Merriam Police Annual Report, 2018

MERRIAM POLICE 2018 Annual Report

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 1

CONTENTS 3 4

CHIEF'S MESSAGE

5 6 7 8 8 9 10 10 12 13 13 14

FORFEITURE REPORT

BUDGET REPORT CRIME STATISTICS DDACTS PATROL DIVISION INVESTIGATIONS MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES OFFICERS AT WORK POLICE TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS PROMOTIONS OFFICER OF THE YEAR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

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CITY POPULATION

11,232

CALLS FOR SERVICE

9,911

SELF-INITIATED CALLS

15,129

WRITTEN REPORTS

4,888

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

697

AUTO BURGLARIES REDUCED BY DDACTS

56%

POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES

37

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MONEY RAISED

$26,195

TOTAL BUDGET

$4,018,996 2 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

MESSAGE FROM

THE CHIEF Merriam Residents,

This has been a fantastic year. We started off with the completion of the police station remodel. The remodel included improvements to our property room, an upgraded HVAC system, and an expanded locker room. Now, we not only have a well-organized space to hold our property, we can also keep all of the strong smelling drugs in a separate room that keeps the odor from spreading throughout the building. Each officer on the department has their own locker that allows them to change in and out of their uniform at the station instead of at home. The HVAC system has kept the temperature even, and it has reduced our cost.

We have increased our community interaction. Officers attended block parties, art openings, the farmers' market, and held a city-wide cookout for National Night Out Against Crime. We introduced our bicycle unit and increased our activity on social media, with about 3,000 likes on Facebook and 2,775 followers on Twitter. Social media allows us to interact with an almost unlimited number of people.

Finally, I would like to thank our citizens, city council, and Mayor Ken Sissom for allowing me to lead the exceptional men and women of the Merriam Police Department.

It has been a great ride, but on April 1, 2019, I will retire after 32-years of service.

Your department is well trained and will continue to provide the very best service to Merriam's citizens.

Sincerely,

Michael Daniels Chief of Police

PATROL COMMANDER Captain Todd Allen INVESTIGATIONS COMMANDER Major Darren McLaughlin SUPPORT SERVICES COMMANDER Captain Troy Duvanel 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 3

BUDGET EXPENSE REPORT In 2018, Merriam's total police budget was $4,018,996. This amount included all projected costs of personnel, contractual services, commodities, and capital outlay purchases. Below is a breakdown of expenditures by major categories.

PE R S O N N E L

This budget item includes salaries and benefits.

B U D G E T E D: $3,614,061 S PE N T: $3,598,849 PE R C E N T O F B U D G E T S PE N T: 99.6%

CO N T R AC T UA L S E R V I C E S

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

B U D G E T E D: $232,943 S PE N T: $185,004 PE R C E N T O F B U D G E T S PE N T: 79.4%

S U PPL I E S A N D E Q U I PM E N T

This budget item includes office equipment, police equipment, uniforms, and fuel.

B U D G E T E D: $173,302 S PE N T: $150,664 PE R C E N T O F B U D G E T S PE N T: 86.9%

Police department spending was $84,479 under budget in 2018.

4 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

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, the amount of any forfeiture proceeds received, and how any of those proceeds were expended.

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

Law Enforcement Special Funds Report On Jan. 1, 2018, there was $60,772.98 in the Merriam Special Law Enforcement Fund.

Through the course of the year, the following receipts and expenses were made to this fund: RECEIPTS Total funds received – cash seizure (case 16CV2390) Total Assets for 2018

$14,883.00 $14,883.00

EXPENDITURES Court ordered settlement from funds seized (returned to claimant) $6,000.00 Legal fees paid to Johnson County District Attorney’s Office $1,332.45 Bicycles for Bicycle Unit $6,997.82 Supplies and equipment for Bicycle Unit $2,331.27 Camera system for training room at police department $1,455.00 Exercise equipment $2,315.00 Total Expenditures in 2018 $20,431.54 Fund balance as of Dec. 31, 2018

$55,224.44

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 5

CRIME STATISTICS

Each year, we report crimes to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations.

