

Detectives (4)

Community Service Officers (2) Records Clerks (2)

Relief Corporal

Property Clerk Crossing Guards (3)

Manpower Alocations

Administration Patrol

Traffic Officer

Traffic Officer

2

3

4

Investigation

2 Traffic

4 CSO

18

Records

9

DEPARTMENT STAFF

Chief William Lietzke Serving Since 1979

Captain Tim Burnett Serving Since 1982

Lieutenant Michael Daniels Serving Since 1987

Lieutenant Darren McLaughlin Serving Since 1989

Sergeant Todd Allen Serving Since 1996

Sergeant Troy Duvanel Serving Since 1995

Sergeant Dan Kellerman Serving Since 1984

Corporal Mark Messbarger Serving Since 2001

Corporal Todd Sparks Serving Since 1990

Corporal John Walton Serving Since 1998

Detective James Browning Serving Since 2006

Corporal Jason Reynolds Serving Since 2000 10

DEPARTMENT STAFF

Detective Jeremiah Waters Serving Since 2003

Detective Steven Wechsler Serving Since 2006

Detective Nick Weiler Serving Since 2005

Master Police Officer Chris Brokaw Serving Since 2001

Master Police Officer John DeMoss Serving Since 2003

Master Police Officer Phil Lewis Serving Since 2002

Police Officer Gerry Eickhoff Serving Since 1991

Police Officer JoAnna Ellis Serving Since 2009

Police Officer Tim Filson Serving Since 2006

Master Police Officer Larry Birt Serving Since 1988

Master Police Officer Wes Waller Serving Since 2005

Police Officer Corey Herron Serving Since 2009 11

DEPARTMENT STAFF

12

Police Officer Roxanne Kegin Serving Since 2009

Police Officer Jeff Magee Serving Since 1987

Police Officer Seth Mullis Serving Since 2010

Police Officer Laura Naegele Serving Since 2010

Community Service Officer Jamie Gilchrist Serving Since 2009

Community Service Officer Charlie Yocum Serving Since 2009

Property Clerk Lisa Aldrich Serving Since 1991

Records Clerk Ronda Brumbaugh Serving Since 1999

Records Clerk Karen Gibson Serving Since 1993

Crossing Guard Doris Hillhouse Serving Since 2002

Crossing Guard Cynthia Knapp Serving Since 1997

Crossing Guard Dave Thomas Serving Since 2009

BUDGET EXPENSE REPORT In 2010, the total police budget was $3,318,223. This amount includes all projected costs of personnel, contractual services, commodities and capital outlay purchases. Of the total budget, $2,973,803 (89%) is dedicated to employee salaries and benefits. During the 2010 budget year, the Merriam Police Department spent $2,729,476, which represents 91% of the approved budget.

Below is a breakdown of expenditures by major categories as of December 31st, 2010.

Personnel: This budget item includes salaries, benefits, overtime costs, and other expenses.

Budgeted– $2,973,803.

Spent– $2,729,476. Percent of budget spent– 91%.

Contractual Services: This budget item includes utilities, equipment rental and repair, custodial services, training expenses, vehicle repair, and building maintenance.

Budgeted– $186,920.

Spent– $163,421.

Percent of budget spent– 87%.

Supplies and Equipment: Included in this budget item is office equipment, police equipment and uniforms, and gas and oil.

Budgeted– $151,300.

Spent- $129,255.

Percent of budget spent– 85%.

At the end of 2010 the police department returned approximately $288,871 — 9% of our total budget to the general fund.

Budget Track from 2005 to 2010 2010

$3,318,223

2009

$3,476,597

2008

$3,330,204

2007

$3,283,952

2006

$2,837,622

2005

$2,736,352 $0

$500,000

$1,000,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000

13

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY Grid Map The red lines mark the boundaries of the grids.

Note: Grid “Q” is the Merriam City Hall Complex. *

A

B

U C T

S

The Merriam Police Department has divided the city into grids. This allows us to track criminal activity and crime trends. The grids have been laid out to separate, as much as possible, residential from business areas.

The chart below will give you information on the number of criminal reports taken in each grid.

Persons Crimes include crimes like assault, battery, sex crimes, and other crimes that have people as victims. Burglaries/thefts include all burglaries to businesses, homes and cars, along with any theft.

Auto Thefts include only stolen vehicles. Drug Crimes include all crimes involving controlled substances or drug paraphernalia. “Other” covers all crimes not listed in the previous categories.

Grid

D

P

E F

H

G

N

R O

M I

L

J K 14

*

Contact the Police Department for Crime Prevention Tips.

