Buffalo Police Department Annual Report 2013

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Table of Contents

Letter to the City Council and Administration 3 Introduction to the Buffalo Police Department 4 Message from the Chief of Police 5

Mission Statement 7 Statement of Vocational Standards 7 Organizational Chart 9 Police Department Personnel 10 City Demographics 11 Administration Division Emergency Management 12 Technology/ Communications 12 Fleet Management /Energy Conservation 22

Key Accomplishments in 2013 23 Records Management 24 2013 Budget 25

Community Services Police Reserve Program 26 School Resources Officers 27 Safe Schools 28 MEADA 28 Safe Communities 28 Multi-Housing Initiative 29 Tobacco/Alcohol Compliance 29 Special Events 30 Crime Prevention Buffalo Crime Stoppers 32 Crime Stoppers Network 32 Night to Unite 33 Neighborhood Watch 34 Law and Order 2013 Statistics 35 5 Year Comparison Statistics 38 10 Year Comparison Statistics 40 Crime Trends 41 Mental Health 42

Vehicle Crash Reports 43 Drive SMART 46

Investigations 47 Looking Forward

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Mr. Mayor, Council Members, and City Administrator Auger, The following information has been compiled to provide an overview of the activities of the Buffalo

Police Department during calendar year 2013. As you have an opportunity to review the information contained in this report, I believe you will be

impressed with the depth and breadth of services being delivered through the police department. Our staff has continued to put forth superior effort and the results of their collective work and dedication is clearly visible within our community.

It is my sincere hope that this document will be reviewed by elected officials, staff, and other members of the public, and that those reviewing this information will do so with scrutiny, providing any feedback they may feel is appropriate.

I encourage those with questions or comments to direct them to me at the Police Department at (763) 682-5976.

Mitchell Weinzetl Chief of Police

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Introduction to the Buffalo Police Department

Your Buffalo Police Department welcomes you to Buffalo. Our office is located at 215 1st Ave NE

and is open between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Buffalo Police Department provides 24-hour patrol service and responds to all criminal complaints, medical emergencies,

and other calls for service within the Buffalo City Limits. The department consists of seventeen full-time Officers,

and four office staff. The department also uses volunteer Reserve Officers for special events.

Emergencies: Dial 911 for all police, fire, and medical emergencies.

Non-emergency: Call the Dispatch Center at 763-682-7600. Administrative: Call 763-682-5976

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A Message from Chief of Police Mitch Weinzetl The word community is frequently mentioned in reference to the place where we live, but it is often done so without great regard as to what defines a community. The City of Buffalo, or in this context, the Community of Buffalo, is the sum of several parts. It is part geography, part business, part services, and part amenities. It is also part “people.” When I think about our community, I consider the old proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Although this phrase was made popular by Hillary Clinton during her last presidential bid, it is generally considered to have its origins in African culture (it has also been attributed by some to Native American culture).

Regardless of its origins, the prevailing message behind this statement is that our community is responsible for and to itself, and that we all have a role to play in its success or its failure, and its future. Many of you may be aware of a recent group on Facebook called “Wide Street Buffalo.” There is great deal of nostalgia being expressed in the posts by the members of this group, but what has caught my attention is the great pride exhibited by those who remember Buffalo very fondly, and very much from a community perspective. As I have followed this group, what occurred to me is that although there are those who have moved away that still remember Buffalo as a great place to live, those of us who currently live here are enjoying life in a very wonderful community right now. As I travel around the country and the state, I am frequently asked about Buffalo by people I encounter. I like to tell people, “Buffalo is the biggest little town around.” I say this because Buffalo has the distinction of having a great number of services, facilities, restaurants, and retail outlets at the disposal of the community, but there is also a set of community values and shared beliefs that provide us all with a sense of “small-town” living. These values are displayed by the awesome caring and supportive nature of our citizens, both in service to the community and through their financial giving. For example, a recent project by the Community Health Foundation raised $800,000 dollars over three years to build a hospice house in Buffalo, and that was followed-up with an additional $75,000 the following year to fund the first year of operation. This past October a community benefit raised more than $30,000 for a local cancer victim, and this March, the Masons will provide a cash match to the $30,000 in cash raised by our citizens and local businesses on behalf of our food shelf, which will result in a donation that will be in excess of $55,000. There are also numerous examples of volunteerism within our community, which may go unnoticed to the untrained observer. PIF (Pay It Forward) Academy is one such example. This program involves several successful professional women from our community that share, mentor, and work with a group of young women from the Buffalo Middle School. There are other groups of volunteers too, like Beyond the Yellow Ribbon of Buffalo, the Buffalo Days Committee, the Buffalo Rodeo, Buffalo Youth Sports, the Buffalo Toy Shop, and others that are too numerous to mention. In short, people in this community are tremendously giving of themselves, their talents, and their resources.

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It is this same spirit of community that the staff and volunteers of the Buffalo police department put forth each day in order to ensure and maintain a high quality of life for ourselves as citizens, and for those we serve. It is our sincere hope that when you think about the Community of Buffalo, that you consider this place, our collective resources, and all of the giving people that make Buffalo such a great place to work, live, and raise a family. We also want you to know that the police department stands at the ready, always prepared to keep you safe, and always prepared to make a contribution to the sum of our community. Chief Mitchell P. Weinzetl

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MISSION STATEMENT

The Buffalo Police Department is a professional organization that is dedicated to serving our community through protection, education, and communication, while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and

respect, with an overall commitment to excellence.” April 1, 2002

Statement of Vocational Standards The Statement of Vocational Standards is an outline of the guiding principles that provide a framework for the organizational direction. The cornerstones of this structure are comprised of the agency mission, vision, philosophy, and core values. When properly constructed, these segments promote a unified purpose and ensure that organizational outcomes are consistent with intended objectives. Mission: The Organizational Mission Statement is designed and created based on an analysis of what your customers want and need you to be. Because communities and community needs vary, the Mission Statement should be unique to the agency, developed by the stakeholders, and internalized by those who must carry it out.

The Buffalo Police Department is a professional organization that is dedicated to serving our community though protection, education, and communication, while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and respect, with an overall commitment to excellence.

Vision: The Vision for an organization is a specific representation of a desired future state for the organization. This representation is comprised of a series of statements of intended expectations that relate directly to the Mission, Philosophy, and Core Values of the organization. My Organizational Vision includes the following:

Highly Efficient Organization Technologically Centered Customer Focused Proactive Approach to Law Enforcement and Community Problems Commitment to Excellence and Continuous Improvement

Philosophy: The organizational philosophy is a statement that generally describes the areas of emphasis within the organization. A philosophy statement must be in alignment with the organizational Mission and Core Values, and help direct the organization toward the Organizational Vision.

