rcpd annual report 2011

Rapid City Police DepartmentAnnual Report 2011

Contents

Chief’s MessageFallen HeroesYear in Review

Mission & ResponsibilitiesAccreditationChain of CommandPersonnel New Hires Awards Retirements

Stats The Year in Numbers Budget Calls for Service Arrests Use of Force

Sector Summaries North South, East Central, West

Street Crimes UnitTraffic Accidents & Enforcement Criminal Investigations Alcohol Compliance Internet Crimes Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team School Liaisons Evidence

YO! RCPD AcademyCitizen’s Police AcademyGuns ‘n Hoses

Chief’s Message I am pleased to present the Rapid City Police Department’s 2011 annual report. In our line of work, there are many activities that occur throughout a normal year, but 2011 was not a normal year. As you read the following pages, I hope you will come to be as proud of the men and women of our department as I am. I believe you will get a feel for the many hours of hard work, the difficult and sometimes thankless job to be done, and most of all the pride and enthusiasm shared by our employees as they serve the citizens of this great community day after day. Our mission statement guides our path:

“Members of the Rapid City Police Department are committed to excellence in public safety and are dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our city. We will provide community-enhancing services, foster a positive relationship with the community, and develop our agency and officers with an emphasis on professionalism, integrity and service.”

The mission statement contains four basic ingredients: Commitment to excellence; dedication to the people; providing community-enhancing services, anddevelopment of our agency and the employees who work here. The common theme is service.

2011 was an especially difficult year for our department. The August shooting deaths of Officers Nick Armstrong and Ryan McCandless, as well as the serious wounding of Officer Tim Doyle, have left a scar on our hearts. I have never been so heartbroken, yet so proud at the same time. Our friends were gone, but the surviving officers and support staff pulled together like family and helped each other through the ordeal. Our sister law enforcement agencies helped to ease our workload and provided support to us and the citizens of Rapid City. The Rapid City community and outlying areas were also affected by the tragedy and responded with love and gifts that will never be forgotten. We will never forget the heroism and sacrifices made on August 2nd.

We look forward to 2012 knowing it will bring new challenges, triumphs, and many new partnership opportunities between our officers and community members. Thank you for your continued support of our department.

Steve AllenderChief of Police

Rapid City Police Department | 1

Fallen HeroesOn Tuesday, August 2, 2011, the Rapid City Police Department was rocked by the unprovoked shooting of three on-duty officers. While conducting a routine stop on the corner of Greenbriar and Anamosa, a male suspect pulled out a concealed pistol and began firing. Officer Nick Armstrong, who was patrolling on a bicycle as part of the Street Crimes Unit, was struck first. Officer Tim Doyle was shot in the face, but was able to freturn fire with the suspect. Officer Ryan McCandless was also hit, and fired 14 shots before falling. Officer McCandless died later that day. Officer Armstrong died four days later. As Officer Doyle fought to recover, the department , community, and law enforcement agencies from across the country came together as a family to grieve for our fallen heroes.

A Michigan native, Officer Ryan McCandless was a six-year veteran of the department. He served as a patrol officer and member of the Special Response Team. He was widely known as the department’s public safety spokesman.

A memorial service for Ryan was held on Aug. 7, with funeral services held in Midland, MI. Chief Allender later honored Ryan with the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart medals for his actions on August 2.

http://www.rcgov.org/Police/fallen-heros.html

Born and raised in Rapid City, Officer Nick Armstrong was happy to serve his hometown community. He was a two-year veteran of the department, and began serving on the Street Crimes Unit in April 2011.

The funeral service for Nick was held Aug. 11, with burial at Mountain View Cemetery. Chief Allender honored Nick with the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart medals for his actions on Aug. 2.

http://www.rcgov.org/Police/fallen-heros.html

Year in Review

January

• Jan. 5: Detectives arrest a Summerset man for pimping and hiring for sexual activity, concluding a one-year joint investigation with the SD Division of Criminal Investigation, the Summerset Police Department, and

South Dakota Highway Patrol. A tip from the public helped police uncover the operation, in which the suspect solicited prostitutes and arranged customers for prostitutes online.

February

• Feb. 14: A high-speed chase on Valentine’s Day ends peacefully, thanks to officer negotiating tactics. The pursuit began when an officer was dispatched for a vehicle parked illegally. The driver fled police, and led officers on a high-speed chase through town. During two separate incidents, the suspect intentionally drove his vehicle at police officers. He was ultimately stopped on Ken Court. When the driver refused to exit the vehicle, officers used negotiation tactics to end the stand-off without further incident.

