Table of Contents

CHIEFS MESSAGE

By Gerald W. Maughan

The goal of the Midvale City Police Department is TO HELP MAKE MIDVALE CITY A BETTER AND SAFER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. Actions the Officers take each day should help move our community toward meeting this goal.

The Midvale City Police Department had an unusual experience this year in February with the Olympics coming to town. We started gearing up for the Olympics in 2001. Fourteen of our officers, 2 sergeants and 12 officers were assigned to the Olympics for 20 days starting on February 5, 2002. For a two-week period prior to February 5^th our officers worked to help protect the venues. In support of the Olympics all other officers began working 12 hours shifts to protect Midvale City. On February 8, 2002 we helped escort the torch through Midvale City. Thousands of spectators watched that event.

Asst. Chief Dan Pearson retired and the administration of the police department changed. The Assistant Chief position was left vacant and two Captains were appointed to help the Chief in the Administration of the police department. Lt. Start and Sgt Mason were promoted to Captain. With the retirement of Sgt Jensen and with Sgt Mason being promoted, two officers were promoted to sergeant. Officer John Salazar and Officer Kim Burgon were promoted to sergeant. Sergeant Kim Burgon is the first women sergeant in the history of the Midvale City Police Department.

We have some significant decreases in calls for service from the previous year in a few areas. Business and residential burglary was reduced this year 10 and 23 percent respectively. Alarms responses have declined 16 % this year and 25 % over a four-year period. Vehicle impounds are down 34% this year and 51% in four years. Reported rapes are down 37% this year and 31% over 4 years. Suicides are down 20% this year and 29% over 4 four years. Robbery is down 37 % this year. Total calls for service was down 939 or 3% over last year. Total calls are down 5% average over four years.

We have a few areas of significant increases. Forgery, Fraud, and Bad Checks increased 141 cases or 45 % over last year and this is related to more identity theft. Harassment increased 181 cases or 157% this year. Officers recovered 28 % more stolen vehicles.

Traffic accidents have been decreasing each year for four years. Our traffic division and our patrol officers have made a difference along with the freeway opening up. Traffic accidents are down 11% this year and 23 % over the past 4 years. Citizens are obeying traffic laws a little better as officers stopped 5 % less vehicles this year.

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GOAL STATEMENT To help make Midvale a safer and a better place to live and work.   MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Midvale City Police Department is to provide quality public service and protection to the citizens of the community. Our specific objectives include suppression of crime, protection of life and property, apprehension and assistance in the prosecution of offenders, the preservation of peace, the regulation of traffic, the prevention of traffic accidents and congestion, and the recovery and return of lost and stolen property.   Providing of this service to the public will be conducted in an efficient and effective manner, consistent with statutory authority, available budget resources, and professional skills and discretion of individual members. The Department recognizes its members as its most valuable resource, and will strive to maintain the quality of public service through committed leadership, supervisory direction, member career development, training, and discipline.   Personal honor, dedication to professional ideals, and devotion to duty shall be the ideals of our commitment to public service.   We have adopted Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving in the neighborhoods as our method of operation. Citizens and Police working together to prevent crime.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES ACTUAL

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Support Personnel

Patrol Division

By

Captain Tony Mason

The patrol division is the backbone of the police department. Patrol is the first response to any calls for service by the citizens of this community. When the people of this community have a problem, or they become the victim of a crime, they call the police and a patrol officer is the first on the scene to help. Because the patrol officer is required to respond to many different types of calls for help, they are required to have many skills.

The patrol officers receive training in a diverse area of expertise in order to be the one person who can help the people in the event that they need our help. Our training is done on a continuing basis to keep our officers the most professional officers they can be. This includes training on patrol procedures, criminal and civil law, Supreme Court rulings, search and seizure, self-defense, arrest procedures, crime scene investigation, traffic accident investigation, first aid, domestic violence and drug investigation.

All of our patrol officers work a dual role as a patrol officer and as a "Community Oriented Police Officer". Each officer is assigned an area of the city and they are responsible for "COP" duties within their area. "COP" duties include organizing neighborhood watch, crime free multi housing, and attending community meetings within their area. They work with the public in order to bring the community and the police department together on the fight against crime. Our patrol officers are committed to making Midvale City a safe and better place to live and work.