The purpose for our existence is to serve the needs of our Customers. We must therefore, establish an organizational philosophy that supports Customer Service as our top priority. In service to our Customers, it is critical that we maintain the highest possible level of safety for our Citizens, utilizing the resources granted to us to the best of our abilities. In furtherance of that mission, we must employ a methodology that ensures community collaboration and partnership. These processes

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must also secure contributive effort from staff, including analytical and critical thinking, and idea generation and innovation, related to both internal and external issues. We must do all of this while adhering to the highest levels of Moral and Ethical standards.

Core Values: Core values are a list of fundamental beliefs that shape how we act in relation to our given tasks or roles. Core Values related to Law Enforcement include:

Serving Customers First. Ensuring the Safety of the Public. Faithful and Impartial Enforcement of the Laws of this State and Country. The Uncompromising Exercise of Honesty and Integrity in all that we do. Treating everyone Professionally, with Dignity and Respect. Maintaining the Public Trust Dedication to Duty Accountability for our Actions and Inactions.

Initial Source: Chief Larry Hesser (Ret.) IACP Center for Police Leadership September 21, 2006 Revised 11-19-2010 M. Weinzetl

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Buffalo Police Department Organizational Chart

Updated August 10, 2009

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City of Buffalo Police Department Personnel 2013 Name Title Date of Hire Mitch Weinzetl Chief of Police 05-24-00 Patrick Budke Sergeant 01-01-01 Rachel Pearson Sergeant 05-07-04 Kevin Weeks Sergeant 09-09-87 Jim Gregg Patrol Officer 02-01-91 Kelly Voigt Patrol Officer 02-05-07 Joshua Erickson Patrol Officer/SRO 05-08-07 Andrew Johnson Patrol Officer 06-03-08 John Lees Patrol Officer 09-02-08 Josh McKinley Patrol Officer 08-10-09 Mark Brown Patrol Officer/SRO 09-13-10 Kris Lindell Patrol Officer 12-13-10 Stephanie Priebe Patrol Officer 03-21-11 Dustyn Bruch Patrol Officer 01-13-13 Jerad Zachman Patrol Officer 01-14-13 Logan Haskins Patrol Officer 09-29-13 Jacqueline Kelch Patrol Officer 09-29-13 Barrett Chrissis Detective 01-02-03 Glenda Ridley Detective 01-17-96 Kristy Johnson Admin Asst 02-06-06 Kelly Prestidge Records Coordinator 10-03-00 Rita Marschel Records-PT 09-21-05 Jeanne DeBord Records Associate 07-13-06 Julie Mankenberg Records Associate 06-01-13 City of Buffalo Police Reserves 2013 Name Date of Hire Steve Blyseth 05-31-09 Terry Marsh 05-31-09 Luke Weinzetl 05-31-09 Steven Cullinan 10-01-05 Pat Chiero 06-02-10 Chet Davison 09-16-10 Ivan Barrera 05-01-11 Christopher Fautsch 05-01-11 Alex Weeks 08-01-11 Jeremy Bautch 10-10-11 Nicholas Stai 10-10-11 Tom Carpenter 01-19-12 Tony Daniels 06-01-12 David Casey 10-12-12 David Stein 12-18-12 Eric Carlson 09-12-13 Jeff Kyllonen 09-12-13

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City of Buffalo Demographics

According to the US Census of 2010 the population is 15,453 with 6044 households in the City of Buffalo. 9.47 Square miles of land area. 88.6 miles of paved roads.

Buffalo is the county seat

of Wright County.

The latitude of Buffalo is 45.171N. The longitude is

93.874W.

Elevation is 928 feet.

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Administration Division Emergency Management Emergency Management is a term used to describe our City’s planned response to significant emergency events, which may occur from time to time within our community. These instances can range from flooding or tornadoes, to train derailments or chlorine gas leaks. By designation, the Chief of Police is the Emergency Management Director for the City of Buffalo. Within this capacity, the Chief of Police has revised the City’s current Emergency Management plan to ensure compliance with Federal Standards. Fortunately, there were no significant Emergency Management events in the City of Buffalo in 2013. Despite the lack of activity, we continue to work with County, State, and Local officials in our Emergency planning efforts. Technology Communications

Good technology and communication means more effective law enforcement and emergency response. Our goal is to keep officers in the field and get the information they need to safely make critical decisions-fast. In order to succeed, advanced data integrity solutions are in place to ensure administrative work flow efficiency within our department.

Software Solutions

The Buffalo Police Department uses LETG, a public safety software solution that provides staff with the allowance for information sharing amongst applications that avoid unnecessary duplication; safety and security measures; and advanced data integrity solutions. The Web-based nature of these products provides full access to both RMS and the Mobile applications from the field, where it belongs. All of these applications are accessible with a basic Internet connection (and the right security access). We remain stable with our law enforcement software LETG. The eMERTS Suite provides various modules for data storage, organization, and reporting. Following is an explanation of the modules and their functions: eMERTS, Records Management System (RMS) eMERTS™ RMS was designed by public safety employees for public safety officials. Our agency migrated to a Web-based RMS system on January 1st of 2006. The LETG Records Management System is a XML based system. The data repository is managed by MySQL and ASP. Call data is stored in the database and can be retrieved from the mobile terminals throughout the city. This gives officers the advantage of knowing the call history of a residence because the data is passed to the Emerts Mobile screen.

Supplemental reporting capabilities, media attachments, and case management functions are found within our RMS. Another unique feature is the robust and user-friendly evidence tracking and property inventory bar coding system.

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Critical information that has already been entered into the system through eMERTS™ Mobile does not have to be entered again by administrative personnel. This avoids duplication, increases the efficiency of work flow and streamlines the administrative process. The administrative support staff will spend less time entering data and more time verifying the accuracy of data. With less time needed for data entry, support staff can focus on other critical tasks that affect officer effectiveness and public safety such as crime analysis and crime mapping.

Features

Easy to use and navigate – any user familiar with web browsing will easily learn how to quickly navigate through LETG RMS

Accurate, easy to generate reports Powerful, intuitive search tools – LETG developed the RMS module with the belief that once data is entered

into the system, that data should be easily retrieved. The RMS search tools provide the user with many search functions such as wild card searching, the ability to search fields with only partial information, and many others.