MURDER

RAPE

0

ROBBERY

3

ASSAULTS

8

160

BURGLARY

51

THEFT

505

AUTO THEFT

87

ARSON

1

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

GRID

ARSON

MURDER

RAPE

ROBBERY

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

SIMPLE ASSAULT

BURGLARY

THEFT

AUTO THEFT

TOTALS

The Merriam Police Department tracks criminal activity and trends by dividing the city into grids that separate residential areas from business areas, as much as possible. The chart below will give you information on some of the crime reports taken in each grid during 2018.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 2 0

1 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 5 0 5 0 3 0 1 2 3 0

10 16 7 3 8 2 1 3 2 11 12 9 3 9 4 6 0 4 10 8 2

5 6 5 0 2 1 7 2 5 3 0 1 0 5 0 1 0 1 2 5 0

29 43 33 3 27 8 6 3 11 11 20 27 14 48 3 37 1 10 7 156 8

10 7 13 2 7 1 2 2 11 11 1 5 1 5 2 4 0 3 3 5 0

55 77 58 10 47 12 16 10 29 38 35 47 18 73 9 54 2 19 25 179 10

1

0

3

8

30

130

51

505

95

Totals

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GRID MAP Blue lines represent the grid boundaries. *Grid Q is the Merriam City Hall Complex.

DDACTS Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Study In March 2017, we began using Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Study (DDACTS) enforcement to identify areas with high incidences of crime, crashes, and traffic violations. The program uses statistics to determine the most effective places and times to patrol areas in Merriam.

Statistics from the past five years showed overlapping high points of crime and crashes around Merriam Town Center and down toward Shawnee Mission Parkway. The information has allowed the department to increase its patrol efficiency along Shawnee Mission Parkway north to Antioch Road, across 55th St., and down Merriam Drive.

338 292

276

227 147 97

2013

All Crime

2014

2015

All Crashes

250 702

156

106 Theft/Auto Burglary

2016

2017

2018

506

2013

Non-Highway Crashes

590

2014

985

912

864

828

174 124

378

647

2015

693

2016

944 765

2017

697

2018

Merriam Town Center Incidents

Crash Totals Per Year

Merriam Town Center became an area of focus with the start of DDACTS enforcement. As expected, the number of incidents went up with increased contact and communication with businesses. The additional enforcment has led to an increase in contact-based incidents, including DUI's, recovered stolen property, and vehicle checks. Despite the increase in overall incidents, there was a 56 percent decrease in auto burglaries compared to the previous five-year average and a 10 percent reduction in thefts from the prior year.

As part of DDACTS enforcement, the department focused on areas with higher crash totals. Since 2013, crash totals grew by an average of 71 crashes a year. Based on the previous five years, the projected total number of crashes in 2018 was 1,053. The actual total number of crashes in 2018 was 944.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 7

PATROL DIVISION The patrol division is responsible for answering calls for service, traffic enforcement, traffic accidents, and other tasks essential to serving Merriam.

Officers work ten-hour shifts with varying start times to cover all 24 hours of the day, seven days a week. They are assigned to one of six supervisors.

Last year, our officers answered 9,911 calls for service. These calls ranged from simple city ordinance violations to severe crimes involving personal injury. Merriam police officers also conducted more than 15,129 self-initiated citizen contacts. These included traffic stops, suspicious person checks, business checks, community outreach, and other miscellaneous duties.

Officers wrote a total of 2,845 reports.

Shawnee Mission Parkway Crashes We believe the reduction in crashes this year on Shawnee Mission Parkway is due to it being identified for officers as a primary focus for traffic enforcement. It has the highest number of crashes in Merriam, not including Interstate 35. Over the last five years, Shawnee Mission Parkway has had over two and a half times more crashes than any other street in Merriam. 2018 had the lowest number of crashes on Shawnee Mission Parkway since 2013.

167

152

148

146 116

104

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

INVESTIGATIONS In 2018, detectives were assigned 315 cases. Of these cases, 78 were solved. Detectives are still investigating 65 cases.

THEFT

SIMPLE ASSAULT

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

FINANCIAL CRIMES

BURGLARY

69

36

21

16

22

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

UNATTENDED DEATH

CHILD IN NEED OF CARE

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

SEX CRIMES

19

14

6

7

7

8 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES One of the fundamental duties of any police department is to investigate motor vehicle crashes. The City of Merriam has 65 miles of roadway within its borders, including approximately three miles of interstate highway. According to data provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the portion of Interstate 35 just north of 75th St. is the busiest highway section in Kansas. KDOT estimates more than 145,000 cars drive through Merriam each day.

