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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-Annual-Report-2013PADUCAH POLICE 2013 ANNUAL REPORT paducahky.gov Gayle Kaler Mayor Jeff Pederson City Manager Commissioners Richard Abraham Carol Gault Allan Rhodes Sandra Wilson The Paducah Police Department’s 2013 Annual Report is printed with public funds. Cover art by George Johnson, all other photos were taken by other city employees, used with permission, or taken from non- copyrighted materials. Contributors: Brandon Barnhill, Stacey Grimes, Brian Krueger, Shawn Maxie, Robin Newberry, and David White. Edited by: Robin Newberry & David White For ques,ons or comments: Contact Captain David White at dwhite@paducahky.gov INDEX 1 Chief’s Message 2 A New Chief 4 Crime Report 6 Support Services Division 7 Operations Division 8 Our People 10 Traffic Report 12 CPTED 13 Employee of the Year 14 Patrol Rifles 15 Recruiting 16 Office of Professional Standards 18 K-9 19 Awards 20 DARE/ GREAT 21 Evidence Report 22 Special Units 23 Internet Safety 24 Disaster Planning 25 Our Veterans 26 Budget Review / Grants 27 Strategic Plan 28 Exploring 29 CPA / JCPA 30 Don’t Be In-Text-icated 31 Honor Guard Our Mission It is the mission of the Paducah Police Department to enhance the quality of life in the community by working with our partners to fairly enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear, and provide a safe environment for the ci,zens and visitors that we serve. Our Values Professionalism Respect Accountability Integrity Communica,on On behalf of our community, welcome to the Paducah Police Department’s annual report. The men and women of this department are what make this organization one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world, and they are here to serve you. We strive to provide excellent police service each and every day. Whether you are raising a family here or simply visiting, we want your experience to be safe, fun and memorable. Building upon our past successes with community policing, the Paducah Police Department is committed to a geographic-policing philosophy that addresses crime and the fear of crime through a shared relationship between citizens and beat officers in their specific neighborhoods. This is proactively achieved using proven problem-solving methods and partnerships to evaluate the quality of life in our neighborhoods. We invite you to become involved with your department in order to continue forging a strong cooperative partnership that is built upon mutual trust and respect. No police department can solve crime or quality of life issues alone. Effective community/police relationships, communication, and engagement are critical components to our success. Please take the time to learn more about the PPD’s units and services. Take advantage of the many opportunities to communicate with us and learn how we can work together. We look forward to working with you. There are many opportunities for you to partner with us to make Paducah better! Sincerely, Chief Brandon Barnhill Paducah Police Department 1400 Broadway Paducah, KY 42001 Phone: (270) 444-8590 Email: bbarnhill@paducahky.gov A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF Brandon BarnhillBrandon BarnhillBrandon BarnhillBrandon Barnhill paducahky.gov 1 A New Chief ——- 2013 was a year of change for the Paducah Police Department. “Chief” among those changes was a new Chief of Police. In July, after just less than four years as Chief of Police, James Berry announced he was leaving the Paducah Police Department to take the position of Chief of the Kentucky State University Department of Public Safety. City Manager Jeff Pederson said a search for a new chief would be conducted within the ranks of the PPD. Two months later, the Paducah City Commission voted unanimously to promote Assistant Chief of Operations Brandon Barnhill to lead the police department. Chief Barnhill started his career in law enforcement in 1995 as a dispatcher with the Murray, KY, Police Department. A year later, he hit the street as a patrol officer, a position he held until 1998. It was in October that year that Recruit Officer Barnhill was hired by the Paducah Police Department. He served as SWAT Operator, Assistant Team Leader and Team Leader and worked in the Detective Division. In 2002, began a steady climb through the ranks when he was promoted to sergeant. He served at that rank in both the Operations and Criminal Investigations divisions. In 2006, he was promoted to captain, and served in that capacity in both divisions, as well as in Professional Standards. 2 In 2010, Captain Barnhill was promoted again, and became Assistant Chief Barnhill. That year, he also began working as an Adjunct Instructor at West Kentucky Community and Technical College and completed his Master’s degree. Additionally, he was selected by his peers as the Young Leader of the Year for Western Kentucky. Having worked at the Paducah Police Department for 15 years, Chief Barnhill was aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the department. He knew before he moved into the “corner office” many of the challenges that lay ahead. His first concern, he said, was moving the department through the transition into a new administration – “helping provide a sense of stabilization to the department after the internal chief (search) process.” First, he said, he gave the department a few weeks to settle