Multi-level permission system for secure access within different parts of the system Rich relational database model CIBRS/NIBRS compliance 100% browser based RMS Since eMERTS™ RMS is browser based, there is no need to install software on office desk tops Simplified state reporting process County Attorney has direct access to this database to retrieve reports and statements

eMERTS Mobile

The eMERTS suite of products includes a mobile component that directly interfaces with the RMS. This has several advantages. Data that is generated in the car (i.e. electronic citations, crash reports, impound forms), can all be automatically transferred into the incident files for later retrieval - data entry is eliminated in these circumstances. The terminal allows officers to retrieve information regarding drivers, vehicles, warrants, and send messages to other officers.

In addition, queries that are run from the mobile application are accessible from the desktop, making report writing and data entry more efficient and simplistic. This also aids in the reduction of data entry errors, as the imported data is error free. This intuitive application offers our patrol officers the necessary information to keep safe and the tools to be more effective and efficient while performing their duties. A department's operational capabilities and effectiveness will be significantly augmented through: state of the art sophisticated mobile technology that utilizes field based reporting, automated ticket writing, messaging, AVL, GPS, and GIS functionality which will

Emerts Main Screen

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allow for greater efficiencies and greater response capabilities.

Features

Robust mapping capabilities for each squad car (see description below) Extensive, secure, real time messaging Capability to transfer photos and other documents from the field Receives call and data from dispatch Runs queries through the state (CJIS) to provide prior contact and history Name capture feature to push data directly to RMS

eMERTS, Field Reporting

The Field Reporting application is a robust solution that allows police officers the ability to initiate and complete their reports in the field electronically. Virtually every reporting capability (impound sheets, accident reports, diagrams, and offense reports) can be completed in the field with automated data field population to eliminate redundant entry.

Completed reports are directly forwarded into the RMS application through our secure wireless connection, which again eliminates additional data entry processes. Recorded statements, digital photos, and other media can be uploaded from the field directly into RMS.

eMERTS, Accident-writer

This application allows our patrol officers to complete the vast majority of an accident form using information returned from motor vehicle queries. Accident-writer has been shown to reduce accident scene times from an average of 20 minutes down to an average of 5 minutes.

eMERTS, Ticketwriter

This module facilitates the generation of electronic traffic citations. The citation is then printed to be issued to the driver. The driver and vehicle data is automatically imported into the LETG RMS system and the court record system. This module enables officers to issue a citation in approximately one minute. Furthermore the citations no longer need to be scanned by office personnel because the data is automatically imported. The ease of writing tickets does not encourage officers to write more citations; it allows our officers to focus on other tasks.

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Verbal Warning Information about a particular person’s driver license or vehicle information imports into the Field Reporting Module from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle records and officers select the driver and vehicle from the drop down list. The officer then selects send to RMS. This sends the information to a new incident record in RMS. The officer then types a small description of the offense in a pop up box.

Written Warning Information about a particular person’s driver license or vehicle information imports into the Field Reporting Module from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle records and officers select the driver and vehicle from the drop

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down list. Officers then enter the location information and select written warning from the drop down list. The officer must select an offense for the written warning. The ticket printer will print a written warning and send the information to a new incident record in RMS. The officer then will enter a brief synopsis of the offense in a pop up window.

Citation Information about a particular person’s driver license or vehicle information imports into the Field Reporting Module from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle records and officers select the driver and vehicle from the drop down list. Officers then enter the location information and select citation from the drop down list. At this time they also select whether or not the option to attend Drive SMART is allowable. The officer must select an offense for the citation. The ticket printer will print a citation and send the information to a new incident record in RMS. The officer then will enter a brief synopsis of the offense in a pop up window.

Features

Reduces time officers spend writing tickets which allows them to return to service more quickly Eliminates common data entry mistakes Allows the traffic offender to be on their way more quickly Creates accurate, easy to read tickets

Statute Search This feature is loaded in each of our squads for our officers to quickly look up statutes by a keyword or chapter. Warrants Tool Officers can draft search warrants quickly by using the BPD Search Warrant Tool, created by one of our own! Through a series of input boxes the officer can enter the pertinent information about the warrant. The tool then generates a search warrant using the entered information. The tool is able to generate most warrants right from the squad car. The officer then has the capability to email and/or print the warrant right from the squad for a Judge’s review and signature. MESH, Mobile Wireless Network This is the backbone of our system, where it all starts with high speed wireless service. The mesh is a series of inter-connected wireless communication radios which transmit computer data to our mobile computers. There are approximately 100 MESH radios distributed throughout the city. The MESH is a self-healing system, which means that if a radio fails the other radios pick up the traffic. Self-healing also means that a mobile radio can receive data from various radios, which allows the computer to move (in a car) while still receiving the data. Additionally, our officers connect over an encrypted wireless connection. OFP Full access Officers can access on-file Orders For Protection from the squad car. This allows the officers to determine quickly if a violation has occurred. APS, Pawn Automation enables law enforcement agencies to share pawn/secondhand transaction information electronically; ultimately increasing the recovery of stolen property. APS allows rapid, direct access to all pawn and secondhand transaction detail in the central repository. APS provides a number of functions that assist investigators with developing useful suspect information and aid in the identification and recovery of stolen property. This application is available on the office workstations within our department.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services provides us with vehicle licensing, titling, and registration information for forfeited vehicles. Our staff has a secured access to driver and vehicle records attainable in the squad and at the office workstations.

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MNCIS, Minnesota Court Information System The Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) was designed to provide integration services so information can be consumed and supplied between the courts and other criminal justice business partners. Our office workstations have access to this system and we often access it to follow up with cases and determine ownership of property.

MRAP, Minnesota Repository of Arrest Photographs The Minnesota Repository of Arrest Photographs (MRAP) is a database of arrest and booking photos submitted from law enforcement agencies. The MRAP provides criminal justice agencies with an opportunity to search arrest and booking photos from a variety of law enforcement agencies, to create lineups and witness viewing sessions from those photos, and to enroll unidentified persons into the facial recognition component in an attempt to obtain accurate identification. There are currently 55 counties that submit arrest photos to the statewide repository.

CIBRS, Comprehensive Incident-Based Reporting System The Comprehensive Incident-Based Reporting System (CIBRS) is a repository of incident data from law enforcement agencies across Minnesota. The data are recorded by the local agency in a records management system and sent to the CIBRS database so it can be searched by other law enforcement agencies. CIBRS is primarily a tool for law enforcement investigations. CIBRS contains no public data.