April

• April 2: Officers respond to an assault in progress on Pointe West Place. The female victim reports that her ex-boyfriend entered her apartment and pointed a handgun at her and at himself, before stealing the victim’s car. The victim locked herself in the bathroom and called police. The suspect later turns himself in to police. He admits to throwing his gun in Rapid Creek, and the Rapid City/Pennington County Water Rescue Team is called out to retrieve it.

June 9-25: Officer Tessa Mitchell is one of only 145 people chosen to run the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg in Greece, prior to the 2011 Special Olympics World Games. She runs more than 30 miles through the Greek islands, meeting officers and Special Olympics athletes from around the world.


May

• May 13: Police respond to a report of burglary at a church on Kansas City Street. A team of officers enter the building, using K9 Mako to locate one

suspect hiding in a storage room, and a second suspect hiding under a church pew. • May 23: Police respond to a stabbing on North

LaCrosse. The female victim dies at the hospital from multiple stab wounds. Investigators arrest the victim’s niece; she is later sentenced to 25 years for manslaughter.

June

• June 3: Police arrest a Rapid City man for robbing two casinos. He is identified using surveillance

footage and tips from the public. He is later sentenced to 45 years in prison. • June 6: The department launches a comprehen-

sive pedestrian safety campaign, titled “Pedestrian Safety is a Two-Way Street.” The campaign includes TV and radio PSAs, printed materials, in-street signs, and enforcement activities.

• June 22-25: RCPD takes back the trophy from the RCFD at the sixth annual Guns ‘n Hoses blood drive. After four days of friendly competition, 444 units are collected for blue, 417 units for red. The big win for blue brings the all-time score to a tie; three wins each for police and fire.

• The Department launches Tip411, an anonymous tipline to connect the public and police. Users can now send anonymous crime tips to the department via text message or the internet. The service helps solve several profile cases by the end of the year.

July 13: Sr. Officer Holt and Officer Mertz are dispatched to rescue a peregrine falcon that fell from the roof of the Assurant building. The officers keep the bird safe until a falcon handler arrives. Athena, the endangered bird, makes a full recovery.


http://www.rcgov.org/Police/crosswalksafety.html


http://www.rcgov.org/Police/crimeprevention.html

Year in Review

July

• July 24: Police arrest a local woman for robbing two Rapid City casinos earlier in the month. She uses a machete in the first robbery, and a knife in the second. Police identify her as the suspect in surveillance video, and a tip from the public leads to her arrest.• July 29: RCPD and PCSO arrest a local man in connection with a string of business and concession stand

burglaries. A few weeks later, his brother is arrested as his accomplice. The men are later sentenced to 29 years and 26 years, respectively.

August

• Aug. 2: Officer Ryan McCandless, Officer Nick Armstrong, and Officer Tim Doyle conduct a routine stop on the corner of Greenbriar and Anamosa. A male suspect pulls out a concealed pistol and fires, shooting all three officers. Officer Doyle and Officer McCandless are able to return fire. Officer McCandless dies as a result of his injuries later that day.

• Aug. 6: Officer Nick Armstrong succumbs to his injuries from the shooting.• Aug 7: Thousands fill the Civic Center for Officer McCandless’ memorial service. He is taken home to Midland, Michigan for funeral services. • Aug. 11: The community fills the Civic Center for Officer Armstrong’s funeral service. The public floods the

streets to honor Armstrong during a procession to Mountain View Cemetery, where he is laid to rest.• Aug. 22: Officer Tim Doyle returns to duty in time for the start of the school year. He begins his new assignment as a Central High School liaison officer, though his jaw is still wired shut.

July 24: 250 cars line up on Main Street for the Cruiser Car Show & Street Fair. Families turn out for the event’s new format, with vendors, live music, kids’ activities, and hundreds of classic cars. Art Balcom wins the 2011 Chief’s Choice Award with his ‘33 ChevyCoupe.


• Aug. 27: Officer Kathleen Callery, Officer Michael Frybarger and Officer Chris Hunt respond to a medical call, using an AED to save a man’s life. They each receive the Life Saving medal for their actions, and video of the incident becomes the department’s biggest YouTube hit to date.