Burglaries/ Auto Thefts Theft

Persons Crime

Drug Other Crimes

A

61

4

18

8

37

B

59

5

24

9

35

C

62

7

7

9

24

D

10

1

7

0

11

E

38

10

15

4

23

F

7

0

2

3

2

G

8

2

2

1

5

H

7

0

1

0

4

I

10

0

4

0

5

J

30

10

9

5

24

K

22

3

9

1

12

L

25

5

11

2

28

M

15

1

4

0

3

N

52

7

12

10

57

O

15

2

5

1

9

P

24

0

5

12

19

Q

0

0

1

9

6

R

10

0

4

0

6

S

15

0

12

4

15

T

105

8

13

11

28

U

2

0

0

1

2

REPORTED CRIME TYPE OF CRIME

TYPE OF CRIME

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Aggravated Arson

1

0

0

2

0

Forgery

5

2

8

2

1

Arson

0

4

1

2

4

Furnishing Alcohol/Beer to Minor

6

12

8

2

1

Aggravated Assault

17

11

12

14

9

Gasoline Drive Off

3

3

0

0

0

Aggravated Battery

10

8

3

7

9

Habitual Traffic Violator

0

0

0

0

0

Aggravated Burglary Aggravated Sodomy Aggravated Indecent Liberties

11 1 2

12 0 6

6 0 3

11 2 5

8 2 8

Harassment by Phone Murder / Manslaughter Indecent Liberties with a Child

39 0 2

40 0 1

29 1 0

19 2 1

25 2 1

Aggravated Kidnapping

1

0

1

0

0

Indecent Solicitation of a Child

0

0

0

0

0

Aggravated Robbery

11

12

6

7

4

Identification Theft

9

19

20

13

12

Aggravated Sexual Battery

0

0

0

0

0

Intimidation of a Victim/Witness

1

0

0

0

0

Assault

5

3

5

2

2

Kidnapping

1

3

1

0

2

Attempted Murder

0

0

0

0

0

Lewd and Lascivious Behavior

5

2

1

1

0

Attempted Theft

0

13

5

6

9

Littering

2

1

1

1

1

Battery

126

104

102

114

91

Minor in Possession of Alcohol

19

25

7

5

10

Burglary to Auto

165

138

109

151

186

Obstructing Legal Process

10

5

12

13

15

Burglary to Business

22

20

12

27

17

Prescription Fraud

5

1

2

2

2

Burglary to Residence

55

49

40

43

50

Controlled Substance Posses-

59

44

45

56

51

Burglary to Storage Area

0

2

21

3

8

Drug Paraphernalia Possession

10

18

9

13

19

Child In Need Of Care

54

28

40

27

31

Drug Possession / Intent of Sale

4

4

12

19

18

Child Abuse

0

1

0

0

3

Possession of Stolen Property

12

13

6

4

9

Computer Trespass

3

0

0

1

1

Possession of Tobbaco/Minor

5

1

4

2

0

Counterfeiting

1

0

0

2

0

Prostitution

0

2

10

24

39

Criminal Damage - Felony

40

13

19

12

32

Rape

6

6

6

3

4

Criminal Damage - Misdemeanor Criminal Deprivation of Property

97 1

159 7

95 9

58 8

66 4

Robbery Sexual Battery

7 3

4 6

2 5

3 1

4 1

Criminal Discharge of a Weapon

3

0

16

1

0

Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property

34

8

25

22

23

Criminal Threats Criminal Trespass Criminal Use of a Financial Card Criminal Use of a Weapon

28 8 16 6

17 5 19 3

15 7 21 6

12 22 27 3

14 13 21 5

Theft of Services Theft of Auto Theft of Auto (Attempted) Theft - Felony

8 60 17 56

6 49 4 40

7 65 18 84

Cruelty to Animals

0

0

0

4

5

Theft - Misdemeanor

373 351 240

229

200

Disorderly Conduct Escape From Custody

67 0

56 0

30 0

21 0

49 0

Falsely Reporting a Crime

1

1

0

1

1

Other Crimes Not Listed Above

False Writing

3

19

8

9

3

Stalking

5 3 100 103 0 17 50 52

Violation: Court Protection Order 11 Worthless Check 2

13 4

16 0

8 0

5 0

261 116

17

24

25

0 1 0 0 1 1804 1590 1220 1161 1300

TOTAL

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

15

CRIME STATISTICS Part One crimes in 2010: Each year we report Part One crimes to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations. Part One crimes are determined by the FBI and used throughout the country as a benchmark for crime statistics. We are required to keep statistics on these crimes by the federal government, to assist in tracking crime trends.

Since the mid-1800’s police departments have been judged by their crime statistics. When the statistics are lower, then the theory is that the police departments are more effective. In reality, there are many factors out of the police department’s control that can alter crime statistics from year to year. Common influencing factors include: a shift in economic conditions, weather, gang activity, new businesses, etc.

Before determining the police department’s effectiveness, it is important to understand what factors were at play and how they affected the statistics. While a downturn in criminal activity is always preferable, it may or may not be a direct reflection on the police department. Likewise, an active police department using all the proper crime reduction measures may suffer an increase in reported crime.

Crime Trends: We had a mixed outcome with our 2010 Part One crime statistics. Murder, rape and arson all stayed low and the same as 2009. We had a small increase in burglaries, thefts and auto thefts. We had a small decrease in robberies and assaults.

10 Year Trends CRIME

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

MURDER

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

1

2

2

RAPE

5

4

6

8

3

8

13

6

6

4

4

ROBBERY

23

30

13

16

10

20

18

16

8

10

8

26

32

20

26

20

9

27

125*

122

137

111

BURGLARY

306

360

331

255

232

237

244

221

188

235

269

THEFT

490

403

342

427

420

526

467

414

345

303

323

AUTO THEFT

98

92

91

77

97

90

100

103

60

49

65

ARSON

2

4

8

7

1

6

1

4

1

4

4

Total by Year

950

925

811

816

783

898

870

889

731

743

786

ASSAULTS

*

* This category was previously labeled “Aggravated Assaults” and only captured limited Part One crime information. In 2007 we added all assaults and batteries to this category. The number in 2007 represents the new data which explains the very large increase over previous years.