In the squads or in the office, we use Portals to access the following:

CCH, Computerized Criminal History is the state central repository for data on subjects arrested for gross misdemeanor and felony offenses. It is used by the criminal justice community for decisions regarding investigations, arrests, bail/bond, charges, plea bargains, convictions, probation and placement in correctional facilities. It is also used to conduct background checks on individuals seeking employment or licensing for various positions. CCH also contains valuable information for researchers.

CJIS, Criminal Justice Information System "Hot" Files contains statewide information on wanted and missing persons and stolen property such as vehicles and guns. Instant access to this data is critical to law enforcement operations.

CJRS, Criminal Justice Reporting System collects statistical information concerning the occurrence of crime in Minnesota and compiles that data into management reports for local law enforcement. This information is published annually in the MN Crime Information book and also reported to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for national compilations of crime data.

CJDN, Criminal Justice Data communication Network is a dedicated statewide network which provides instant access to all the systems noted above, driver license & motor vehicle registration data as well as other data and provides communication capability between agencies. This network is interfaced with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) network which provides nationally indexed criminal and "hot" files. The CJDN is also interfaced with the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) which links local, state and federal agencies together for the purpose of exchanging criminal justice information interstate.

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Online Crime Mapping Buffalo is proud to be using a tool that provides information regarding crime in the Buffalo area. Online Crime Mapping is offered by Buffalo Police as a way to provide important crime information to our community. Online Crime Mapping is an interactive tool that plots crime locations on a map for the public to view. Citizens are able to choose the type of crime to view on the map or they can enter an address to view all crime in a specific area. After making the selections a pin map will show the location of the crimes. The results provide citizens with information about each crime including the date, the case number and the location down to the block. Exact locations are not shown to protect citizen privacy. This easy-to-use tool offers many benefits to the citizens of Buffalo. Area residents have an easy way to stay informed about the crime occurring in our community. This tool is also a great way for new or prospective residents to view information regarding a specific area of the city when purchasing a home. Buffalo Police Department is happy to provide Online Crime Mapping to our community in its ongoing effort to provide the best service possible to the citizens of Buffalo. This site can be accessed at http://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/crimemap/.

Online Crash Reporting Using online crash reporting has reduced crash report time to approximately 5 minutes. These reports can be completed in the car using the mobile MESH network. The crash reporting software is connected to the Minnesota driver and vehicle records; the information about a particular person’s driver license or vehicle information imports into the crash report.

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Mapping Capability

Nearly every address in Buffalo and the surrounding townships can be found on our electronic mapping system. The call data from eMERTS also has the address encoded, which allows an officer with a few mouse clicks to locate the call geographically. This is especially useful in making a stealth approach to an address; officers don’t need to see the house numbers to know which house is the subject of the call.

The mapping system will also map the locations of squad cars. Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors encode the location of squad cars-see below

Squad cars are identified by unit number. An individual or all units can be mapped. Probation Notification System

This system notifies officers when a party they have contact with is on probation. When officers enter a person’s name in our mobile or records system, the officer is alerted via the notification that the person is on probation. The probation notification will include who the party is on probation with and how to notify the probation officer.

Alert Infomation: Name On File: Skywalker, John Anakin

DOB on File: 11/14/1970 Agency: DOC Probation - Litchfield District

Client #: 100000 The officer then has the option to send an immediate notification to the probation officer regarding their contact with the person. If notification is sent to the probation officer, they are advised to contact the police department for further information.

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Web QA

This is a Citizen Support Center for Buffalo residents that supports all incoming citizen requests for Service and Information, and all outgoing Communications for notification and feedback. Accessible to citizens at any time of the day, specific to meet each department’s needs, centralized to provide a complete view of all government support activities and completely automated to improve efficiencies and streamline costs. WebQA requires only internet access: with no hardware to buy or complicated software to learn. Visit the City of Buffalo website and click on the Services tab, drop down and choose Service Request.

KWIKLINX Intranet

Within the department, we found that we were in need of one location for our officers to access data. Sure, we had it all on our network but it was all in different files and it sometimes required time consuming searching, which could prevent effective law enforcement and emergency response. As our goal is to keep officers in the field and get the information they need to safely make critical decisions-fast, we created an intranet site of advanced data integrity to assist work flow efficiency within our department.

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Hardware Solutions

M6 Mobile Computer System

Designed for the harsh environment of Public Safety vehicles, the M6 is known for being the brightest, thinnest, and most rugged touchscreens available for vehicular computing. The M6 features a removable SATA hard drive, eSATA port, and ExpressCard slot. Internal WAAS-enabled GPS, Wireless LAN and Broadband Wireless options are available. Our squad computers were upgraded in the summer of 2009.

Keyboards

This isn’t your standard keyboard! Our keyboards are heavy-duty construction needed to withstand continuous in-vehicle use. The keyboard is separate from the display allowing easy access by either vehicle occupant. The keyboards feature extra large letters and adjustable backlighting to provide superior day and night visibility. An integrated glide pad or similar pointing device is included in all models.

Displays

All M-series displays are sunlight visible and can be easily adjusted for any lighting condition. The rugged scratch resistant touch screen puts critical data at our officer’s fingertips. The high resolution, digital (LVDS) displays are extremely clear and specially designed for wide angle viewing. Each display also features active thermal management and integrated stereo speakers.

Printers In 2009 we removed the Citation Printers from our squads. With the reformat of our Citations and additional information, we were able to remove these out-dated printers eliminating the high cost of citation paper rolls and an additional information traffic brochure our officers used to issue with each citation. Our PENTAX PocketJet printers are a full-page printing solution that prints all department forms as well as citations.

Digital In-Car Video System utilizes the latest generation of technology that is so small and advanced that the entire Digital Video System is integrated into a rear view mirror. The video monitor is located behind a high quality “one-way” mirror so that when it’s not in use, it’s invisible.

Features

3.5" Ultra-Bright Color Monitor (1000 NITS) Covert Rear Seat Camera with IR LEDs GPS with Mark Feature 900 Mhz Audio Transceiver Internal Microphone & Speaker

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Other squad equipment

Squad Radio, VRM Data Radio, MESH Radio, Power Box, Charge Guard, LED light bar, Radar, cellular phone, flashlight

Digital Recorder, Olympus DS-3000 Our officers carry digital recorders to dictate reports and record statements. These units are another tool allowing officers to work in the field and be on the street where they are needed.