September

• Sept. 14: The Central High School gymnasium fills with law enforcement and community members for a medal ceremony for Officer Tim Doyle. Chief Allender presents Officer Doyle with the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross medals for his actions during the Aug. 2 shooting.

October

• Oct. 18: The department receives an $823,804 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The grant allows the department to hire four new officers, with plans to expand the Street Crimes Unit in 2012.

December

• Dec. 23: Officers respond to a report of a driver ramming into parked cars at Cabela’s. The 18-year-old driver admits to smoking synthetic marijuana before crashing into eight cars and the side of the store. Total damage is estimated at more than $25,000.

• Dec. 14: RCPD assists Nebraska law enforcement in catching a burglary suspect with a felony warrant. A detective spots an man selling a large quantity of silver coins at a pawn shop. After investigating, the

detective discovers that two men sold hundreds of silver coins to pawn shops over several days. They sold the coins for a friend, who was suspected of stealing a $40,000 coin collection in Nebraska. Police arrest the suspect on a felony warrant and recover more than $25,000 in coins.

Oct. 20: Officer Josh Twedt presents a new bike to 13-year-old Byron Roach. A few weeks earlier, Byron spotted a homeless woman with his stolen bike. Officer Twedt offered to help Byron get his bike back, but Byron refused, saying she needed the bike more than he did. Inspired by his generosity, Pennington County Health & Human Services and Scheels help secure a new bike for a most deserving teen.


Our Responsibilities

Members of the Rapid City Police Department are committed to excellence in public safety and are dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our city. We will provide community-enhancing services, foster a positive relationship with the community and develop our agency and officers with an emphasis on professionalism, integrity and service.

• Respond to calls for service by citizens of the City.• Resolve problems, concerns, and issues of the citizens of the City as they

relate to matters of law enforcement and quality of life.• Prevent crime and delinquency through comprehensive 24-hour police patrol.• Respond to requests for assistance by County and State agencies.• Maintain public order and safety though the arrest of violators of the law.• Maintain orderly traffic flow and resolve traffic violations.• Educate the public in prevention and the requirements of and conformance

with the law.• Maintain records and reports of all activities of the agency.• Cooperate with other agencies in the analysis of data to plan and coordinate

future crime prevention and public safety activities.

Our Mission


Accreditation

The RCPD has been continuously accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc (CALEA) since 1990. Our department was the 150th police organization in the nation to receive accreditation, and we are still the only accredited agency in South Dakota.

Accredited status represents a significant achievement, recognizing that an institution meets or exceeds general expectations of quality in the field. Accreditation acknowledges the use of policies that are both conceptually sound and operationally effective.

The department last completed an on-site assessment in 2010, earning our sixth re-accreditation award and the designation as a Flagship Agency. The next on-site accreditation assessment will take place in 2013.


Captain Deb Cady, Support Services

Chief of PoliceSteve Allender

Captain Doug Thrash, Investigations

Captain Karl Jegeris, Field Services

• Police Records• Professional Standards• Accreditation• Crime Analysis• Training• Special Operations• Parking Enforcement• Community Relations• Accounting• Purchasing

• Criminal Invesigations• Property Crimes• Crimes Against Persons• Evidence• School Liaisons• Internet Crimes Against Children• Unified Narcotics Enforcement

• Patrol • Street Crimes Unit• K9 Unit• Accident Investigations

Chain of Command

Personnel

New Hires

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

(1) Officer Matt Almeida is from Rapid City. He graduated from Rapid City Central High School and earned his associate’s degree in law enforcement technology from Western Dakota Technical Institute. He was a member of the RCPD Cadet Program for four years.

(2) Officer David Collins is originally from Kingsley, Iowa, where he graduated from Kingsley Pierson High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of South Dakota, and has served nine years in the Army National Guard. Officer Collins recently completed a nine-month tour in Afghanistan and a one-year tour in Iraq.

(3) Officer David Henry is from Fremont, Neb., where he graduated from Fremont Senior High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y. Officer Henry most recently served as a corrections assistant for the Weber County Sheriff’s Department in Ogden, Utah, and served 23 years in the United States Coast Guard.

(4) Officer Dustin Hilgert is from Norfolk, Neb. He graduated from Norfolk Senior High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He most recently served as a booking technician for the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.