itself. “Given the quality of personnel we have, there was no doubt in my mind they would all handle it in a professional manner,” Chief Barnhill said. “With the processes that were in place under previous administrations and with the knowledge and education that our people have,” it was a very easy transition. “I did very little,” he said, smiling. Chief Barnhill came into office with a set of goals to which he remains committed. First, Chief Barnhill said, the police department must maintain the consistent level of service that it currently provides. He believes that is what the citizens of Paducah have come to expect and what they deserve. PPD also promotes Brian Krueger to Assistant Chief & Brian Laird to Captain 3 Next, he believes strongly that the department must continue to advance its minority recruiting efforts and enhance organizational development to meet the future needs of the department, both internally and externally. “We’ve got to continue to look at reassessing our minority recruiting efforts in an attempt to focus more on our target audience,” he said. That focus may include more college job fairs and more visits to military bases throughout the region. Chief Barnhill intends to enhance the department’s data-driven policing efforts and continue to encourage the department’s officers to be proactive, vigilant and engaged in the community. And finally is a project that Chief Barnhill and several others have been working on for some time: selection of a firm to begin site design and selection for a new joint police/fire headquarters, The current police department headquarters is more than 60 years old and is deteriorating and showing its age. “Our current facilities just do not portray the image we must have,” he said. “It’s not the standard of professionalism we hold ourselves to, and that our community has come to expect from us.” Chief Barnhill said the journey toward a new building was kick- started in 2010, when he attended a facility-planning school in Florida. “Many question our progress, but if you look at nothing other than discussion, we’re certainly closer” to a new facility, he said. The chief likens the process to the old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Such projects take time, effort and money. Six months into his new position, Chief Barnhill is comfortable with the way the department is running. “I think it’s in a great position,” he said. “I think the department is right where it needs to be. My only area of concern about this department is the expected retirements over the next few years – losing the most experienced, highly trained officers” and seeing them replaced by less experienced officers who have not yet had the years of training afforded the retiring officers. “My job during this process is to make sure these transitions are seamless with no compromise to the quality of service provided to our citizens or the safety of our officers,” Chief Barnhill said. In anticipation of those retirements, Chief Barnhill said, the department must continue to move forward in its training efforts and in its mission to keep up with ever-changing technology. “With the daily changes in the technology market, its expansion of what an officer can do in the field without having to come in the office,” he said, “the brand new stuff today will be old and obsolete in just a couple of years. “The next few years are set to be very exciting times of growth internally. I’m looking forward to seeing to what level this department can rise.” With Chief Barnhill’s promotion, there was internal movement in the PPD. Captain Brian Krueger was promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations—filling Barnhill’s old seat. Krueger was promoted to Captain in 2006 and has been employed with the department since November of 1998. He is a 1992 graduate of Lone Oak High School; a former United States Marine Sergeant; and a graduate of Session 236 of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy; and he has a bachelor’s degree from Mid Continent University. Krueger has served in every division of the police department over the course of his career. Sgt. Brian Laird was promoted to Captain. Laird is a 1996 graduate of Massac County High School and he received a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University. He is a graduate of the Criminal Justice Executive Development Course, and has been employed with the PPD since November of 2001. He was promoted to sergeant in 2001, and has spent the majority of his time in service as the supervisor in the General Investigations unit. Brian Krueger Brian Laird CRIME 2013 Keeping our community safe is our number one concern, so we are please to report a 7.6 percent decrease in major offenses in 2013. These numbers include a 12.6 percent decrease in violent offenses (murder, rape, robbery and assault) and a 7.2 percent drop in property crimes. Overall, Paducah had 1,271 major offenses—compared to 1,376 such offenses in 2012. The FBI classifies major crimes as Part 1 Offenses. These Part 1 Offenses are: murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson. Among 2013 totals, we are most pleased with the decrease in robberies. If you read our 2012 Annual Report, you may remember we reported a 46 percent increase from 2011 to 2012. We are glad the number dropped this year to seven percent lower than it was in 2011—and much more consistent with previous years. The department