Traffic Unit

By Captain Tony Mason

Most of the citizens of Midvale City are concerned with speeders in their neighborhood and general traffic dangers. Midvale City has many of the most busy and congested streets in the Salt Lake Valley. We have seen increases in "road rage" incidents through out the city. The best way that we have to combat the traffic problems is with the Traffic Unit.

Our traffic unit is comprised of two officers who work traffic exclusively. They are equipped with some specialty equipment to help them complete their assignments in a professional manor. The have car cameras, radar, laser radar, and a traffic speed trailer. They utilize both Harley Davidson Motorcycles and patrol cars. Their main objective is to make the streets of Midvale safer for anyone who travels on it, and for the pedestrians who cross it.

Midvale City Police K9 Unit

"GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT"

Sgt. Ken Yurgelon

Midvale City Police K9 Unit is coming up on its 5^th year of operation. Started in 1998 the K9 Unit has been involved in many high profile cases. In August of this year 11-year-old female child was violently assaulted by an adult male. Police Service Dog Vader and his handler, Officer Jared Richardson was on duty and responded. The suspect had run from officers and containment was set up. The suspect ran out in front of Officer Richardson and Vader.

The suspect did not comply with Officer Richardson’s orders to stop, so Vader was sent to stop the suspect. Vader gave chase and caught up with the suspect and apprehended him. As a result of Vader’s capture the suspect was taken into custody and is now in prison. This is just one example of the excellent work the Midvale K9 Unit has done through out the year.

The Midvale Police K9 Unit is a member of the Multi Agency Deployment concept. Multi Agency is comprised of all the following K9 Units in the Salt Lake valley, Midvale, Murray, Sandy, So. Jordan, So. Salt Lake, West Jordan, West Valley, and soon to add Salt Lake City. All of these agencies train together weekly, and the theory behind Multi Agency is if one agency needs a dog or multiple dogs, then a call is made for additional K9 support.

If one dog is good several dogs are better. As a result of Multi Agency, more bad guys have been captured, and more narcotics have been located then ever before. If an agency needs a dog on a felony crime, all available dogs respond from the other agencies to assist with containment, searches or if a dog should become tired or hurt a fresh dog can be deployed. This teamwork with other agencies only helps the Midvale K9 in their successes and safety of the citizens.

Listed below are some of the stats for 2002 from the Midvale Police K9:

33 Felony Arrests

49 Misdemeanor Arrests

93 Multi Agency Assists

13 Grams Heroin

869 Grams Marijuana

85 Grams methamphetamine

3 Grams Cocaine

$7,000 Worth of Narcotics Seized

123 Vehicle Sniffs

18 Suspect Apprehensions

47 Paraphernalia Finds

152 Narcotic Sniffs

The continued teamwork between Midvale Police K9 and of the participating agencies within Multi Agency will only increase the safety of the citizens of Midvale, and help take the criminal element off the street.

In July 2002, Sgt. Kimberly Burgon was assigned as the sergeant in charge of bike patrol. This change happened when Sgt. Tony Mason was promoted to Captain. Officer DeJarnatt was transferred to the detective division and had to leave bike patrol. Officer Nesbitt and Officer Barfuss were selected to become bike patrol officers this summer.

This year our bicycle unit went through a firearms training course. This teaches officers what to do if they are riding their bicycle and encounter the need to use their firearm. We also had some mountain bike training in Park City this fall. This training focused on physical fitness and the use of pedal/brake control skills in difficult terrain.

Our bike patrol officers participate in community events. Officers patrolled the park and surrounding area at the Cinco de Mayo celebration, Harvest Days celebration and the Safety Fair. This year our officers set up a bicycle skills course for children in the community to participate in. All children who successfully completed the course received a free bicycle helmet. Officers patrolled the streets and block parties during the National Night Out Against Crime. Two of our officers assisted St. George Police Department in patrolling their city on bicycles during Spring Break.

During regular patrol, the bicycle patrol officers carry their bikes on a rack affixed to their patrol cars. Officers ride their bicycles in high crime areas. This enables us to find suspects committing crimes in progress that may have otherwise been scared off by a patrol car driving through the area. Some of these crimes may include burglaries, thefts, car prowls, drug offenses, etc.

The goal of the bike patrol unit is to be another resource of the police department and the community, helping to keep Midvale a safe place to live and work.