(5) Officer Bradley Mansur is from Gillette, Wyo. He graduated from Campbell County High School in Gillette, and earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo.

(6) Officer Seth Walker is from Rapid City, and graduated from Rapid City Central High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Dakota.

(7) Officer Christopher Zabel is from Selby, S.D., where he graduated from Selby Area High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northern State University.

(8) Records Supervisor Priscilla Downie is a Rapid City native. She most recently served as a retail manager in Rapid City.


Awards

Retirements

(1) Chief Steve Allender was inducted into the South Dakota Municipal League Hall of Fame.(2) Lieutenant James Johns graduated from the 246th FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.(3) Officer Tim Doyle received the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross medals for his actions during the Aug. 2 shooting.(4) Senior Officer Ron Terviel received the 2011 NeighborWorks Local Government Service award in Washington, D.C. (5) Officer Kathleen Callery received the Rushmore Optimists and Noon Optimists Respect for Law award.(5)(6)(7) Officers Kathleen Callery, Michael Frybarger and Chris Hunt received Life Saving Medals for rescuing a man in cardiac arrest.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

K9 Mako retired from duty in 2011 after 7 years of service. Mako, a German shepherd, was one of two dogs that originated the modern K9 program in 2004. Mako now lives a comfortable life at with a local family.


1. DISTURBANCE2. ACCIDENT3. 911 HANG-UP

The Year in Numbers

9.5Average years of service by RCPD employees

146Full-time employees

FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVENew Facebook followers

ONE HUNDRED FORTY TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTEENCalls for service in 2011

845DUI arrests

11,749Total arrestsTop calls for service (citizen-initiated)

Car burglaries

687 465Pounds of prescription drugs collected

495Fingerprints Analyzed

Rapid City Police Department | 16Rapid City Police Department | 14

ONE HUNDRED FORTY TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN

51,119Cups of coffee drank*

*Guesstimations only

12Miles walked per parking enforcement officer per day

30Marked patrol cars

45Miles driven per officer per day

546,010Miles driven by patrol officers on shift

FRIDAYDay with most calls for service

JULYMonth with most calls for service

477Donuts eaten*

NINENew hires

Heroes Wear Blue t-shirts sold

10,000

403Crosswalk warnings


2011 Budget


Total 2011 RCPD Budget: $10,987,896 Total 2011 City Budget: $163,266,206 Total 2010 Budget: $11,824,679 RCPD Share of Total City Budget: 6.7%Percent Change: -7.1%

Salary & Wages$7,201,167

Benefits$2,224,136

Insurance$194,343

Professional Services$175,000

Interdepartmental Charges$3,011

Publications$2,500

Rentals$20,500

Repair & Maintenance$173,500

Supplies & Materials$455,500

Travel & Training$45,000

Utilities$145,750

Misc$148,000

Capital Outlay$175,000

Other$3,000

Other Program Support$25,000


RAPID CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT | 3

Calls for Service

Total calls for service:

2010 2011Citizen-Initiated 82,122 86,209Officer-Initiated 64,213 56,109Total 146,335 142,318

Common call types (citizen-initiated only):

Calls for Service 2010 2011911 Hang Up 3,604 4,013Accident 3,669 4,034Alarm 2,877 3,175Assault 2,272 2,344Burglary 1,674 1,772Child Abuse/Neglect 867 742Disturbance 5,753 5,451Destruction of Private Property 1,585 1,510Request Extra Patrol 429 412Fight 823 726Injury Accident 815 644Intoxicated Driver 1,361 1,318Intoxicated Subject 2,377 2,135Noise Disturbance 1,219 954Robbery 39 54Shoplifting 471 642Stabbing 41 49Suspicious Activity 3,299 3,395Theft 2,866 3,106


Arrests


Dec. 17: The RCPD goes head-to-head with the Fire Department in the annual Toys For Tots broomball game at Main Street Square. Sadly, the Fire Deptartment took home the Golden Broom.