16

PATROL DIVISION When most people think about the police they commonly visualize a uniformed officer who is assigned to patrol. It is the most visible unit of the police department. It is also the largest unit with twenty officers (71%) assigned from a total of twenty-eight. Their primary duties include responding to calls for service, patrolling the neighborhoods and business areas looking for criminal activity, stopping traffic violators and assisting the public as needed. In addition to routine patrol duties the officers spend many hours each year in District Court, Municipal Court, Driver’s License hearings, and attending training classes.

The dedicated officers of the Patrol Division provide the primary function of the police department, as highlighted below through calls for service and self-initiated activity.

CALLS FOR SERVICE: The primary duty of any police department is answering the public's calls for service (911 Calls). A police officer must be ready to respond 24/7, 365 days a year. In 2010 the Merriam Police Department received 13,233 calls for service. The chart below represents a breakdown on the calls for service since 2003. Please note the fluctuation from year-to-year. Many factors affect the calls for service numbers and these factors may include, but are not limited to,: crime rate/trends, changes in our response to certain calls for service (example: theft of gasoline, non-injury private property accidents), increase in retail businesses, inclement weather, road construction, etc.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

15,997

15,753

14,412

15,630

14,342

14,185

12,769

13,233

SELF-INITIATED ACTIVITY: After calls for service, the patrol officers spend the remainder of their time on self-initiated activity and routine patrol. Self-initiated activity includes, but is not limited to, traffic enforcement, business checks (convenience stores, banks, bars, etc.), building checks, occupied and unoccupied vehicle checks, pedestrian checks, park checks, motorist assists and surveillance of problem areas for criminal activity.

During the year our officers were involved in approximately 24,029 self-initiated patrol incidents.

AN AVERAGE PATROL SHIFT: The level and types of activities vary from shift to shift. The day shift receives more business-related calls for service and traffic-related activity during the morning rush hour. The evening shift receives the traffic-related activity during the afternoon rush hour, call activity affecting businesses, and domestic violence calls. The midnight shift manages the heightened patrol for business burglaries, auto burglaries, routine patrol of our residential areas and sees more alcohol-related problems.

17

PATROL DIVISION There are no two eight-hour patrol shifts that are the same. Officers must come to work prepared to handle many different types of calls and activities during their shift including: weather related events, traffic accidents, surveillance, responding to high stress calls (i.e., armed disturbances, armed robberies, domestic disturbances, etc.), investigating residential and business burglaries, felony and misdemeanor arrests, directing traffic and being involved in community meetings. In addition to these various types of calls they also must routinely complete reports to document the above activity. On average, over one-fourth of a patrol officer’s regular shift is dedicated to writing police reports.

Officers not responding to calls for service or writing reports are responsible for patrolling their district to promote high visibility, proactively look for criminal activity, and developing rapport with citizens and the business community. The City of Merriam has 65 miles of streets within its 4.5 square miles. The city is divided into three districts for patrol: North, Center, and South. During 2010 patrol officers drove approximately 146,607 miles while patrolling the streets of Merriam.

IMPORTANT PATROL FACTS FOR 2010: • • • •

August was the busiest month in which we responded to 1,270 calls.

The police department writes, on average, 24 traffic tickets per day.

The police department makes about 3.5 arrests per day.

Each officer will: • drive 35 miles per day.

• answer on average 3.15 calls for service each day.

• average 5.72 self initiated calls for service each day.

• write 1 to 2 police reports each day.

• make between 1 to 2 traffic stops.

Call Load Per Shift There are three shifts staffed by the Patrol Division.

Midnight Shift Day Shift

Midnight Shift 11:00 P.M.– 7:00 A.M. Day Shift 7:00 A.M.— 3:00 P.M. Evening Shift 3:00 P.M.—11:00 P.M. Traffic Unit: Day or Evening Shifts as needed

18

Evening Shift 26%

23%

Traffic 44%

7%

PATROL: TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT Traffic enforcement has always been a large part of the everyday duties of a Merriam patrol officer.

Statistics and studies have shown that in areas where there is more traffic enforcement, there are also fewer accidents. Studies have also been done that suggest that aggressive traffic enforcement in an area can reduce crime overall. High profile cases like the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, can be solved by an officer making a routine traffic stop. In 2010, Merriam officers made 8,457 traffic stops, issued 5,651 moving violation tickets and 3,551 non-moving tickets (total numbers including the Traffic Unit). This represents about a 20% increase in the number of traffic stops and about an 8% increase in tickets issued from 2009.

TRAFFIC STANDARDS: For the past ten years there has been a minimum traffic standard in existence. The standard for each patrol officer is to write two tickets per eight-hour shift. Traffic officers have a standard of one ticket per hour. Fifty percent of the tickets issued should be for a moving-violation. This standard was adopted in conjunction with the community-policing philosophy.

2010 Traffic Citations ♦D.U.I. ♦Speeding ♦Inattentive driving ♦Traffic light ♦Stop sign ♦No insurance ♦Seat belt ♦Drivers license violations ♦Expired/illegal tag ♦Parking ♦All others

74 3346 139 295 230 1600 663 740 485 168 948

Court Statistics

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Total Filing:

8,652

9,958

10,641

10,867

10,159

8,913

9,127

Fines Collected:

$747,116 $835,280 $881,930 $912,467 $1,032,667 $999,654

$1,162,087

19

CITIZEN FEEDBACK Sergeant Duvanel,

Dear Lieutenant Daniels,

I am sure you don’t remember me but I am the mother of the teenage boy you stopped on the highway in the middle of the night just a few weeks ago, while he was driving over the speed limit and without a drivers license.