Detective Division

By Sgt. Steven Stinson

The Midvale Police Departments Detective Division consists of 1 detective sergeant, 10 detectives and 2 civilians. The civilian positions are the Crime Victims Advocates. The division has had three detectives' transfer from the division due to 1 promotion and 2 officers taking positions with other agencies.

The Detective Division conducts follow-up investigation on reported felony crimes and initiates special investigations on drugs, vice, organized crime and other criminal activity. The Division is divided into three primary units: Crimes Against Person, Crimes Against Property and the Narcotics Unit. The Division also oversees the supervision of the Victims Assistance Program, the School Officers and the Tactical Entry Team.

Detectives Jason Norton and Paula Garcia investigate crimes against persons such as sex crimes, assaults, homicides, deaths, domestic protective order violations, and crimes against children.

Detectives Doug McGrath, Shalae DeJarnatt and Chad Egan investigate crimes against property, such as arson, forgeries, frauds, thefts, auto theft bad checks, burglaries and vandalism.

Detectives Rock Roxburgh and Tom Mitchell work the narcotics unit. Detective Mitchell is currently assigned to the DEA's Task Force, but is available to assist Midvale as needed.

Detectives Rob Radley and Gregg Olsen continue to work at our schools. They teach law enforcement classes, investigate crimes committed at the schools, tracking truants and dealing with the many different gangs in the schools takes up much of their time. The Serious Habitual Offenders Comprehensive Action Program, (SHOCAP) is a program that runs all year long. Our school officers are constantly involved with these kids, trying to track them by assisting the Juvenile courts and probation officers. During the summer months both detectives get reassigned to assist patrol, Metro Gang Task Force and investigations as needed

Our "Tactical Team" was awarded the Chiefs Unit Citation award this year. The team is comprised of 10 officers and 1 Sergeant. These are officers from the Detective and Patrol Divisions. All 11 members of the team receive many hours of specialized training. The team serves all types of search warrants along with being on call to be deployed at any time or day on barricaded situations, mental subjects that have or may cause harm to themselves or others. We are also available to assist other agencies whenever the need arises.

Narcotic Investigations

Midvale was staffed with one narcotics detective for 2002. 22 narcotics search warrants were executed for the year as well as undercover operations and street level operations. Narcotic Investigations along with patrol have made the following arrests:

 Occasionally when narcotics search warrants are served on suspected drug houses, children are located in the home. When this occurs the Department Of Child And Family Services (DCFS) is contacted. If it is determined that the child could have had access to any drug or drug paraphernalia item the child will be removed from the home. DCFS will then take the child to Primary Children’s Hospital for a well being exam. Unfortunately the majority of the children will show a positive test for drugs in their system. During the last year there have been several children that have been removed from drug houses. The parents or guardians have also been charged with Child Endangerment in addition to the drug charges.

SHOCAP

Detective Radley

Through out the year of 2002 the Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) has had approximately 80 offenders through out Salt Lake County involved in the program. Five of those SHOCAP juveniles were Midvale City residents. Three of the five juveniles have since been placed into proctor care, a fourth is in State’s custody and the fifth is at home and doing well.

SHOCAP is a program designed to work with serious and habitual juvenile offenders that live in the community. After the juvenile has been adjudicated and reviewed by a nomination committee a juvenile may be placed on SHOCAP. The program then monitors the juvenile’s activities at home, at school and other outside activities. The program has several restrictions; such as curfew, whom the juvenile may associate with and the activities the juvenile may participate in after school or in the evenings. The program is seeking accountability from the juvenile for his or her actions. The juvenile is also held accountable for failure to comply with the program’s goals or any further criminal involvement.

The SHOCAP program also allows different juvenile services to share information about the juvenile to a degree that was not possible before. Since these agencies are now able to share information the juvenile in turn receives better services.

Street Gangs in Midvale

By Detective Radley

Over the last year gang crime has changed little statistically. There was a difference in 7 case reports from the previous year, which is a 2% change. This is a 2% decrease from last year’s reports.

The most prevalent gang crime is criminal mischief, such as graffiti and property damage. However this year we did have four juvenile shot at in a drive by shooting, one of which was injured and has since fully recovered. These four victims were dressed is the same style of clothing as their gang member friends and do associate with active gang members, they themselves not active in the gang they associate with. This simple association and style of dress resulted in them being shot at by opposing gang members.