Adult Arrests 2010 2011Robbery (First, Second Degree) 14 18Aggravated Assault Against Law Enforcement 3 3Aggravated Assault - Domestic Violence 45 45Aggravated Assault 47 51Simple Assault - Domestic Violence 406 467Simple Assault 158 156Simple Assault Against Law Enforcement 22 36Threatening Law Enforcement 55 60Burglary (First, Second, Third Degree) 63 85Shoplifting 370 563Car Burglary 32 30Vandalism 89 98Resisting Arrest 44 56Obstructing Police 60 77Disorderly Conduct (Fighting, Noise, Etc) 206 177DUI 743 827Consuming in Public 957 686Liquor - Minor - Purchase/Possession/Consumption 590 503

Total Adult Arrests2010: 9,9682011: 9,752


Total Adult Arrests2010: 9,9682011: 9,752

March 25: Officers Thiesen, Frybarger, Cote, Raetz, Mertz, Koch, Sparks, and Pitts graduate from the 146th session of the South DakotaLaw EnforcementBasic Certification Course in Pierre.


Juvenile Arrests 2010 2011Robbery (First, Second Degree) 7 1Aggravated Assault - Domestic Violence 1 4Aggravated Assault 6 4Simple Assault - Domestic Violence 20 28Simple Assault 18 36Simple Assault Against Law Enforcement 3 7Threatening Law Enforcement 6 8Burglary (First, Second, Third Degree) 4 5Shoplifting 186 263Car Burglary 40 7Vandalism 13 11Resisting Arrest 8 13Obstructing Police 8 15Disorderly Conduct (Fighting, Noise, Etc) 38 28DUI 16 18Disturbance of School 65 27Liquor - Minor - Purchase/Possession/Consumption 293 308

Total Juvenile Arrests2010: 1,7382011: 1,997

Use of Force


RCPD officers are tasked with enforcing the law and protecting the citizens of Rapid City. Occasionally, when a subject is non-compliant, an officer will have to use force to ensure the safety of the subject, the officer, or the public.

According to RCPD policy, officers shall use only the force that is reasonably necessary to overcome resistance from a person being taken into custody, to stop an assault of a third person, in self-defense, or as reasonable and necessary to perform their police functions.

The officer’s level of force is dependent upon the level of resistance from the subject. In 2011, police used force (anything greater than verbal direction) in 445 separate incidents. In those 445 incidents, 77% of the subjects were determined to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Use of Force Continuum

Officer’s Use of Force

Deadly Force

Officer Presence

Verbal Direction

Soft Empty Hand Control Techniques

Hard Empty Hand Control Techniques

Intermediate Weapon

Less Lethal

Taser - Display Only 93Taser Fired 26ASP (Baton) - Display Only 1ASP Used 0K9 - Display Only 45K9 Bite 1Less Lethal Shotgun - Display Only 13Less Lethal Shotgun Fired 1Pistol - Display Only 117Pistol Fired 1Rifle - Display Only 16

Rifle Fired 0OC Spray (Pepper Spray) - Display Only 5OC Spray (Pepper Spray) Used 21

Incidents With Officer Weapons Displayed or Fired

Subjects in Use of Force Incidents:

-79% male, 21% female-67% between the ages of 18-35


Soft Empty Hand Control Techniques (Pressure Points, Arm Locks, OC Spray) 100Hard Empty Hand Control Techniques (Hand Strikes, Kicks, Take Downs, Taser) 226Intermediate Weapons (Impact Weapon Strikes, K9 Deployment) 12Less Lethal (Less Lethal Shotgun) 0Deadly Force (Display Only) 124Deadly Force 1

Highest Level of Force Used in Incidents

Oct. 18: Lt. James Johns talks to students at Jefferson Academy about the duties of the Rapid City/Pennington County Special Response Team.


Sector Summary - North


After several meetings with the City Attorney’s Office, Lt. Hedrick took the lead on two committees that aim to improve substandard housing. The first group, the Substan-dard Rental Committee, involves code enforcement, building inspectors, city attorneys, the Fire Department, several City Council members, and other city department heads. They meet on a monthly basis to explore options for improving specific addresses in Rapid City that lower the quality of life in our Rapid City. The second committee was put together to specifically target the top five problem residences in town. They identified one landlord who owned several problem properties, and were able to conduct building inspections on two “unoccupiable” residences. It appeared the landlord had ignored the city’s determination and was still renting the residences. The tenants gave inspectors permission to enter, and discovered that an oven was being used to heat the building. They also found black mold, sagging floors, and gaps between windows and doors allowing cold air to flow directly into the house. The City Attorney’s Office is now working to prosecute this landlord criminally.