also employed strategies to combat theft (larceny) at some of our area retail stores. Since 40 percent of our reported larcenies involved shoplifting, we partnered with a couple of our large local retailers to try to reduce these activities. While the results aren’t earth- shattering, we did see an 8.6 percent drop in offenses. The FBI uses the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) to track crime in the United States. While they stay about a year behind in publishing their results, we can compare the FBI 2012 report to our 2013 numbers to give our community some idea of how we fare. The FBI calculates their number as a rate per 100,000 citizens, so a mathematical multiplier has to be used when looking at local numbers. Locally, our violent crime rate is below the national average, at 332 per 100,000, compared to 386.9 offenses nationally.1 Among violent crimes, only our number of forcible rapes was higher than the national average, and though we had one less offense than the previous year, this remains a serious concern. While our property crime rate is much higher than the national average, all of the property crime categories are below national averages with the exception of larceny. To be exact, our larceny rate is twice the national average, and as discussed, most of these involve shoplifting. In 2013, there were 402 shopliftings reported. That is 31 percent of all major offenses. In all likelihood, the rate of shoplifting in Paducah is no different than any other place in America. However, these numbers are driven by how aggressively retail stores detect and report the problem to police. Private industry knows they lose some of their product to theft, in what they commonly call “shrink.” It is estimated that retailers world-wide lose about $51 billion a year from shoplifting, which is roughly 1.5 percent of retail sales.2 While we would like to help local retailers slow theft, it is ultimately something they must deal with internally. PART I CRIMES 2013 2012 MURDER: 0 2 RAPE: 11 12 ROBBERY: 26 41 ASSAULT: 46 40 BURGLARY: 136 139 LARCENY: 994 1088 AUTO THEFT: 54 48 ARSON: 4 6 1. See FBI UCR 2012 at: h8p://www.:i.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr-publica,ons#Crime 2. Center for Retail Research: h8p://www.retailresearch.org/grtb_currentsurvey.php 4 Robberies DOWN 32 % Major Crimes DOWN 7.6 % Violent Crimes DOWN 12.6 % 0 NO Murders Assaults UP 15 % (6 offenses) Larceny DOWN 8.6 % 5 Burglary & Arson changed < 4 actual crimes each. Auto Theft UP 12 % Part II Offenses In addition to “major offenses” the FBI classifies other crimes as Part II Offenses. These offenses include: Simple assaults, forgery, fraud, criminal mischief, sex offenses (other than rape), drug violations, offenses against families and children, and a variety of other quality of life crimes, like public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. These offenses remain fairly stable from year to year. In 2013, we reported 2,781 Part II Offenses; which represented a 0.7 percent decrease from 2012. Overall, the past four-year average is 2,768 offenses. Intelligence-led Policing One major trend in law enforcement is the use of Map-GIS and other technologies to help map and give real-time data analysis to crime problems. For several years the PPD has utilized a monthly analysis of crime to provide officers and supervisors a better idea of where and when crime is occurring. The goal of intelligence-led policing is to capitalize on these emerging technologies in a way that helps us better direct resources in more efficient ways. If our efforts are data-driven, it allows our resources to be directed in more effective and proactive ways. Arrests Of the 51,774 calls for service dispatched (including officer-initiated calls), 2,670 resulted in an adult arrest. There were a total of 4,434 total criminal charges associated with those arrests, and an additional 198 juveniles were charged with a total of 263 offenses. Of the 198 juveniles charged, only 59 were taken into custody; all others were released to a parent. These numbers represent a six percent increase in adult arrests over the previous year, and a 23 percent drop in the number of juveniles charged. The PPD served a total of 1,185 warrants, with a total of 1,565 charges in 2013, a 10 percent increase over 2012. There were 193 criminal summonses served, down from 220 in 2012. Mentally Ill Custody The law allows law enforcement to intervene and take mentally ill people into custody when they represent a danger to themselves or others and they are unwilling to take that step on their own. In 2013, the PPD took 53 people into emergency custody, compared to 34 in 2012 and 51 in 2011. PART II CRIMES SIMPLE ASSAULTS: FORGERY: FRAUD: CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: SEX OFFENSES: (Other than rape) DRUG VIOLATIONS: OFFENSES AGAINST : FAMILY & CHILDREN ALL OTHERS: TOTAL: 554 567 70 67 189 204 340 353 36 32 939 672 69 90 584 817 2781 2802 2013 2012 6 Support Services The Support Services Division is comprised three special- ized units, consisting of the Drug and Vice Enforcement, General Investigations, and Records and Evidence. I was assisted in commanding the division by Captain Brian Krueger in 2013. The Drug and Vice Enforcement Unit, known as DAVE, was supervised by Sgt. Will Gilbert in 2013. The unit had a successful year, initiating 153 illicit drug trafficking cases with a clearance rate