With the types of roadways in Merriam and the high number of businesses and general drive-through traffic, the problem of traffic control and crash investigation becomes a full-time challenge.

2018 Crash Facts There were 697 motor vehicle accidents reported to the Merriam Police Department in 2018 compared to 765 in 2017. Of these: »» 170 accidents involved some level of personal injuries »» 437 accidents resulted in damage of more than $1,000 »» 27 accidents were alcohol-related • There were injuries in 11 of these accidents »» 76 were on private property »» 89 were minor accidents under $1,000 NOTE: The above statistics do not include crashes reported to and investigated by KHP that occurred on I-35.

Top Crash Locations

116 SHAWNEE MISSION PARK WAY 55 JOHNSON DRIVE 53 75 TH STREET 47 ANTIOCH 23 67 TH STREET

Drunk Driving Campaign The Merriam Police Department made 39 stops during its two-week “You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.” campaign in August. The statewide program aimed to remove impaired drivers from Kansas roadways. Officers conducted overtime patrols to aggressively enforce Kansas impaired driving laws. Merriam joined 150 other state agencies during the campaign.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 9

OFFICERS AT WORK Merriam police officers respond to many different types of service calls. The following are examples of memorable incidents handled by Merriam officers in 2018. The incidents on this list were submitted by patrol supervisors.

1/6/2018 // MEDICAL CALL

MPO Kristin Jasinski was dispatched to a residence after a woman called 911 saying her 59-year-old husband was having a heart attack. When MPO Jasinski arrived, she found the man unconscious and applied an AED to the man. The AED gave the man a shock, and MPO Jasinski then began giving him CPR. MPO Jasinski continued giving CPR until medical personnel arrived. The man was transported to the hospital where his condition improved. The quick first-aid actions of MPO Jasinski were directly responsible for saving the man’s life. The man and his wife were able to personally thank MPO Jasinski, and she received a Life Saving Award from the department.

1/14/2018 // AGGRAVATED BURLARY

At 5:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to an aggravated burglary in progress in the 9500 block of W. 62nd St. The business owner, who was inside, could see a flashlight inside and hear someone in the garage area. Cpl. Nick Weiler, MPO Vincent Rock, and PO Grant Sparks found an open back door.

When they called out to the suspect, he ran. Officers pursued on foot and caught the 26-year-old man several blocks away. He was arrested and sent to jail.

3/20/2018 // POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

MPO Cory Herron attempted to stop a white van that fled from him. The driver ran from the vehicle, which contained 474 grams (just over a pound) of marijuana. Officers searched the area with the assistance of a Shawnee K9 officer, but the driver initially eluded officers. Later, officers received information that a subject matching the driver’s description entered a cab at the QuikTrip on Johnson Drive. PO Austin Twite was in the area and stopped the cab, leading to the suspect's arrest.

5/22/2018 // COMMERCIAL BURGLARY

A cleaning crew reported a burglary in progress at a temporary office belonging to Aristocrat Motors. The suspect broke in, stole key fobs and other property (including a .32 caliber Derringer), then attempted to leave in a stolen vehicle. MPO Cory Herron and Sgt. John Walton intercepted the suspect as he was leaving the area. The 25-year-old man was arrested and, upon interrogation by MPO/Det. Paul Hutchinson, confessed to the burglary and vehicle theft. The suspect later pled guilty in district court. MPO Chris Meyers and Det. Aaron Simmons also assisted with this case.

TRAINING

The State of Kansas requires all police officers to complete a state-sponsored police academy. The Merriam Police Department also requires new officers to complete a 12to 14-week field training program. The State of Kansas requires certified police officers receive a minimum of 40 hours of training each year. Merriam police officers received an average of 121 training hours in 2018.

10 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

8/21/2018 // IDENTITY THEFT

MPO James Waller and Sgt. Chris Brokaw were dispatched to the AT&T store when a 34-yearold man from the Dominican Republic was attempting to fraudulently purchase cell phones using someone else’s identity. Officers conducted surveillance of the store and were able to arrest the man after he left. After further investigation, it was determined the man was part of a multistate identity theft ring that was responsible for the fraudulent purchase of a large number of cell phones. The man is in jail awaiting trial.