The concept behind this particular shooting goes along with the old saying if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. These kids dressed in the gang style of clothing, they acted to a degree like gang members, so the opposing gang members assumed they were indeed gang members and shot at them. There was no time for questions to be asked or answered prior to this act of violence. The present gang culture bases its’ decisions to act upon style of dress, verbal and non-verbal communication, past and present rivalries that have occurred.

Within the City of Midvale there are several documented gangs and gang members. Two of the larger gangs are called Surenos 13 and QVO. Surenos gang members tend to wear mostly blue and white colors, QVO members a majority of red. The importance of colors, symbols and numbers to gang members is very high. For parents this becomes a very important issue too. Knowing what these symbols and numbers mean to their children is very important, or if they have a child that wants to dress in one dominant color daily. Knowing what their clothing stands for in their eyes will help parents know what their kids are involved in when not at home. As we know from our shooting experience is; it is not always important what adults think or their perception of dress style as it is to the other kids on the street.

Recognizing that many parents have limited knowledge on gang recognition and gang culture Midvale Police officers have decided to start education classes on this subject. Information on these classes and their date will become available through your neighborhood watch newsletters and the cities own newsletters. We feel that educating the community on the issue of gangs will better serve the community in the future.

Training

By Sgt. John Salazar

The Midvale Police Training Department has 2 sergeants working together as part time training coordinators. The rest of their time is spent as a Patrol Sergeant and as a K-9 Sergeant. We have changed the way we record each officer’s training information, the collection and dissemination of training subjects and hours is now computerized.

Police officers are required to maintain a minimum of forty hours of in-service training each year. Our training department not only provides the in-service training but also allows each officer to apply for additional training throughout the year with a wide variety of subject matter. The importance of training is paramount in our modern society. Today, police officers have to be on the cutting edge in regards to investigations, civil liability, electronics, surveillance, and computer software.

This year Midvale Police Department is sending a number of sergeants to a training course in New Mexico. The training deals with incident response to terrorist bombings and is geared towards middle managers. The Department of justice will pay all costs including airfare.

The Department is also looking into sponsoring training from national companies offering a variety of law enforcement subjects, gaining slots for our officers at no charge or at discounted rates.

By. Sgt. John Salazar

Drug Abuse Resistance Education, (D.A.R.E.) is in its eleventh year in Midvale City. Dare Officers teach the DARE program at Midvalley Elementary, Copperview Elementary, East Midvale Elementary and Midvale Elementary schools. There were approximately 400 fifth and sixth grade students who took part in the DARE program this year. DARE Officers teach the students how to avoid situations involving drug abuse and violence.

Our DARE Officers not only teach the children the pitfalls of drug abuse and gang violence, but they interact with the kids and form long term relationships. Our officers attend a DARE instructor’s course and continue with their training throughout the year. We also attend an annual DARE conference, which is attended by DARE Officers from throughout Utah and surrounding states.

This year the DARE Officers are Sergeant John Salazar, who taught at Midvalley Elementary, Officer Scott Nesbitt, who taught at Midvale Elementary, Detective Shalae De Jarnatt, who taught at East Midvale Elementary and Officer Brian Holdaway who taught at Copperview Elementary.

The DARE program is taught one day a week to students in the fifth and sixth grades. There is an additional program geared towards the younger student, it is called Officer Friendly. As DARE teachers, we enjoy positive interaction with the students of all grades in our respective schools. We also swear in the Safety Patrol at our elementary schools. Our DARE student’s will soon enter their middle school years and they will be faced with some tough decisions. We offer the kids alternatives when having to make their choices.

I strongly feel our presence in a learning environment helps the kids gain a better respect for themselves and their surroundings. We help the kids increase their self-esteem by teaching them good decision making skills, how to handle peer pressure and other important life skills. Most of the instruction involves role-playing and skits performed by the students themselves.

Upon completion of the 17 week DARE course, the students attend a graduation ceremony before their parents, family members and younger students. The graduates receive a certificate and a DARE T-shirt provided by the Midvale Police Department. Some of the funds for the DARE program come from drug and cash seizures, which our Narcotic Detectives and Patrol Officers obtain through criminal arrests leading to convictions of illegal drug activity.