On behalf of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Merriam, KS, I would like to thank Captain Burnett, you and your team of officers for the outstanding job last night. The presence of officer Chris Brokaw, officer Steve Wechsler and the other officers was a great boost to the sense of security and comfort to our congregation. I’ve heard numerous compliments from the congregation about the admirable job that your team has done.

They were caring, supportive, professional and understanding of our apprehension due to the threats. The presence of the officers on the church premises and in the neighboring areas did not go unnoticed and again helped the congregation in enjoying our Christmas Eve service and celebration in peace.

You brought him back home and were so kind as to offer to take me to my car, which was left on the highway;)).

I never got the chance to thank you until now. We could not read your name on the ticket you issued my son and so it was not until yesterday, our court date, that I did get the chance to ask for your name so that we could properly thank you.

I was both a little shocked and honestly, still half asleep, that night and am sure I did not react properly but it is important that you know both my son and I were very impressed by your kindness and professionalism.

Thank you again!

Again, our sincerest thanks to the Merriam Police Department!

Regards, Esam Sidarous On Behalf of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church

Gabi Chitwood p. s. I KNOW my son will not do this again ;)

Officer Boyce, I wanted to write you to Thank you for all your help with my accident on 12/30/09. This was the first one for me & hopefully the last. You helped calm me down and walked me through everything in a way that I wouldn’t forget.

To Whom it May Concern, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate Detective Brokaw, with his ability to put me at ease, I feel I was able to help him while he was helping me. He was professional, courteous, compassionate and helpful at all times. I have a lot of admiration for Detective Brokaw. I appreciate the way he treated me with respect, dignity and what appeared genuine concern for my well being. It’s not always pleasant dealing with law enforcement and I know their jobs are at times tough and very dangerous.

I hope Detective Brokaw will be with the Merriam Police for a very long time. I know my neighborhood is safer because of him and the entire Merriam Police force.

I just wanted you to know how much I appreciated all you did for me.

Thanks —

Dear Todd, Just want to thank you , and all the Merriam Police for all you do in the line of duty. My name is Rose M. Von Behren, home (still for sale) Edelweiss Circle your mother and I go to the same hair dresser, got to talking about last year, my car was stolen from my garage, the fellows ere caught and I am pressing charges and they are still in jail, can’t get bail. You are a great group of officers.

Sincerely, Kelly

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Thanks again, Sincerely, Rose M Von Behrenn

POLICE TRAINING The State of Kansas requires all police officers to complete a state sponsored police academy with a minimum of 560 hours of instruction. The Merriam Police Department also requires any new officer to complete a field training program consisting of 480 hours of additional instruction. Every certified officer is required to attend a minimum of 40 hours of training per year. Throughout 2010 the Merriam Police Department offered a variety of training classes for its officers and civilian staff to attend. Listed below are examples of some of those courses.

Defensive Tactics:

Traffic Safety Training:

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

♦ Supervising a DUI Check Point ♦ Doppler Radar and Lidar Training ♦ Transportation Safety Conference

Ground Fighting Use of Force Situational Training Handcuffing/OC Spray/ Pressure Point Control Tactics Baton

Detective Training: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Child Sex Abuse Interrogation Death /Homicide Investigation Economic Fraud Training Gangs

S.W.A.T. Training: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Barricaded Suspects Vehicle Assaults Firearms Training Advanced Tactical Operations Mobile Active Shooter Search Warrants Firearms Training Specialty Munitions Legal Issues for Tactical Operations Hostage Rescue

Supervisor Training: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Sexual Harassment Supervision of Police Personnel Investigating Use of Force Cases Employee drug or alcohol abuse Applied Leadership

Patrol Training: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

I-Leads Records Management System ID Theft Vehicle and Cell Extractions DUI Report Writing Street Survival Course Excited Delirium Emergency Vehicle Operation Course Legal Updates

Community Service Officer Training: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Computer Training Animal Control Conference Use of Force Child Safety Seat Technician

Firearms Training: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Handgun Skills and Qualification Rifle Skills and Qualification Shotgun Skills and Qualification Low Light Shooting Skills Every Merriam police officer received on average 95 hours of training in 2010.

Every officer assigned to S.W.A.T. received on average an additional 90 hours of specialized training.

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OFFICERS AT WORK—2010 Child pornography found in a storage unit When the person renting a storage unit defaulted on his payment, all the property was auctioned off.

On January 7th, the new owner of the property found pictures of child pornography among these items.

Detective Nick Weiler collected the evidence and contacted the suspect. Det. Weiler tied the suspect to the pornography by matching the suspect’s fingerprints to those left on the pictures. Confronted with this evidence, the suspect admitted to his involvement and later pled guilty to the charges.

Man found lying in the street with fatal injuries On February 7th, while most of us were somewhere else enjoying the Super Bowl, Officers Jo Anna Ellis, Cory Herron and Cpl. Todd Sparks were trying to determine what killed a man that was found lying in the street. With the help of Officer John DeMoss and detectives Nick Weiler and James Browning, a security camera from a nearby business was located that revealed the answer. An intoxicated driver had dropped the victim off at his home and had backed over him as he was leaving.