9/10/2018 // RECOVERED STOLEN AUTO

MPO James Waller located a stolen car parked near Office Max. He went into the business and learned two suspects just exited the rear of the business. After a short foot chase, a 24-year-old female and a 27-year-old male were taken into custody. During the search of the vehicle, officers found a lot of stolen property, materials indicative of ID theft, and the manufacture of fraudulent bank cards.

9/11/2018 // BOMB THREAT

Officers responded to a woman who called dispatch to report a bomb in her vehicle, which the 39-year-old woman left abandoned at the bottom of the ramp from I-35 South to 67th St. Attempts to locate the woman were unsuccessful.

Overland Park’s bomb squad and other assets from local and federal agencies responded, and traffic was diverted from the area. The vehicle was subsequently cleared and no device was found.

Later contact with the woman's father revealed she suffers from psychiatric issues.

10/4/2018 // MEDICAL CALL

MPO Kristin Jasinski was getting ready for her shift when she heard a medical call for service at IKEA, located next door to the police station. The call stated a two-year-old child was choking. Though not yet in service, MPO Jasinski rushed to IKEA and notified dispatch she was on scene. She found the child and the child's parents in the restaurant. The child was still in distress and choking on a piece of food.

MPO Jasinski was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the child and dislodged a meatball. She received a Life Saving Award from the department for her work.

12/6/2018 // MEDICAL CALL

PO April Gebke responded to a report of a car that had run off the road near 55th and Knox. Upon arrival, the vehicle was in a residence's yard and a speed limit sign was knocked down. She found the driver slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious, not breathing, and she had no pulse. PO Gebke drug the woman from her vehicle, laid her flat on the ground, and began chest compressions. PO Gebke utilized her AED to shock the woman and continued resuscitative efforts until medical personnel arrived. The woman was transported to the hospital in very critical condition, but she was able to recover. PO Gebke's quick, decisive actions were crucial to the woman surviving.

PO Gebke received a Life Saving Award from the department for her work.

Some real great people work for the Merriam Police Department. Nice to have them around looking out for the citizens of Merriam.

USE OF

FORCE

— BRANDON H. Law enforcement officers face many challenges and occasionally need to use force to subdue a violent offender or take a person into custody for their own protection. Merriam officers arrested 1,347 individuals in 2018, and only used force in 53 of those incidents. This is a testament to our officers’ ability to de-escalate tense situations and gain compliance without force.

The Merriam Police Department makes it a top priority to conduct comprehensive examinations of any incident when force is involved in making an arrest. It's critical to be absolutely sure each use of force was necessary and within policy. Therefore, each incident is reviewed by the officer’s supervisor and a three-member Use of Force Panel for a thorough analysis. The panel and supervisor examine the reports, videos, witness statements, and other evidence to get a complete understanding of the incident. Recommendations then are made to the training committee to consider whether lessons learned from the incident could benefit all officers in future work and improve best-practice standards.

All 53 use of force incidents were reviewed and found to be within department policy. We believe our comprehensive oversight makes the community safer and our officers more accountable.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 11

HIGHLIGHTS Merriam Police Ride Bikes to Enhance Community Policing The Merriam Police Department started a bicycle patrol unit in 2018. Four dedicated officers now patrol the City on fully equipped police bikes.

Merriam Police Chief Michael Daniels said there are several advantages to having officers on bicycles. He said they are able to go into parts of the City that patrol vehicles can’t access, such as the Turkey Creek Streamway Trail. He also said they help break down physical and social barriers, which make officers more approachable to residents.

“Having officers on bicycles – whether in our parks, neighborhoods, or business districts – give them an opportunity to connect with our community, further strengthening relationships with our citizens and business owners,” Chief Daniels said.

Police Officers Receive Multiple Life Saving Awards In 2018, Master Police Officer Kristin Jasinski received two Life Saving Awards and Officer April Gebke received one Life Saving Award from the Merriam Police Department.

In January, MPO Jasinski was first on the scene after a resident suffered a heart attack. She used an AED and performed CPR to help revive the man.

In October, MPO Jasinski applied the Heimlich maneuver on a 2-year-old girl choking on a meatball at IKEA Restaurant.

Incredible officer and incredible leadership. Thank you, Mayor Sissom for your role, past and present, in making our community great.

And thanks, Officer Jasinski for serving our community.

– DAVID P.