of 92%. In addition, our DAVE detectives have secondary duties as SWAT operators, bomb technicians, firearms and defensive tactics instructors and polygraph operators. One DAVE detective is assigned as a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. DAVE also began to place an emphasis on the epidemic associated with illegal prescription medication. In early 2013, Det. John Tolliver was assigned to DAVE with one primary assignment: to investigate prescription cases and build relationships with pharmacies, physicians and other medical professionals. Det. Tolliver proved the need for special attention by opening 123 prescription drug cases and making 32 arrests. The majority of the arrests were for what is commonly known as “doctor shopping.” Additionally, 217 pounds of prescription medication was destroyed from our drug drop box in the lobby of the police department. Through database investigation and partnerships with the medical community, we have had a successful beginning in our fight to eliminate prescription drug abuse. The General Investigations Unit, GIU, is responsible for investigating complex and violent crime, freeing up the uniformed officers as much as possible to respond to the community’s calls for service. GIU was supervised by Sgt. Brian Laird in 2013 and also had a successful year in relation to clearance rates. 247 cases were assigned to GIU detectives with a 78% clearance rate. GIU detectives also have secondary duties such as crisis negotiators, bomb technicians, firearms instruction and SWAT members. Our agency continues to be a regional forerunner in the area of digital forensics investigation as a Regional Computer Forensics Lab. Det. Justin Crowell spends much of his time daily keeping up with the increasing workload associated with retrieving digital evidence from phones, computers and other media devices. In 2013, he completed 235 examinations related to cases from drug trafficking to homicide. To prepare for future needs, we also partnered with the United States Secret Service and sent Officer Justin Hodges to specialized digital forensics training in Hoover, AL. In addition to the free training, our department received specialized equipment and software to aid in our investigations. The Records and Evidence Unit‘s primary responsibility is the safe keeping of our reports and seized evidence, and maintaining the chain of custody. The unit is supervised by Manager Tracy Lynch. In 2013, the Records and Evidence Unit took in 3,033 items of evidence while eliminating 3,113 items through court-ordered release or destruction. The unit maintains more than 12,000 items of evidential value and two full audits were conducted in 2013. All evidence was accounted for with only a few clerical data entry errors. Our records clerks stay busy assisting the public in our lobby, making copies of reports and videos, fingerprinting, and collecting fines from parking citations and false alarm violations. We were pleased to promote Amy Travis to Evidence Technician II and welcomed Amanda Kinser to our team as the Evidence Technician I. Assistant Chief Stacey Grimes 7 OPERATIONS DIVISION Assistant Chief Brian Krueger 2013 marked another successful year for our agency. Our accomplishments unquestionably highlight the dedicated personnel who make it happen. Operations Division personnel within the Paducah Police Department represent the iconic American ideal of what police officers are and do. They are the uniformed front line of defense in our neighborhoods against crime and the fear of crime. They perform a plethora of activities and tasks, usually mundane, sometimes frightening, and often underappreciated. They are regular men and women who do amazing things in rapidly developing and unfolding environments. Yet, they continue to do a superb job on a regular basis. One may ask, what is required in order to accomplish these things? In short terms, qualified personnel, top quality training, and effective equipment provide an excellent foundation for success. Couple these things with an operational philosophy that involves the community and a focus on the departmental values of Professionalism, Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Communication, and we feel we will continue to be successful going forward. The Operations Division comprises the largest portion of the police department’s work force. At the conclusion of 2013, a total of 56 employees provided 24/7 uniformed police services to residents and visitors to the City of Paducah. They were involved in 51,774 calls for service (including officer-initiated calls). This is an increase of 6,486 calls for service as compared to the previous year. These numbers obviously equate to a lot of contact and interaction with the public. I believe the relatively low numbers of complaints for the year clearly illustrates we provide professional police services. In addition to the “traditional” patrol assignments performed by Operations Division personnel, several specialized units, activities, roles and responsibilities are assumed, including: Citizens Police Academy, K-9 Unit, Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Bomb Squad, Traffic Enforcement Unit, FLEX Unit, Accident Reconstruction Team, Bike Patrol, Volunteers in Police Serves (VIPS), Ride-a-long program, Police Explorers, D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education), G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) and