Digital Recorder, Olympus DS4000 These units are used by our Administration and Investigations Department. Olympus’ most advanced professional digital recorder yet is slide switch operated for ease of use, stacked with premium features and enhanced DSS Player Pro Dictation software for outstanding performance

Research and Development

Voice Recognition Software

As the demands for police report writing continued to increase over the years, departments like BPD have looked for a technological solution. During the winter of 2004-2005, the Buffalo Police Department researched and tested a voice recognition software product, Dragon Naturally Speaking. This product was tested in conjunction with the report writing process at BPD, and was completed as a partial requirement for a Masters Degree being pursued by the Chief of Police.

There were two items of specific interest that occurred during this research and testing process. First, it was determined that there was little to no data available concerning similar studies. Second, it was determined that the use of this product did not provide results that could significantly impact the report writing process at the Buffalo Police Department. For those who would like to examine this study in depth, please visit our website at

www.cityofbuffalo.gov

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Fleet Management/Energy Conservation

 

The City of Buffalo understands that it must do its part in conserving energy. The purpose of the program is to draw attention to the need to reduce energy consumption at every product level. In 2006 a logo to identify its energy conservation program was designed. You will see this logo on our Green Fleet Vehicles. We maintain a Green Fleet consisting of 5 squads that we run with E85 fuel. Our other 2 squads are Hybrids. In 2013, we replaced two squads with new Ford Explorer Police Utility vehicles. The new squads provide more room for equipment and passengers and the all wheel drive makes it easier to maneuver in snowy, icy conditions.

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Key Accomplishments in 2012

Revamping our KWIKLINX Intranet site to be more resourceful for our officers Implementing a Ticketwriter upgrade Implementing a Bicycle Patrol Program Creating and implementing a new lobby intake form for a more efficient response for walk-in

customers

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Records Management The records division consists of three full-time and one part-time employee. Their main duties involve transcription of officer’s reports, data verification of information that is entered in the field and doing background checks for Human Services, Multi-Housing program and other agencies. This unit is also responsible for seeing that the necessary documents are routed to the appropriate agencies (County Attorney, City Attorney, Human Services, Probation, etc.) The City Attorney and County Attorney have restricted access to our records system from their office through LETG. In addition the records division handles walk-in requests during business hours. This includes getting information on initial complaints to pass on to officers, processing gun permits, releasing found property, registering people for the Drive Smart class and making copies of requested police reports. Background checks: 137 Multi housing background checks: 56 Gun permits: 203 Drive Smart registrations: 93

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Budget The police department budget currently supports seventeen full-time officers (two of which are assigned full-time to our schools); two full-time and one part-time Records staff members, and one full-time Administrative Assistant. The police department budget has remained fairly stable over the past few years, and the bulk of our budget (nearly 90%) is dedicated to paying wages and benefits for staff. Other significant expenditures include building utilities and maintenance, prosecution service fees, and capital expenditures for items such as new police vehicles. We recognize the responsibility we have as stewards of the public’s money and regularly take steps to ensure we are maximizing the use of the resources allocated to us. We do this by being vigilant in our efforts to secure the lowest pricing we can find on our expenditures, renegotiating contracts, and we also continually analyze our work efforts to improve our efficiencies and to reduce overall costs. We continue to focus on creativity and innovation in looking for ways to improve our service to the public, while improving efficiencies and reducing costs. Our focus remains squarely on the use of technology to provide these types of improved outcomes, and we continue to be successful in the implementation of such initiatives. These creative solutions provide us with the opportunity to get more accomplished with the staff and resources we have, while helping reduce the need for additional staff, which in turn, helps keep overhead costs down. A copy of the full budget for the police department and all City departments can be found on the City website.

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Community Services Police Reserve Program Our Police Reserve Program involves the use of non-sworn uniformed staff that assist us by working at various events throughout the year. These events include: the Buffalo Days Parade and Fireworks, the Triathlon, the Rodeo, and the Holiday Train, to name a few. Additionally, our Reserve Officers also work at sporting events, concerts in the park, and other similar activities each year. As a group they have donated over 855 hours to the City in 2013.

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School Resource Officers (SRO) The Buffalo Police Department has 2 Patrol Officers that are assigned to school related duties during the school year. The collaboration between Buffalo Police Department and the Buffalo/Hanover/Montrose School District regarding School Resource Officers began in January of 1999. Officer Josh Erickson is currently in his 6th year as a School Resource Officer in Buffalo. Erickson is based out of the Buffalo High School and provides services for the high school and the Phoenix Learning Center, as well as safety presentations for Northwinds and Tatanka Elementary Schools. Erickson continues to facilitate a student led group based on the principles of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education). Officer Erickson is also involved in classroom presentations. At the high school the topics have consisted of current law enforcement events/topics, drug awareness/education, technology safety, and mental health (psychology). At the elementary level presentation topics consist of bullying, community safety, technology safety, bicycle safety and chemical awareness. Officer Erickson also provides a traffic safety presentation in conjunction with Safe Communities of Wright County for the driver’s education students and their parents.

Officer Brown is the School Resource Officer at the Buffalo Community Middle School. Besides the middle school; Officer Brown provides police services to Wright Technical Center, Wright Learning Center, Cornerstones School, Eastern Wright Program and the elementary schools in Buffalo. Officer Brown is involved with emergency planning and conducts safety presentations each quarter which include information on technology safety, drug awareness and education, bullying, bicycle safety, and community safety. Each year Officer Brown partners with MEADA in order to provide the students at the middle school with very specific and fun drug awareness education. This year Officer Brown has also assisted with the completion of Safe Routes to Schools Planning Grant in order to make the areas around the Buffalo Middle School more safe for students traveling both to and from the school. The safety of our students, staff, and community is a high priority for the Buffalo Police Department.

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MEADA

MEADA’s mission statement is “To educate youth, families, and citizens on the dangers of drugs with a focus on methamphetamine and develop a county mindset of zero tolerance for chemical use.”

MEADA consists of a board that awards grants or funding for projects or programs that encompass a proactive, educational drug awareness effort. The program eligibility consists of proactive approaches to drug awareness education and addresses a need in the school or community. Both the Buffalo Community Middle School and the Buffalo High School were awarded MEADA grants submitted by SRO’s Brown and Erickson in 2013. The grant money they received was utilized by the Officers in assisting them with their outreach and education to the youth of Buffalo and surrounding areas. MEADA can be found on the web at their NEW website: www.meada.net Safe Communities of Wright County Safe Communities of Wright County (SCWC) is a local initiative that provides education to the public on traffic safety issues. Buffalo Police Department is an active member of this group, specifically in the area of teen drivers. Safe Communities host parent- teen education programs throughout the county. Officer Erickson is a member of the parent-teen presentation team which includes a member of Safe Communities, a crash survivor/family member and a staff member from Allina Ambulance. The presentation includes information on vehicle crash dynamics, traffic laws, and safe driving tips. In 2013 there were 6 presentations in Buffalo with a total of 800 parents and students in attendance.