The officers tracked down the hit-and-run driver and that man is currently awaiting court proceedings.

Disturbance at a bar requires assistance from outside agencies Seldom is it necessary to ask for assistance from other police departments, but that’s exactly what happened on February 28th. During his routine patrol, Officer Steve Wechsler rolled up on a disturbance behind a bar just as it was closing. Officers Jeff Magee and Larry Birt responded to help and the three of them attempted to arrest the primary combatants. Things quickly began to get out of hand when bystanders intervened and attempted to take Officer Magee’s Taser away from him.

Officers from Shawnee, Lenexa, Mission and Fairway responded to help quell the fight and to restore order. Officers Wechsler and Magee received minor injuries from the fight and two subjects were taken to jail.

Three suspects attempt to carjack a man outside his apartment On March 7th as a man had just returned home he was approached in the parking lot by three suspects. One of them pointed a handgun at him and demanded the keys to his car. He wisely complied and left unharmed. Unfortunately for the bad guys, the car they had just stolen had a standard transmission. Since none of them knew how to drive a stick shift, they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. The next day this case was assigned to the Detective Unit. With very little to go on initially, Detectives Chris Brokaw, James Browning and Nick Weiler were able to identify the three suspects. All of them eventually pled guilty in court.

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OFFICERS AT WORK—2010 Officer’s diligence gets handguns off the street Early on the morning of June 12th, Cpl. Jason Reynolds stopped what he thought was a suspicious man walking down the street carrying a backpack. Cpl. Reynolds searched the subject and found eight handguns, two of which were loaded, in the backpack. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the guns had just recently been stolen from a gun store in Nixa, Missouri.

Two children die unexpectedly Few calls are more heartbreaking for an officer to respond to than that of a child’s death. Unfortunately, this year we were required to do so on two separate occasions. The first call on May 21st involved a four year old boy that was accidentally killed. The second call on December 12th involved an eight week old girl that had died in her sleep. The responding officers, along with the entire Merriam Police department, extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and friends.

Armed robbery lead to a vehicle pursuit and arrest On October 11th, a man walked into the Game Stop business and robbed the clerk at knife point. The suspect took the employee to a back room, tied him up and started loading stolen property out the back door into the clerk’s vehicle. (To add insult to injury, the bad guy was not only robbing the clerk, he was also stealing his car!) However, the resourceful clerk was able to free himself enough from his restraints to call 911 on his cell phone. This action allowed the responding officers, Sgt. Todd Allen, Officers John DeMoss, Gerry Eickhoff, and Larry Birt, to arrive on scene in time to see the suspect leave. A pursuit ensued that took the officers into Overland Park, Mission and then back into Merriam.

Joining in the action were Detective’s Nick Weiler, James Browning and Cpl. John Walton. When the suspect came back into Merriam, it was Cpl. Walton that observed him drive into the garage of a residence not far from the original robbery. All the officers involved converged on the house and eventually talked the suspect into surrendering.

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OFFICERS AT WORK—2010 Murder/Suicide When officers Wes Waller, Tim Filson, Cpl. Mark Messbarger and Sgt. Duvanel answered a call of a dead body found inside a residence at the Georgetown Apartments on July 22nd, they discovered not one, but two deceased individuals. During the following investigation led by Capt. Tim Burnett, it was determined that the thirty-four year old male subject had shot the thirty-five year old female victim just prior to turning the gun on himself.

Alert neighbor’s 911 call clears numerous auto burglaries A resident returning home from work late at night on Dec. 31st saw some suspicious activity in his neighbor’s driveway. He also observed an unknown male subject, which had been standing by his neighbor’s truck, run from the area. Left at the scene was an unknown female still sitting in her car. The resident called the police and Sgt. Kellerman and Officer Herron took the female into custody for questioning. The information this woman gave to Detectives Waters, Wechsler, Weiler and Browning led to the arrest of the fleeing suspect and cleared between 30-40 separate auto burglaries that had occurred in area over the last several weeks.

Merriam PD teams up with other agencies for DUI and prostitution enforcement It is not uncommon for the Merriam Police Department to team up with other surrounding law enforcement agencies to address communal problems. This was done four different times in 2010.

Twice DUI check lanes where conducted involving officers from Overland Park, Shawnee, Westwood, Fairway, Olathe, Johnson County Park Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol. Nearly 1000 cars were stopped and 16 arrests were made.

Also during this year we participated in two separate prostitution sting operations. One enforcement action was metro wide involving agencies from both Missouri and Kansas. The other action was confined to Johnson County and included officers from Overland Park, Shawnee and the sheriff’s department. These two operations netted a total of thirty-eight prostitution related arrests.

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TRAFFIC UNIT ENFORCEMENT The Merriam Police Department’s Traffic Unit is tasked with enforcing traffic laws within the city. Their efforts are concentrated in areas where there are a high number of accidents and traffic complaints. In addition, they participated in 2 DUI check points and several saturation patrols for DUI and seatbelt enforcement. Listed below are statistics for 2010.

TEU Traffic Statistic Totals for 2010:

Moving Violations Non-Moving Violations Total Tickets Issued Driving Under the Influence Arrests Speeding Other Moving Violations Seat Belts Accident Reports Shifts Worked Miles Driven

1,884 1,472 3,574 20 1333 551 542 168 318 10,000

There were 386 Fatal Accidents reported in Kansas in 2010.