the Junior CPA. While pro-active policing is an integral part of our overarching operational philosophy, two of these units are meant to be strictly pro-active in nature. There have been many stories and a lot of attention over the last year on one of these: The Traffic Enforcement Unit, or TEU. I have heard both positive and negative comments associated with the TEU’s activities. While some clarification has been provided in the past, I thought it prudent to provide more within this article. The principle focus and mission of the unit is based on education, awareness and enforcement. It was created to tackle problem areas within the city which had high incidents of traffic collisions, especially involving injury. The first 3-months of TEU’s existence in 2012 realized positive results. These positive results continued into 2013. The FLEX Unit is another, somewhat less talked about, part of the pro-active policing equation. Members of this unit focus on criminal interdiction, hot-spot policing, and assisting with various other departmental requirements and events involving large numbers of the public. It is not uncommon to see members of the FLEX Unit working one of these public engagements for a few hours, and then hearing them secure a drug related arrest before the end of their day. Due to the fact that they are not permanently assigned to a particular shift it is easy to use them as “problem areas” pop up on our statistical radar. They are flexible in many regards and are quite effective as a force multiplier. As we move forward into the future, we will continue to emphasize pro-active policing while focusing on Crime Prevention as one of our top priorities. We can be successful in this area but only if we are able to recruit and hire those individuals that will meet our standards and expectations, provide them with top quality training, and equip them with the best gear and technology we can provide. However, we must also ensure that our officers understand the importance and significance of connecting with the people of our community, regardless of whether they are permanent residents or transient workers. This will be emphasized by exploring strategies focused on building new relationships and improving communication. More importantly, we must remain focused on the fact that how we conduct ourselves determines not only the image and integrity of our agency but also who we each are as individuals. In a 2013 survey of Paducah’s citizens, 40 percent of the people polled said they had contact with an employee of the Paducah Police Department during the previous 12 months. Of those people, 83 percent reported an overall impression that was fair, good or excellent. Mutual respect and empathy in any environ- ment supports positive relationship building, which in turn supports shared sense of responsibility. In the words of noted author and expert on leadership, John W. Gardner, “Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are.” Year book Year book Traffic Report Traffic enforcement and the investigation of traffic collisions is a serious part of everyday police work. In 2013, the Paducah Police Department investigated 1,594 collisions and issued 9,781 traffic citations, resulting in a total of 13,267 traffic offenses charged. While the total number of crashes increased last year by 1.3 per- cent, 264 of those crashes occurred on parking lots. There were 1,330 crashes on the roadway in 2013, compared to 1,343 in 2012. A nominal decrease, but a decrease all the same. Happily, injury crashes and total injuries were down 19 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Statewide, Kentucky State Police (KSP/KYOps) records show a 2.1 percent decrease in total collisions and a 5.9 percent decrease in the number of injury collisions.1 Also, according to KSP, there was a 14 percent drop in the number of fatal collisions— 638 state-wide in 2013.2 One additional encouraging fact gleaned from KSP’s reports—available at kentuckystatepolice.org— is the number of deaths related to not wearing a seatbelt is in decline. In 2009, 54 percent of motor vehicle deaths were reported as “not wearing a seatbelt,” compared to only 49 percent in 2013. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published their “Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Half (Jan-Jun) of 2013” report. NHTSA showed about a 4.2 percent decrease over the first half of 2013, which is fairly consistent with the overall number reported in Kentucky.3 The PPD is in the process of taking a more in-depth look at our traffic crash statistics. While the numbers seem simple enough, there are a lot of variables to consider in traffic collision data, and the different variables make it difficult to determine the success of some of our reduction efforts, such as targeted enforcement, like our Traffic Enforcement Unit—a three-officer team that focuses enforcement in our high-risk areas. To conduct this analysis, we have partnered with Dr. Daniel Hepworth, PhD, at Murray State University (and PPD Citizens’ Police Academy graduate). Academics, like Hepworth, are trained in more complex statistical assessments, and we are proud to partner with Murray State University. We know collisions are costly; not only to the individuals and families affected by injury or death, but to the community as a whole. While we want to utilize our resources in the most effective ways, we feel the close