Lt. Don Hedrick

Substandard Housing

Lt. Hedrick and the north sector officers have long been looking for a solution to a problem residence on Lemmon Avenue. For years the residence had been a cancer to the north side of Rapid City. In 2011 alone, police responded to the residence more than 100 times. After months of effort by numerous city agenices, we obtained a search warrant to inspect the building. Inspectors found that the residence had no electricity, no gas, and no water. All the windows were broken, there were no smoke detectors, feces were found on the floor, urine in the basement, holes in the walls, filthy conditions in the house and yard, mold, graffiti inside the house, and curled/faulty shingles. The tenants were evicted after a “Do Not Occupy” status was posted on the building. As a result, the bank has taken possession of the address and it is no longer the leading call for service residence in the city. This was great teamwork by Code Enforcement, RCPD patrol officers, Building Inspection, the bank, and the City Attorney’s office.

Problem Residence


http://www.rcgov.org/Police/sectorpolicing.html


Lt. Don Hedrick

Several months ago Officer Carmen LaPrade proposed an idea: she wanted to start a Youth Program in the Lakota Homes area. Lt. Hedrick and Officer LaPrade met with members of the community and advertised in the Lakota Community Homes newsletter. After attending several community meetings, they discovered that the Oyate Center was a good option for housing the Youth Program. Several community groups, including the Health Education and Promotion Counsel and the Girl Scouts, banded together to fix up the Oyate Center with the goal of making it a recreational center for the children of this area. Recently a group of 50 volunteers gathered to clean, paint, and remodel the interior. Flooring and painting supplies were donated by local businesses. Officer LaPrade and Lt. Hedrick organized the efforts of the police department, and both officers and Western Dakota Tech students showed up to assist. It was a great event and they were honored to work side by side with local groups and volunteers. Officer LaPrade’s Youth Program is now gaining momentum, and we hope to see it take off in 2012.

Lakota Homes Youth Program





Sector Summary - South, East


At the start of the 2010-11 school year, Lt. Dave Stratton met with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology officials to discuss a variety of student safety concerns. Many students were having negative experiences with homeless or transient individuals in the area, and reported these concerns to administrators. Before this meeting, the RCPD and school officials were largely unaware of the extent of the problems. Both staff and students were concerned about intoxicated individuals approaching them,most often in the form of aggressive panhandling. Some students had even been chased by intoxicated subjects, while others reported finding people passed out in their apartment building lobbies, in their yards, or in their cars. Lt. Stratton learned that students often didn’t report these incidents because they didn’t realize it warranted a law enforcement re-sponse. That night we discussed the need to inform school officials and law enforcement of problems so we could properly address safety and legal issues.

School officials reported that a noticeable increase in unwanted encounters began shortly after a convenience store in the area began selling liquor. Concerns about possible sales of alcohol to minors or obviously intoxicated individuals sparked officer action. Sector and Street Crimes officers began closely monitoring the area to address intoxicated individuals who were aggressively panhandling, purchasing alcohol and congregating in the area. With the assistance of the RCPD Compliance Officer, the department conducted surveillance on the business and filed charges for a variety of alcohol infractions.

The off-sale liquor license for the business was up for renewal in October 2011. As the hearing progressed, the owner withdrew his application for renewal of the off-sale liquor license. He voluntarily gave up his off-sale malt beverage license. Both SDSM&T officials and officers report a noticeable change in the area since his business ceased selling alcohol.

Lt. Dave Stratton

Housing

Alcohol Issues

Lt. Stratton and the sector officers also looked at substan-dard housing in the area, including unsafe residences with residents that were causing a variety of disturbances and calls for service. In particular, the officers looked at 106 E.Kansas City Street. Sector and SCU officers were able to document the unhealthy conditions present throughout the house, including mold, toilets that were used yet there was no running water, and a general state of disrepair and garbage. Officials issued a notice to vacate in early April 2011; the building was demolished in late May.




E.Kansas

Citizens also expressed concerns about the residence at 325 E. St. Joseph St. This location has been problemat-ic for police for five years. Officers began gathering information on the property, and learned from the tenants that the building was not healthy for human habitation. In the past, sector officers had found mold in many of the apartments, ceilings were leaking and falling, flooring was filthy, and the overall building was in a state of disrepair. The SDSM&T Foundation negotiatied with the owner to purchase the property. It was reported in January 2012 that the property had been purchased for development of a seven-story building. There will be retail space on the ground level with six floors of student housing for SDSM&T students.