In December, Officer Gebke responded to a car crash where the driver suffered from a major cardiac event. Officer Gebke used an AED to administer several shocks to the driver.

All three citizens made full recoveries.

Both officers said they were humbled to receive the awards.

New Program to Helps with Mental Health Calls The Merriam Police Department joined the Johnson County CoResponder Program in 2018. The program aims to help police officers when mental illness is identified as a reason for the police call.

A Johnson County Mental Health Center employee is embedded with police and responds on-site with officers. The co-responder helps de-escalate situations in the field. This person also provides training for officers and advises them on best ways to respond to people with mental health issues.

12 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

Pastor Joins Police Department as Volunteer Chaplain Pastor Keith Jackson joined the Merriam Police Department family in August as a volunteer chaplain. He joins the department’s current chaplain, Charles Boyce.

Words cannot express the extreme gratitude for first responders.

— CLAUDIA W.

Pastor Jackson most recently served as the lead pastor in Marshall, Missouri, before joining the Antioch Church of the Nazarene as an associate pastor of community connections. He also volunteers at Crestview and East Antioch elementary schools.

Pastor Boyce has served as a volunteer chaplain for the Merriam Police Department since 2004, and even served as a patrol officer with the department for nearly four years. He has since moved to Arma, Kansas, and joined Faith Bible Church but continues to spend time with Merriam police officers once a month.

Promotions Merriam Police Officers Kristin Jasinski, Christopher Meyers, Vincent Rock, and Jared Ruby were promoted to master police officers (MPO) in 2018. MPOs are non-supervisory positions, but the promotion recognizes that they had high job performance evaluations. Requirements to become an MPO include serving at a police department for at least three years, 40-plus hours of specialized training, and two letters of recommendation from their supervisors.

Merriam Police Detective Laura Naegele was promoted to corporal in May. Cpl. Naegele has worked for the Merriam Police Department since 2010.

Before being promoted to her new position, Cpl. Naegele had worked in the investigations division since 2015.

OFFICER OF THE YEAR The 2018 Merriam Police Department Officer of the Year is Master Police Officer Kristin Jasinski. MPO Jasinski started with our department in 2015. In addition to her duties as a patrol officer, MPO Jasinski holds a number of special assignments within the department. She’s a field training officer, instructing newly hired officers. She’s also a tactical medic instructor, an active shooter response instructor, and a member of the department’s peer support team. MPO Jasinski has previously served as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and is on the Merriam police honor guard. In 2018, MPO Jasinski was recognized for saving two lives; one involving a man having a heart attack and the other involving a choking toddler.

Congratulations, MPO Jasinski!

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 13

COMMUNITY

CONNECTIONS We are a community-oriented police department.

We are committed to providing the highest quality of police services by empowering our employees to work co-actively with the community toward the goal of improving the quality of life within Merriam.

We are so fortunate to be a part of the City of Merriam, Kansas, and call Merriam Police Department and City officials OUR friends!

Thank you for making the first day of school so special for us all!

– MERRIAM PARK ELEMENTARY

14 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

To achieve this, we believe in the importance of building strong connections in our community and beyond. Throughout the year, officers participate in numerous community events – some raising funds, some awareness, and some just building relationships. Officers are at all of our city-hosted events, reading in schools, chatting with our residents at Coffee with a Cop, teaching police work in the Citizens Academy, and even brightening the holidays.

The police department participates in events like Polar Plunge, Heroes Pull, Popcorn Standoff at Cinemark, and the Torch Run throughout the year to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. This year, Heroes Pull showcased 22 teams from local agencies. The teams – made up of 1,500 pounds of people – had to pull a fire truck and police tactical vehicle 50 feet. Through all of these events, the department raised $26,195.

Another annual tradition for Merriam police officers is Guns N’ Hoses, a charity boxing event. Featuring boxing bouts among police, fire, and emergency service personnel within the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, the event raises money for the Kansas City Crime Commission’s Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund. Police Officer April Gebke and Community Service Officer Jamie Brokaw represented the City of Merriam. Officer Gebke won her fight and CSO Brokaw lost in a very close match.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 15

POLICE DEPARTMENT 9010 W. 62ND ST.; Merriam, Kansas 66202 913-322-5560 · merriam.org/police @MerriamPolice 16 | MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

@MerriamPolice

@MerriamPDChief