enforcement of traffic laws helps develop a healthy local culture of driver accountability, which helps ensure safe driving conditions and improved traffic flow. We are proud of the significant reductions in injuries this past year, and we hope our community recognizes our sincere effort to reduce the number of crashes in our area. TRAFFIC COLLISIONS Total Crashes: Injury Crashes: Total Injuries: Fatal Crashes: Total Fatalities: 2013 2012 1594 1573 277 343 468 523 4 5 4 7 10 Enforcement In 2013, we wrote 9,871 traffic citations—an average of 26 per day. Contrary to some people’s belief, we do not collect the revenue generated by traffic citations. Our budget comes from City payroll taxes and property taxes paid through City government. Our goal, as we have already said, it to encourage better driver accountability. Take for instance, the Hinkleville Road-Kentucky Oaks Mall corridor. We hope citizens have recognized our strong presence there this past year, and we also hope you recognize the chronic red light running (especially on the turn lanes at James Sanders & New Holt Road intersections) has been reduced. For several years now, our primary focus has been on seatbelt compliance. Law enforcement across the Commonwealth has worked to enforce the State’s seatbelt law in an effort to reduce the number of injuries and deaths. Locally, we wrote 3,875 seatbelt tickets, and we show significant decreases in the number of injury crashes. We now estimate local seatbelt compliance to be above 80 percent, which is consistent with estimates from state and national data sets. Furthermore, nation-wide seatbelt use has gone from about 58 percent in 1994 to 86 percent in 2012.4 As these numbers have improved, traffic deaths have fallen roughly 18 percent.5 Speeding was the second highest category of citations issued, accounting for 2,168. There were 759 citations for disregarding a traffic control device; 466 citations for owners failing to maintain insurance coverage, and another 1,379 for drivers who could not show proof of valid insurance. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol charges fell four percent from the previous year, accounting for 340 incidents. Officer Ryan Burrow (left) received the Governor’s DUI enforcement award for having the high- est number of DUI arrests among similar -sized agencies, with 44 of the PPD’s 340 arrests. We congratulate him for receiving this distinction. Education Outside of the law enforcement community, there is no real champion of public awareness and education related to traffic safety. State-funded traffic safety grants and the help of some local sponsors make possible the Paducah Police Department’s efforts to educate drivers about the dangers of the road—especially young drivers. In the spring of 2013, during the height of prom season, we helped host a “Ghost Out” program at Paducah Tilghman High School. The program focuses on the dangers of drinking and driving, and though the impact may only be short-lived, it is strategically staged to have a maximum effect during the prom-to-graduation time frame, when teenage drinking and driving may otherwise increase. Members of the PPD hosted a Don’t Be In-text-icated program at McCracken County High School (the program is featured on page 30). In addition to their regular program, officers laid out an obstacle course for students to see first- hand how texting impacted their ability to negotiate a course using a golf cart. The PPD hopes to receive external funding in 2014 for the Don’t Be In-text-icated program, which will allow them to promote it regionally. While stepping outside the normal jurisdictional bounds is not routine in policing, teen drivers from around the area flock to Paducah daily and impact driving conditions in and around the city. The PPD maintains a traffic trailer, which shows a vehicle’s speed as it passes. This trailer is used in targeted enforcement areas with the hope of drawing drivers’ attention to the proper speed limit and encouraging better driving habits. In December of 2013, with the cooperation of West Kentucky Crime Stoppers and the sponsorship of Chip Wynn Motors, di Fratelli Ristorante, Dillard’s and Paducah Bank, we were able to print 20,000 flyers and distribute them to holiday shoppers. The flyers included tips on how to reduce your chances of being in a traffic collision, as well as safety tips while shopping. Captain Don Hodgson, who coordinates most of the driver education efforts, has been asked to speak at a traffic safety conference in July 2014. The conference will take place at the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM). IPTM is a world-leader in traffic safety and education for law enforcement, based at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. He will be giving a presentation on the Don’t Be In-text-icated program. For more information on traffic safety programs, contact Captain Hodgson at dhodgson@paducahky.gov. 1. Kentucky State Police– KYOPs web portal allows reports to be produced on command. 