Sector officers have been diligently addressing a variety of traffic concerns. Many complaints are matters of perception of speed, failure to obey traffic control devices, and reckless driving. The impending construction of a Walmart on the south side of town has generated concerns about traffic in the residential neighborhood near the building site. The City elected to close a small section of Stumer Road between the Eagle Ridge Apartments and Enchantment Road. Barricades were erected to allow emergency traffic through that section of road in an emergency. Officers first issued warnings to violators, followed by citations for failure to obey traffic control devices. Neighbors report the problem of people driving past these barricades has improved greatly.

Traffic Concerns



Sector Summary - Central, West


2011 attracted more people to the downtown sector with the expansion of Summer Nights and the addition of Main Street Square. As attendance at Summer Nights grew, Lt. Peter Ragnone worked with event organizers to address traffic concerns, including the closure of a section of Main Street. Careful planning and monitoring of detoured routes showed little to no traffic delays, although the volume of traffic did require an officer to manually manipulate the traffic lights at 5th and Omaha during rush hour. At some events, the crowd was estimated at nearly 10,000 people. Despite increased crowds and greater police presence, the RCPD made only two arrests during Summer Nights. Two juveniles were arrested for misdemeanor drug charges in Art Alley, and one vehicle was towed when the owner could not be located prior to the event.

After four years of Summer Nights, the total arrests are at three, and three vehicles have been towed. When a vehicle is towed, Summer Nights pays the tow company to move the vehicle so the owner doesn’t incur any costs. The Police Department continues to work with the Summer Nights staff to provide a safe environment for citizens and visitors to enjoy an evening downtown. Summer Nights also showed tribute their support for the Department after the shooting, and raised $20,000 in one night for the Fallen Officers Memorial Fund.

Lt. Peter Ragnone

Summer Nights

Pedestrian Safety

The priority traffic complaint identified in 2011 resulted in a pedestrian safety campaign. Sector officers were responsible for monitoring and enforcing crosswalk violations for both drivers and pedestrians. Prior to 2011, few citations were issued for crosswalk violations. During the increased enforcement period in 2011, more than 100 citations were issued to motorists who failed to yield to pedestrians. The campaign began with public education through public service announcements, informational brochures, and warning tickets issued to violators. Sector officers also coordinated saturation patrols in areas that have been identified as having high-risk potential. Pedestrian safety will remain a priority traffic issue in 2012. For more information on the Department’s pedestrian safety campaign, “Pedestrian Safety is a Two-Way Street,” visit www.rcgov.org/Police/crosswalksafety.html.





Lt. Peter Ragnone

Main Street Square opened late in the year and continues to draw visitors with restaurants, shopping and ice skating opportunities. Special events like the Zombie Walk draw hundreds of citizens to the Square. Sector officers have established a working relationship with Main Street Square management and are committed to providing police resources to ensure a welcoming environment. There were no arrests in the Square during the special events held in 2011. The Street Crimes Officers are assigned public safety oversight of special events in the Square as appropriate.

Main Street Square




Street Crimes Unit

June 20: The Street Crimes Unit serves lunch at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission.


The RCPD Street Crimes Unit celebrated one year of service in April 2011. The SCU flexes from four members in the winter to six members in the summmer. SCU officers are dedicated to the downtown area and bike path, and are not subjected to traditional calls for service. The SCU is a proactive unit designed to address quality of life issues before they become violent crimes.

Major projects for the Street Crimes Unit have included:• Cleaning up the bike path• Patrolling the bike path and downtown area on foot, bicycle, or patrol car• Patrolling during Summer Nights and other downtown events• Building relationships with downtown residents and business owners• Advocating for new lighting along the bike path• Removing homeless camps from the area• Learning crisis intervention techniques to better deal with subjects with mental health issues

In October 2011 the RCPD received a COPS grant to add four additional officers. The Department plans to launch a second Street Crimes Unit in a residential area in 2012.

Traffic Accidents & Enforcement

State Reportable Accidents: Accident that results in bodily injury or death to any person, or property damage to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more to any one person’s property or $2,000 per accident. These accidents are required to be reported to police for a State Traffic Accident Report.

Non-Reportable Accidents: As a courtesy, RCPD officers may respond to accidents that don’t meet the State Reportable Accident requirements, including accidents on private property and minor hit-and-run accidents.