In 2009 there were 388 Fatal Accidents.

In the state of Kansas, 59% of all Fatalities in 2010 were not wearing their seatbelt.

This is down by 10.4% compared to 2009.

TEU Traffic Statistics for DUI/Saturation Patrols in 2010:

Check Point Date June 18, 2010 August 14, 2010

Contacts 1078 794

DUI Arrests 4 8

Other Arrests 3 5

26% of all drivers admit to texting while driving‌

60% of teens admit they text while they drive.

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MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES TOP TEN CRASH LOCATIONS IN MERRIAM FOR 2010 ♦ Shawnee Mission Parkway and I-35

57

♦ 75th and I-35

48

♦ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch 37 ♦ 67th and I-35

24

♦ Johnson and I-35

23

♦ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Eby

21

♦ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Mastin

14

♦ Antioch and I-35

12

♦ 75th and E. Frontage

11

♦ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Craig

10

♦

Johnson and Slater

10

Top Crash Location Breakdown ¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and I-35 ¨ 75th and I-35 ¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch

18%

¨ 67th and I-35 ¨ Johnson and I-35 ¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Eby

14%

21%

¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Mastin ¨ Antioch and I-35 ¨ 75th and E. Frontage ¨ Shawnee Mission Parkway and Craig

9%

¨ Johnson and Slater

9% 4%

4%

5% 4% 4%

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8%

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES One of the fundamental duties of any police department is to investigate motor vehicle accidents. The City of Merriam has 65 miles of roadway within its borders, including approximately 3 miles of interstate highway. According to data provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) the portion of Interstate 35, just north of 75th Street, is the busiest section of highway in the State of Kansas. KDOT estimates that over one hundred thousand cars drive through the city each day.

With the types of roadways that run through Merriam, coupled with the high number of businesses and general drive-through traffic, the problem of traffic control and accident investigation is a full-time challenge. A study conducted by the Kansas Department of Transportation indicated that the City of Merriam has the highest per capita accident rate of any city in the state. In 2002, the department began a more aggressive approach to traffic enforcement, which eventually led to the creation of our Traffic Enforcement Unit in 2005.

2010 CRASH FACTS •

There were 486 motor vehicle accidents reported to the Merriam Police Department.

•

Of this total 77 of the accidents involved some level of personal injuries. This is a 10% decrease from 2009.

•

There were 16 accidents which were determined to be alcohol related. This equates to approximately 3% of the total.

•

Hit-and-run accidents reported and investigated in 2010 totaled 87, which is a 6% increase from 2009.

•

There were 39 private property and 33 minor accident reports taken in Merriam. This figure is a 22% increase from 2009.

•

There were 2 reported fatality accidents in Merriam. They occurred at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Robin Hood and Shawnee Mission Parkway and Goodman. Alcohol was a factor in one accident.

•

Overall, the city experienced a 15% decrease in the number of accidents as compared to 2009.

NOTE: The above statistics do not include accidents reported to KHP that occurred on I-35.

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INVESTIGATIONS In 2010 the Investigations Unit underwent some re-adjustment. The Special Enforcement Unit was absorbed into the Investigations Unit. This allows the unit to focus as a whole on the ever changing problems of the city.

In 2010, the Investigations Unit detectives were assigned 458 cases and solved 113 for a clearance rate of 25%. These cases included homicides, rapes, property crimes, financial crimes and other types of offenses.

Total Cases Assigned by Year Year

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Homicide

0

0

1

2

2

Burglary

53

65

39

46

43

Theft

77

135

98

95

101

2008

Forgery

24

19

3

2

1

2009

Auto Theft

26

79

25

20

27

2010

Auto Burglary

*

16

10

49

49

Identity Theft

*

23

16

7

6

Robbery

11

14

8

11

6

Battery

17

13

17

33

30

Felony Sex Offenses

9

20

15

9

15

Criminal Damage

19

57

12

12

13

Criminal Threats

5

10

6

3

7

Phone Harassment

12

11

9

5

10

Unattended Death

8

12

5

14

14

Child Cases (CINC)

8

10

15

4

12

Kidnapping

2

0

2

0

2

Arson

1

0

0

1

0

Assault

9

4

4

1

5

Credit Card Fraud

8

3

2

8

4

All Others

34

19

7

43

111

Total

323

510

287

365

458

Investigative Assignments 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

2006 2007

2006

2008 Year

2010

Type of Cases Assigned by Year

* indicates these numbers are not available

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FORFEITURE REPORT According to K.S.A. 60-4117, law enforcement agencies are required to report the status of their Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund in an “annual report.” The report must include the type and approximate value of the forfeited property received, the amount of any forfeiture proceeds received, and how any of those proceeds were expended.

In order to ensure that the Merriam Police Department stays in conformance with K.S.A. 60-4117, this section is included in all annual reports. Any questions concerning specific details should be directed to the City of Merriam’s Finance Department.

DRUG FORFEITURE ACTIVITIES IN 2010: On January 1, 2010, there was approximately $20,840.71 in the Merriam Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

During 2010, the Merriam Police Department received $16,253.50 from drug forfeitures and/or drug taxes. The account earned $172.00 in interest.

There was a reimbursement to the Merriam Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund in the amount of $1,306.00.This was a grant reimbursement .