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Multi-Housing The Buffalo Police Department’s Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMH) continues to be successful with building partnerships between the Police Department and Multi-Housing managers and owners. These partnerships are a key component to the program’s goal of improving the quality of life for the citizen’s of Buffalo. In 2013 The Buffalo Police Department handled 901 calls for service to multi-housing complexes that participate in CFMH. Of those 901 calls for service, 9 incidents qualified as a violation under the Multi-Housing Ordinance. From the 11 incidents there were 2 tenant evictions. The calls for service that qualified as violations were Assaults, Drug Complaints, Harassment Complaints, Noise Complaints, and Disorderly Conduct. In 2014 the Buffalo Police Department will hold its annual meeting and provide educational opportunities to managers and owners. Alcohol & Tobacco Compliance In response to our society’s continued concerns over youth access to alcohol and tobacco, various state laws and local ordinances have been enacted and/or strengthened over the past several years. These laws and ordinances provide stiff civil and criminal penalties to businesses and their employees when unlawful sales of these products are made to underage individuals. These same laws also require that local and state officials conduct compliance checks on businesses who engage in the sale of these products to ensure these sales are being executed properly and lawfully. The Buffalo Police Department conducts regular compliance checks on alcohol and tobacco sales to ensure compliance with these laws. Businesses who fail to comply with these regulations are typically fined, based on a fine schedule established by the City Council. An overview of the history of these compliance checks is shown below. Alcohol Compliance History 2008 20 businesses were in compliance 0 businesses were not 2009 18 businesses were in compliance 1 business was not and received a monetary penalty 2010 18 businesses were in compliance 2 businesses were not and received a monetary penalty 2011 15 businesses were in compliance 2 businesses were not and received a monetary penalty 2012 15 businesses were in compliance 3 businesses were not and received a monetary penalty Tobacco Compliance History 2008 17 businesses were in compliance 2 businesses were not and received a monetary penalty 2009 16 businesses were in compliance 2 businesses were not and received a monetary penalty 2010 15 businesses were in compliance 3 businesses were not and received a monetary penalty 2011 14 businesses were in compliance 0 businesses were not 2012 15 businesses were in compliance 0 businesses were not

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Special Events Department Tours Several groups toured the Buffalo Police Department facility in 2013. Among those groups were;

Various Student Groups Boy Scouts Cub Scouts

If you would like to schedule a tour for your group please contact the Police Department during business hours. You are also welcome to meet our Chief and have a tour of the police department on the first Thursday of every month. Look for Coffee With the Chief on our website and the city cable channel. Law Enforcement Memorial Day Several members of the Buffalo Police Department stood guard at the Minnesota Police Memorial on the eve of Law Enforcement Memorial Day, which is May 15. As in years past, Buffalo Officers once again had the fortune of being the first group to stand guard at the memorial.

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Buffalo Days The week - long community celebration of Buffalo Days continues to grow. In 2013 the Triathlon, held on June 2, drew many participants and spectators into Buffalo. The remainder of the events took place between 6-9-13 and 6-16-13. Two of the larger events of the week were the fireworks display on Friday night and the parade on Saturday. Several thousand people took part in these events. Members of the Police Department work many extra hours to address the needs of the celebration. Despite the large number of people there were no significant safety or security problems during Buffalo Days 2013. Minnesota Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run In 2005 the City of Buffalo’s police department became an official sponsor of the Minnesota Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Detective Barrett Chrissis was assigned to the project. Officers and volunteers related to the department were involved in two primary activities; 1) The Buffalo Days Parade, 2) The Tip-A-Cop program. The Buffalo Days Parade is led by the Torch Run banner, and free t-shirts are given away to promote the event and fundraiser. The Tip-A-Cop event is held at the Buffalo Applebee’s where law enforcement and a celebrity server bus tables to collect tips to donate directly to the Torch Run. The 2013 celebrity server was Attorney General Lori Swanson . The Buffalo Police Department has received an excellence in fundraising Bronze Medal award from Minnesota Special Olympics. Law Enforcement Agencies leading in fundraising efforts such as the Buffalo Police Department have their agency names listed on the back of the Torch Run t-shirts. 2013 featured the third annual Wright County Half Marathon for Special Olympics! The event was held on May 4, 2013. Volunteers from Buffalo PD, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Howard Lake PD, Annandale PD and Special Olympics Minnesota helped to make the day a success.

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Crime Prevention

Buffalo Crime Stoppers

Solving crimes is everyone's responsibility - not just the Police Department's. It's up to all of us to help make our community a safe and crime free place to live and raise our families. While we always appreciate witnesses who come forward and are willing to identify themselves and testify - if you witness a crime and want to remain anonymous - or confidential - we can make sure your identity is not disclosed.

Help us help you - if you know anything about a crime that has happened, or a crime that could happen, call the Buffalo Police Department at 763-682-5976.

Crime Stoppers Network

The investigation of criminal incidents within the City of Buffalo is the responsibility of the Buffalo Police Department – but we need your help too! Many times, critical information regarding crimes that we are investigating is available through witnesses who don’t realize they have seen something that could be valuable in solving a criminal case. In some cases you could even be eligible for a cash reward.

The Police Department regularly puts out news release information through local media, but we are not always in a position to do this rapidly. That’s where you come in. The Buffalo Police Department is compiling a list of individuals and businesses that wish to become part of the Crime Stoppers Network.

Here’s how it works. By visiting the Crime Stoppers Network area on our website, you can send us a message requesting that you be placed on the list of subscribers to the Crime Stoppers Network. There is no charge to become part of this program! Any time that there is a message that we want to get out to the public quickly, or whenever there is a case that we are working on where we are requesting the assistance of the public, we will send out a message to all of the subscribers on our network. These messages will be sent to you via an e-mail address that you provide to us when you subscribe to this program.

Once you get the message – the rest is up to you. If you have information that is relative to a Crime Stoppers Message, you simply contact our department and speak to an officer – that’s it. You can contact our office through e-mail, general mail, by phone, or in person. As always, you can remain anonymous if you wish.