Reportable Accidents 2,022 Injury Accidents 511 Property Damage Accidents 1,511Non-Reportable Accidents 1,747Total Accidents 3,769

Top Contributing Factors in Reportable AccidentsFailure to yield to vehicle 739Following too closely 295Driving too fast for road conditions 219Disregarding traffic signs or signals 148Distracted driving 141Improper lane change 75Intoxicated driving 67Failure to keep proper lane 55Improper backing 40Using cell phone 33Exceeding posted speed limit 32

Traffic Violation Citations & Warnings2010 2011

Total 10,009 11,272

Parking EnforcementParking Tickets Issued 34,197Parking Ticket Revenue $219,043


Criminal Investigations

Criminal Investigations Cases2010 2011

Property Crimes Cases 984 1,144Crimes Against Persons 673 788Total Cases Assigned to Investigators 1,657 1,932

Alcohol Compliance Checks

2011Businesses Checked 143Businesses Failed 5

Internet Crimes Against ChildrenICAC is a multi-agency task force, comprised of detectives from the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

2010 2011ICAC Cases 29 41

Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team


UNET is a multi-agency drug task force, operating as part of the SD Division of Criminal Investigation. The unit includes members from RCPD, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, SD Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the SD National Guard.

Drug-related investigations 223Drug-related search warrants executed 91Currency seized $300,124Property seized $49,000Grams commercial marijuana seized 12,846Gram B.C. bud marijuana seized 194,472Grams marijuana hydroponics seized 37,274Grams ICE seized 3,617Grams heroin seized 1,053Grams psilocybin mushrooms seized 1,951Drug trafficking organizations disrupted/dismantled 35

*All 5 passed follow-up checks

Rapid City Police Department | 32Rapid City Police Department | 30

School Liaison Officers

Aug. 3: Local artist Dennis Halterman pays tribute to Officers McCandless and Armstrong in Art Alley. The outpouring of community support proves overwhelming; signs, bumper stickers and Heroes Wear Blue t-shirts flood the city almost overnight.

The department continues to share school liaison duties with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. For the 2011-12 school year, the RCPD took over liaison duties at North Middle School, and a PCSO deputy assumed liaison duties at Southwest Middle School. School liaisons provide assistance to school administrators and parents, instruction to students, investigate criminal activity, and deal with other police issues concerning schools and students. All of the RCPD school liaisons can be contacted via their RCPD Facebook pages.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

(1) Central Liaison Officer Matt Hower(2) Central Liaison Officer Tim Doyle(3) Jefferson Academy Liaison Officer Jeff Thayer(4) North Middle School Liaison Officer Tervor Tollman(5) West Middle School Liaison Officer Ryan Schuler (6) South Middle School Liaison Officer Paul Wathen


www.facebook.com/OfficerHower

http://www.facebook.com/OfficerDoyle

http://www.facebook.com/OfficerThayer

http://www.facebook.com/OfficerTollman

http://www.facebook.com/OfficerSchuler

http://www.facebook.com/OfficerWathen

Evidence


The Evidence section serves the Rapid City Police Department and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, providing management of evidence, lab services, and response to major crime scenes.

In 2011, Pennington County began a $33.4 million courthouse complex expansion project, which includes a new 23,000-square-foot joint evidence building. The new building will be located on the southeast corner of the 100 block of St. Joseph Street. In addition to updated laboratory and evidence storage space, the building will also house an energy plant to support the courthouse complex expansion. Construction of the new evidence building is slated to begin in spring 2012.

Blood alcohol analyses conducted 2,651Drug lab analyses conducted 1,562Latent fingerprints analyzed 495Forensic video analyses 180Pounds of prescription drugs collected for destruction 465

The Citizens’ Police Academy and YO! Police Academy are free courses for the public, designed to expose participants to various aspects of law enforcement. The Citizens’ Police Academy is a 12-week program for adults, and covers everything from the basics of criminal law to special teams. The YO! Academy is a similar 8-week program for students ages 16-18, and covers many of the same topics. In 2011, 14 people graduated from CPA, and 15 students graduated from YO!

2011 CPA graduates 2011 YO! graduates

Citizens’ Police Academy and YO! Police Academy



Guns ‘n Hoses Blood Drive Champs 2011Police: 444 units Fire: 417 units

Back cover

Rapid City Police Department300 Kansas City StreetRapid City, SD 57701www.rapidcitypolice.org

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rcpd annual report 2011

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difficult year