During 2010, the following purchases or expenditures were made with funds from the Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund:

Legal Fees

$926.00

Undercover Phone

Gas Masks

$1,100.00 SWAT Equipment

$110.88 $197.16

Patrol Bail Out Bags $675.00

Fitness Equipment

$920.77

19” LCD Monitor

$219.95

Cooper Fitness Equipment

$15.00

Drug Investigations

$3,381.50 Department Photo

$219.95

TOTAL EXPENDITURES IN 2010: $7,489.26 ACCOUNT CARRYOVER: As of 01/01/2011= $31,345.45

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USE OF FORCE Use of Force Incidents All use of force incidents must be reported and are reviewed by the Patrol Commander. A specific report is used that details the circumstances that led up to the use of force, the amount of force used and the results. It is the responsibility of the Patrol Commander to evaluate each use of force used by an officer to make sure it was within department policy. Use of force reports are prepared each time an officer uses any type of force during an arrest or whenever an officer points a weapon at an individual and issues verbal commands. During 2010 there were 19 incidents where an officer deemed it necessary to use force to make an arrest. This number is unchanged from last year. The number of use of force incidents in Merriam is extremely low considering the number of arrests (1,306) the officers made during the year. Highlighted below is specific information related to the use of force incidents in 2010.

Type of Force used during 2010 Incidents    

Service weapon pointed at individual Taser device pointed at someone Taser device used on individual Empty hand control techniques used

4 8 4 10

Use of Force by Shift 42% 37% 21%

50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Day Shift

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Evening Shift Midnight Shift

SUPPORT SERVICES SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS (S.W.A.T.): The Merriam Police Department formed a team of 9 officers in 2000 that were specially trained and equipped to respond to high-risk calls that need a special approach. A high level of training has continued through 2010 to make sure they are equipped and ready to handle armed and other high risk situations. The S.W.A.T. officers are also expected to retain a higher than average level of physical fitness and firearms proficiency skill. During 2010 the Merriam S.W.A.T. team was utilized to serve 5 search warrants and one barricaded subject.

EVIDENCE TECHNICIANS: The Merriam Police Department has officers who have received special training in evidence collection and processing. These trained technicians are assigned to the Patrol Division and are utilized while on duty. This has helped reduced overtime in 2010. These officers can also be called out on serious crimes to assist the detectives.

ALARM ORDINANCE: Each year hundreds of business, residential, and robbery alarms are received by the Merriam Police and Fire Departments. As a result a city ordinance was adopted that regulates these alarms. When too many alarms are received, the alarm owners can be fined. he purpose of the alarm ordinance is to make these alarm owners more responsible for their equipment. Invoices are sent out for those that have too many false alarms. The police department also works with the alarm owners to find ways to reduce the incidents of false alarms. When the program was started in 1999 we had 601 false alarms. Since then the numbers have dropped to the all time low of 164 reported false alarms in 2010. The City of Merriam collected $2755 in false alarm fines in 2010.

TRAFFIC COUNTS: The Merriam Police Department operates two a radar equipped traffic speed trailers. These devices are placed in areas where there are traffic complaints or frequent accidents. The information is used to increase enforcement and determine the scope and time of day of the traffic problem. Citizens having a problem with speeders in their neighborhood should call the patrol commander’s office at 913-322-5589 and discuss the available options to resolve the problem.

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SUPPORT SERVICES RECORDS MANAGEMENT: Our Records Unit is responsible for the handling of police records once taken by a police officer. These reports have to be verified, stored, and properly distributed to citizens, courts and other law enforcement agencies. Ronda Brumbaugh and Karen Gibson are currently assigned to our records unit. If you have any questions or need help call 913322-5560.

EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT: One of the police clerks is assigned to help manage the department’s recovered property and evidence. Lisa Aldrich is responsible for properly logging and storing all recovered property and evidence. She is also responsible for the safety and security of this evidence and must be available to respond to Municipal and District Court to testify concerning the evidentiary chain of custody. The property custodian is responsible for destroying evidence when it is no longer needed for court; disposing of other seized property by appropriate means or seeing that property is returned to the lawful owners.

CROSSING GUARD UNIT: There are three school-crossing locations within the city. Part-time employees assist school children crossing the streets at these locations twice per day (one-hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon). This unit, supervised by Lt. Daniels, is responsible for child pedestrian safety. The crossing guards also assist the department during the Turkey Creek Festival.

HOUSE WATCH PROGRAM: Each year, a number of vacationing Merriam residents will register their homes with the police department for extra patrol. The Merriam House Watch Program is a crime prevention program that is designed to reduce house burglaries and provide citizens with a since of security while they are away from their homes. The citizen completes a simple form and officers spend designated times checking these residences while the owners are away. In 2010, 30 Merriam citizens took advantage of this program.

POLICE RIDE-ALONG PROGRAM: This is a community relations program that allows citizens to ride with a police officer during their normal shift. A citizen signs up to ride for two to eight hours on any shifts they choose. They must complete a form that allows records check to be conducted. The patrol shift supervisor coordinates with the citizen to schedule their ride-along visit. Persons under the age of 15 must have a responsible adult with them on the ride-along. In 2010, 23 citizens took the opportunity to ride with a MPD officer.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS The Community Service Officers are non-sworn members of the police department. Their job is to assist the public with various police-related functions that do not necessarily need to be performed by law enforcement officers.