So – what are you waiting for? Visit our website to sign-up for the Buffalo Police Department Crime Stoppers Network

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Night to Unite On Tuesday August 6, 2013 residents of Buffalo were once again invited to participate in Night to Unite, a state and local campaign which continues to strengthen the partnership between local law enforcement and communities by getting together. Buffalo Police Department along with the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association and AAA of Minnesota/Iowa encouraged residents to organize a neighborhood block party or attend the community gathering at City Center. The Buffalo Police Department sent representatives to each of the 20 registered block parties to provide education regarding drug/crime prevention and interact with residents. Night to Unite bags were delivered to each registered block party with items donated from the Buffalo Police Department, AAA of Minnesota/Iowa, Cub Foods, Target, Kwik Trip, Rancho Grande, Domino’s, Hot Wok and the Senior Citizen Community Center Woodshop. It was encouraging to see participation from local business and citizens. The community gathering hosted by the Buffalo Police Department at City Center brought together many residents from across the city to enjoy a night of fun. The event had representatives from the Buffalo Police Department, Buffalo Fire Department, Allina Emergency Services, Buffalo Royalty, Target, Buffalo Lions, Buck’s Pizza, Domino’s, Allina Hospital, Wal-Mart, Dairy Queen, and Huikko’s Bowling Center. Entertainment was provided by local band Two Brothers and a demonstration was put on by Dojo Karate. There were several items donated to the event by local businesses which helped provide activities, food and prizes for all ages.

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Neighborhood Watch For more than 30 years, law enforcement and members of the community have been working together to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. Our community’s citizens are being empowered and mobilized as they participate in proactive partnerships with their local law enforcement agencies. Neighborhood watch programs offer many community benefits including, greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control for community members. Neighborhood watch groups build community pride and unity and prepare us for helping ourselves, and others in the community. The community group is made up of volunteers from neighborhoods throughout Buffalo. Whether you are a member, a Block Captain, or the Area Coordinator, an important role is waiting. Contact your Buffalo Police Department at (763) 682.5976 or visit www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/police for more information.

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Law and Order

2013 Statistics The following chart indicates a breakdown by time and day for the volume of calls in 2013. About 41% of the volume occurred during the dayshift, with about 41% occurring during the middle shift. The remaining percentage, about 18%, occurred during the overnight shift.

2013 Activity Report

by Time and Day

7:00 AM to

3:00 PM

3:00PM to 11:00 PM

11:00PM to

7:00AM Daily Total

Sunday 355 473 303 1131 Monday 620 601 208 1429 Tuesday 682 611 243 1536

Wednesday 718 617 220 1555 Thursday 693 689 257 1639

Friday 664 698 281 1643 Saturday 512 538 322 1372 TOTAL 4244 4227 1834 10305

*Due to reporting practice & categorization some statistical data may vary slightly between local records and Federal recorded records.

The United States Department of Justice identifies and classifies crimes for statistical analysis and defines them as, “Part 1, and Part II”, offenses. Part I crimes are considered the most serious offenses. The Buffalo Police Department responded to the following number of Part I crimes in 2013: 0 arson, 30 burglaries, 10 sexual assaults, 302 thefts, 8 motor vehicle thefts for a total of 450 Part 1 crimes

The remaining reports of criminal activity for 2013 include Part 2 crimes such as: Damage to Property, Driving While Intoxicated, Drug Offenses, Disturbing the Peace, Fraud, Forgery, Obstruction of Justice, Trespassing, an many other less serious offenses.

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In 2013 the Buffalo Police Department responded to approximately 7508 calls, which are classified as service calls. This chart highlights several of the different categories of service calls, which are most frequently reported. In addition to these types of calls for service, other service areas include: animal calls, assisting other agencies, background checks, domestic disturbances, parking complaints, and many other minor categories.

This chart shows a breakdown of activity by type, including criminal incidents, traffic, and service calls.

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This chart shows a breakdown of traffic enforcement activities. It is significant to note that 80% of the recorded traffic enforcement volume resulted in a written or verbal warning. This number is higher than previous years because of new reporting procedures for verbal warnings. Prior to 2008 verbal warnings were not recorded.

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5 Year Comparison Statistics

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Crime Information and Statistics Although there have been some variations in our crime statistics over the past few years, the percentage of crime relative to prior years continues to trend downward. As shown in the figure below, we saw a significant reduction in reported crimes in 2013, down nearly 20% from the prior year. The five-year trend is also significant and our reduction in reported crimes over that period is over 29%. Five-Year Crime Trend 2012-2013 -19.73% 1 Year 2011-2013 -17.89% 2 Years 2010-2013 -24.51% 3 Years 2009-2013 -17.14% 4 Years 2008-2013 -29.32% 5 Years The downward trend is even more visible when it is examined over a long-term period. The figure below shows a ten-year downward crime rate, including a staggering reduction in reported crimes of 46.07% between 2004 and 2013. Ten-Year Crime Trend

I have been monitoring this downward trend for some time and many people have asked me why I think this is occurring. Crime analysts suggest that there are myriad factors that contribute to variations in crime rates. Those can include such things as varying demographics among the age-group most typically involved in committing crimes, other population shifts, new laws and increased penalties for committing crimes, and economic factors, among others. However, in addition to these factors, the efforts of law enforcement can also contribute to reductions in crime. In fact, the police department has engaged numerous efforts in this regard, including the use of a bait car, educational campaigns, public/private partnerships, aggressive investigation and charging, and other proactive policing strategies. Based on our analysis of the data, we believe that these efforts are contributing to reductions in crime within our community.

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In order to demonstrate this it is important to consider the different categories in which we have seen these dramatic reductions in reported crimes over the last year. The total number of crimes reported in 2012 was 1,120 and the total reported in 2013 was 899, a difference of 221 crimes. Nearly 70% of this reduction occurred in three areas: vandalism, burglary, and theft (see the table below). Selected Crime Statistics 2012-2013

Crime 2012 2013 ChangeVandalism 179 115 (64)Burglary 50 30 (20)Theft 371 302 (69)Total (153)

The reason this is significant is that these particular areas are susceptible to external influence by law enforcement. We have been focusing our efforts on these areas and significant changes have occurred. We cannot say for certain that our efforts are solely responsible for these reductions (nor would we make this argument), but it is logical to conclude that these efforts have played an important part. It also worth mentioning that this downturn in crime in our community has occurred over a period of years when we have increased our population (from around 12,700 in 2004 to 15,500 in 2010) and while economic conditions have been at an all-time low for this generation. In short, we are very encouraged by these statistics. Despite our delight in these numbers, it is important to be a little cautious in taking too much credit for crime rate reductions. It is important to maintain a healthy perspective, because crime rates tend to fluctuate based on a variety of factors, and these numbers can increase as quickly as they have decreased. However, I believe that these sustained reductions are the result of our approach to crime and policing, and the significant efforts of our staff in their relentless pursuit of those who are responsible for criminal activity. As we go forward, the police department will continue our proactive efforts in hopes of maintaining and reducing the current level of crime in our community, and we appreciate the assistance of the community in those efforts.