Crime Lab

By Lynn Burgon

Automated Fingerprint Identification System (A.F.I.S.) (Cogent): As of the fall of 2002, the system has become a main frame (Stand Alone) for Midvale Police. West Valley City has changed systems. The Cogent system is now contained in the Midvale City Police Department Crime Lab. The Crime Lab will continue to use the system. New Arrests (10 Prints Cards) and latents will be processed for identification. The system continues to be a valuable tool for fingerprint information.

With the implementation of Digital Photography, the storage and preparation of photographs for court has become a valuable part of the prosecution of suspects that have been arrested by officers of this department. The photographs are available to the District Attorney’s Office to aid in the determination if the laws have been broken and if they should be prosecuted.

Budget savings have been realized because of the reduction in use of expensive 35mm film. Expense of commercial processing of the photographs has also been reduced to use of photographs being given on CD’s to those who need to review them. With the savings, more digital cameras are available to officers in the field. This enables better use of photographic evidence.

Located in the new building and having the proper equipment, the Lab is now using more chemical processing for recovery of latent fingerprints on items such as paper, wood, metal, etc. The use of Super Glue (Cyanoacrylate ester), DFO (1,8-Diazafluoren-9-One) and Ninhydrin is now possible. After recovery of the latents it is possible to enhance the images with the use of fluorescing dyes. These enhanced images can then be viewed with the use of the alternate light source. They can then be photographed and used in the A.F.I.S. for fingerprint identification.

CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE PROGRAM

By Heather Roxburgh

The Crime Victim Advocate Program has been providing services to victims of crime in Midvale for over five years now. The program was developed for the purpose of responding to the immediate needs of crime victims. It is the intent of the program that with the support and assistance of a victim advocate, the severity of emotional and psychological trauma a person experiences may be reduced. It is also the hope that victims who work with an advocate and are provided with support and encouragement would be more likely to participate in the criminal justice process to prosecute offenders.

The Midvale Victim Advocate Program has grown tremendously since its inception in September 1997. The program began to enhance the services provided by recruiting Volunteer Victim Advocates and developing a Mobile Crisis Response Team. The mobile team was developed for the purpose of responding directly to the scene of a crime to provide assistance to victims. With the implementation of volunteers into the program, victim services and outreach have increased. The Victim Advocate Program has assisted over 3,000 victims of violent crime. The Mobile Crisis Response Team has proven to be an asset to the program. The victim advocates have responded to numerous calls and assisted many individuals in crisis.

Some of the services provided by advocates include crisis intervention, information and referrals for community resources, information and support regarding the criminal justice process, referrals for local counseling and educational programs, assistance in obtaining Protective Orders, emotional support and assistance, etc.

The following is a list of crimes a victim advocate may respond to in order to assist victims:

· Domestic Violence                             · Rape/Sexual Assaults

In cases where the victim advocate is not called to the scene, officers provide victims with information on how to contact the victim advocate for assistance. The advocate also reviews the police reports taken on a daily basis and attempts to contact every victim to offer assistance.

The Crime Victim Advocate Program has proven to be a great benefit for the police department and community. Having victim advocates available to assist individuals in crisis is extremely important. It allows victims the opportunity to express their feelings and have the support they need to be able to get through the initial stages of crisis and become aware of community resources that are available to help.

The Midvale Victim Assistance Program was developed in September 1997 to provide services to victims of crime. The Victim Assistance Program provides assistance to victims of domestic violence, child abuse physical and sexual, sexual assaults, simple and aggravated assaults, threats, stalking, harassment, etc…

The graph shown above reflects the number of victims assisted by the program over the past three years as per the type of offense committed. The graph clearly shows a growing increase in the number of victims accessing services through the Victim Assistance Program.

The Midvale Victim Assistance Program provides a variety of services to victims of crime. These services include, but are not limited to the following: information and referrals to community resources, crisis counseling, follow-up contact, assistance in obtaining protective orders, assistance and support through the court process, transportation, assistance in obtaining emergency medical care and shelter, etc…

The graph above reflects the number of services provided to crime victims over the past three years. The number of services provided by the Victim Assistance Program has dramatically increased over the past three years.

It is clearly evident that the services provided by the Midvale Victim Assistance Program are critical and are highly utilized by the citizens in the community.

Animal Control Statistics

(January to December)