DUTIES: CSO’s are assigned to many different tasks. They are “jacks-of-all-trades.” They must be able to cover school crossings, perform records management functions, civilian fingerprinting, and routine walk-in reports. They are also act as the court bailiff. They can assist patrol with traffic control needs, motorist assistance, and other support functions. Their number one responsibility is animal control.

This includes picking up strays, enforcing animal control ordinances, and helping control nuisance animals.

Last year the Merriam Police Department impounded 216 stray animals, including 109 cats, 107 dogs and 1 rabbit. Only 4 of the impounded cats were claimed and 34 of the impounded dogs were claimed by owners.

Please remember to have your pets licensed. Not only is it required by law, it will also help the police department to return your lost pet to you. Please call 913-322-5560 for information on registering your pets, or go to our website for additional information: www.merriam.org/MPD/Animal-Control/pet-registration.htm The following is a list of the average calls/activities per month of the two CSO’s . ♦ Answer 40 animal control calls. ♦ Write 24 animal control related reports. ♦ Confirm 7 warrants. ♦ Serve 5 warrants. ♦ Answer 85 phone calls. ♦ 27 hours per month in court related duties. ♦ Take 10 walk-in police reports. ♦ Perform 22 civilian fingerprint requests.

In addition to these activities, the CSO’s are also required to attend various training classes throughout the year. These include but are not limited to: Taser, CPR/AED, Animal Control Conference, handcuffing, and records management training.

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ADMINISTRATION The Administrative Unit of the Merriam Police Department is responsible for a variety of different and important functions of the department. There are four administrative officers; Chief William Lietzke, Captain Timothy Burnett, Lieutenant Michael Daniels and Lieutenant Darren McLaughlin. These veteran officers have a combined total of over ninety years of police experience.

Chief of Police: William Lietzke’s primary duty is the overall responsibility of the department. He works as the liaison with all elected officials, community leaders and residents. He is in charge of the budget and all department spending. It is his job to manage department liability and risk management. He also makes the final decision concerning employee hiring and termination.

Captain: Tim Burnett is the commander of the Patrol Unit which is made up of uniformed officers.

Manpower allocation and scheduling are his primary responsibilities. He must be familiar with all the current laws as well as contemporary police tactics and operations. He is also responsible for investigating all citizen complaints on officers, internal investigations and all use of force incidents. He is a current staff officer (Officer-in-Charge) for the Metro Squad and the Johnson County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team.

Investigation’s Lieutenant: Darren McLaughlin is responsible for supervising the Investigations Unit.

He reviews all written reports and assigns cases to the detectives based on available leads. Cases followed-up by the uniformed officers are also managed through his office.

Administrative Lieutenant: Michael Daniels supervises the police department’s civilian staff which includes three records personnel, two community service officers and three school crossing guards. He is also in charge of all the department’s training, the records management system and the property/ evidence room. He is currently the S.W.A.T. team commander and a staff officer (Lead) for the Metro Squad. The administrative Lieutenant is also in charge of many of the departments special events.

Personnel Update: Seth Mullis started work with the police department on December 26, 2010. Officer Mullis came to us from the Johnson County Park Police where he had about three years experience.

Laura Naegele started work with the police department on December 27, 2010 and is currently in the Johnson County Police Academy. She was formerly a Wyandotte County Unified Government police dispatcher.

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ADMINISTRATION Professional Standards: Another important function of the Administrative Unit is professional standards. This function is primarily the responsibility of the captain, who conducts internal investigations of department personnel when necessary. The captain is also responsible for ensuring that officers follow proper procedure and all department rules and regulations. There are four main aspects of police work that the Merriam Police Department tracks and investigates: officer complaints, vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits, and use of force incidents.

Officer Complaints: When a citizen makes a complaint against an officer it is documented and investigated by the officer's supervisor. If the complaint is serious in nature or can not be resolved by the supervisor it is forwarded to the Captain for further investigation. Once the investigation is complete it is forwarded to the Police Chief as founded or unfounded. If the complaint is founded the captain recommends the appropriate disciplinary action. During 2010 there were four official complaints that were investigated, three were unfounded and one was substantiated which resulted in disciplinary action and training for the officer.

Vehicle Pursuits: The department has a very strict vehicle pursuit policy because of the dangers associated with this type of driving. When an officer engages in a pursuit the on-duty supervisor closely monitors this incident. The officer has the direct authority to discontinue a pursuit at any time or the supervisor may direct the officer to end the pursuit. All vehicle pursuits are investigated by the on-duty supervisor and reviewed by the captain to ensure all policies and procedures were followed. There was one pursuit during 2010.

Foot Pursuits: In 2002 a foot pursuit policy was created that strictly regulates police officer foot pursuits because they have proven to be a very high-risk activity for officers. This is due to the extreme physical exertion and unforeseen obstacles. In addition, most people running from the police are violent and combative when captured. Because of these reasons, each foot pursuit is carefully reviewed by the shift supervisor and the captain to ensure all policies and procedures were followed. There were two foot pursuits in 2010.

Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center: In 2010 the Merriam Police Department took 12 juveniles to the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center. By estimates, this saved the department around 45 man -hours by allowing JIAC to process juveniles that are runaways or who have committed criminal acts.

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Proudly Serving Since 1951

Merriam Police Department 9010 W. 62 St. Merriam, KS, 66202 (913) 322-5560