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Mental Health: In addition to responding to criminal incidents, the police department also responds to a variety of service calls. One area that we have been monitoring for the past several years involves a disturbing trend related to mental illness and calls for service that involve mental health issues. We are very concerned with the trend relating to mental health calls, and there has been a tripling of these calls in the City of Buffalo since 2006 (see the figure below).

Suicide Death Suicide Attempt Suicidal Person Mental Health Totals

Adult Juvenile

Adult Juvenile

Adult Juvenile

Adult Juvenile

2006 2 0 13 2 25 6 14 1 63 2007 3 0 9 3 26 6 15 0 62 2008 1 0 12 1 30 8 32 5 89 2009 3 0 5 2 34 12 42 6 104 2010 5 0 3 1 39 13 47 5 113 2011 1 0 11 2 53 11 33 8 119 2012 1 0 15 3 57 23 61 18 178 2013 4 0 12 2 33 29 65 16 161 In an effort to respond to this trend, the police department has continued to partner with a variety of area stakeholders in order to improve access to resources and services, and also to educate practitioners and the public regarding issues surrounding mental health. This issue has received even more attention in the wake of the growing number of mass shootings that have dotted our country in recent years. Despite the tragic nature of these mass shooting events, and as deplorable as they are, there is optimism that these incidents may finally prompt legislators to enact new laws that will help improve services to the mentally ill, and that will also help improve the safety of our country. We have continued our efforts in working toward solutions for issues related to mental health, including working with legislators, practitioners, treatment facilities, and our community partners. This is an effort that is ongoing and that will continue into 2014 and beyond.

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2013 Crash Statistics The Buffalo Police Department analyzes crash data annually. This data shows us where traffic enforcement may be needed. The following graph shows the number of crashes in 2013.

This graph shows the contributing factors that led to each crash. In addition to this, we also capture information on day of the week, time of day, and location. This data assists us in determining when and where to concentrate our traffic enforcement efforts.

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Most Frequent Crash Locations

2013 Hwy 25 (2 or less at each crash site) 24 Hwy 55 & Hwy 25 15 Hwy 55 & 3rd Ave NE 9

2012 Hwy 55 & Hwy 25 20 Hwy 25 (2 or less at each crash site) 18 Hwy 55 & County Rd 35 12

2011 Hwy 25 (2 or less at each crash site) 30 Hwy 55 & Hwy 25 18 Hwy 55 & 3rd St S 11

2010 Hwy 55 & Hwy 25 22 Hwy 25 N (2 or less at each crash site) 14 Hwy 55 (2 or less at each crash site) 13

2009 Hwy 55 & Hwy 25 22 Hwy 25 N (2 or less at each crash site) 20 Hwy 55 (2 or less at each crash site) 14

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DRIVE SMART The Buffalo Police Department offers the Drive SMART program to qualified drivers. Eligible infractions:

Minor speed violations Sign or signal violations Lane violations Passing violations Failure to signal Illegal turns Seatbelt-Driver Only Fail to yield right of way Texting while driving Inattentive driving Driving left of Centerline All Graduated Driver’s License violations

Ineligible Infractions: Alcohol-related violations Parking tickets Property or personal injury crashes Misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony

charges Multiple violations Prior moving violation within past 12 months Hazardous or dangerous circumstances Flagrant Violations Previous participation in Drive Wright Previous written warning issued by BPD in past

12 months The two-hour Drive SMART Traffic Safety Course provides an overview of the latest traffic laws and teaches experienced drivers how to be more aware and more focused behind the wheel. Traffic violators who qualify for this program have the option of attending Drive SMART and paying a $75 fee instead of paying the standard fine. If you want to learn more about the Drive SMART program you can call the Buffalo Police Department at (763) 682-5976. In 2013 118 Drive SMART eligible citations were issued. Of those 118 citations, 93 people chose to take the Drive SMART class.

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Investigations

The Buffalo Police Department investigates every type of reported criminal activity that occurs in our community. The Investigations Division handles cases the Patrol Division receives which would be too work intensive for officers to follow up on effectively. The duties of the detectives assigned to this division of the Buffalo Police Department are similar to those in other suburban law enforcement agencies. Our detectives utilize their resources investigating complaints by identifying, locating, and interviewing witnesses, and suspects, as well as gathering facts, developing informants, and collecting evidence for criminal prosecution. Additional duties of the detectives include preparing and executing search warrants, preparing and presenting photo line-ups, interviewing witnesses and/or interrogating suspects, processing crime scenes, preserving evidence and testifying in state and federal court. During 2013 the two detectives assigned to this division conducted 115 investigations. Those investigations involved reported cases of Abuses and Neglects concerning children and adults, Assaults, Burglaries, Civil Complaints, Counterfeiting, Deaths, Drugs, Fleeing Police, Fraud, and Embezzlement, Missing Persons, Lost and Found Property, Mental Health and Safety Holds, Motor Vehicle Crashes, Motor Vehicle Tampering, Obscenities including child pornography involving computer forensics, Predatory Offender Registration Offenses, Robbery, Sexual Offenses, Suspicions, Thefts, Threats and Harassments, and Violations of Court Orders. The detectives also assisted numerous other local, state and federal agencies with investigations having ties to our community. Advanced training and experience as well as excellent communication skills are necessary in order for detectives to successfully conduct basic to complex / major case investigations. Like most law enforcement agencies, it is common for Buffalo Police Detectives to travel to other cities, counties and even states as a necessary step in the course of their investigations.  

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Looking Forward to 2014 We are always improving everyday operations within our agency and as we look forward we have two major initiatives this year.

We are working with our vendor to offer a more robust online reporting package for our citizens. This will support selected incoming citizen request for service and information and outgoing communications for notification and feedback. It will be accessible to citizens at any time of the day and will be completely automated to improve efficiencies and streamline costs.

We will be updating and upgrading our office and squad car computers.