2. KSP, Retrieved from: kentuckystatepolice.org 3. NHTSA (2013). “Early Es,mate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatali,es for the First Half (Jan-Jun) of 2013” retrieved from: h8p://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811845.pdf 4. NHTSA (Nov 2012). “Seat Belt Use in 2012—Overall Results” retrieved from: h8p://www- nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811691.pdf 5. NHTSA (2013) FARS Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: h8p://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/ index.aspx 11 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED) is a strategy of crime control that has been around for a while. According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), it includes “strategies implemented to directly modify the environment to take advantage of pre-existing environmen- tal assets or change the design features and condition of particular targets (e.g., store fronts, parking garages, or abandoned buildings) or areas in an effort to reduce crime.”1 Some features used by architects may go hardly noticed by the everyday passerby. For example, the small metal brackets on the bench (pictured above) at WKCTC’s Emerging Technology Building have been strategically placed there to prevent skateboarders from grinding their skateboards against the structure. While this is an example of target hardening CPTED on a commercial/public use area, all of the CPTED concepts can be applied to homes, private businesses, churches, and other buildings where citizens may have some influence in how the properties are designed or maintained. According to the BJA, CPTED includes the following key areas: Territorial: Boundary controls such as fencing and sign- age can be used to keep people away, or even to force them to come and go through certain access control points. Activity Support: Sometimes it’s good to have atten- tion brought to a particular area. Encouraging others to use the space regularly creates natural surveillance. Actively used spaces are often safer than those that get less traffic. For example, many of us have been on a busy city street, turned one block off of the “main drag” and felt like we were all at once alone. It can be a scary feeling. While we all enjoy a certain amount of solidarity around our homes, having good neighbors who watch out for one another is not a bad thing. The academic research consist- ently shows that, on a neighborhood level, where citizens know one another, they are willing to watch out for one another, and they feel comfortable reporting and responding to potential problems, crime is lower. The technical term is neighborhood efficacy or collective efficacy. 1. BJA retrieved on 3/5/14: h8ps://www.bja.gov/evalua,on/program-crime-preven,on/cpted1.htm Access Control: Access control concepts can be used to control pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow. We sometimes get complaints from business owners who have parking lots where people like to cut through or cut across to avoid more congested traffic else- where. These owners occasionally want us to come out and stop the behavior, when a more effective method is simply to create a natural barrier, such as a gate, speed bumps, or something else that deters non-customers from misusing the property. These concepts apply to the inside of businesses too. Most work environments have controlled access to some portion of the business, but the level of security may depend on the type of business. Owners need to think about how they want people to move through the building space, and how they communicate and restrict certain areas either for general safety or to prevent theft. Surveillance: Visible surveillance systems in retail stores and elsewhere prevent crime and let would-be law breakers know they are being watched. If crime does occur, surveillance video can be used to identify and help track down the suspect. The placement of these systems should be intentional and companies who install the systems will guide you. Maintenance: Probably one of the easiest things you can do around your own home is to keep your landscaping groomed. Overgrown shrubs and trees can obscure the street view to your windows and doors, and if you aren’t home, it creates an easy way for burglars to break in. By keeping everything trimmed back, the police and — more importantly — your neighbors can keep a good eye on your residence. Target Hardening: Target hardening is a concept that encompasses everything from locks on your doors, to lighting and alarm systems, to the use of environmental and design features, like the one pictured above. Sometimes it involves the use of particular landscape features. The PPD currently has two officers who are training to do CPTED assessments for your home, business, or church. This service is free, as we are attempting to reduce crime and help you reduce your risk of being victimized. If you are interested in learning more, or having an on-site assessment, contact Officer Shawn Craven at scraven@paducahky.gov. 12 Employee of the Year — 2013 Det. Matt Wentworth Each year, the Chief of Police accepts nominations for Employee of the Year. The distinction is one of great honor at the PPD, as several people are usually nominated each year for very worthy efforts. The 2013 recipient is Det. Matthew Wentworth. Wentworth cur- rently serves in the PPD’s Drug and Vice Enforcement (DAVE) Unit, where he is assigned to a federal drug taskforce. It’s noteworthy to mention that Wentworth is a second genera- tion PPD officer — his father Robert Wentworth, retired as a sergeant in 1990. Wentworth has also had the privilege of work- ing hand-in-hand with his brother, Mike (pictured below), who retired from the PPD in early 2014. In Assistant Chief Brian Krueger’s nomination of Wentworth he states: “Wentworth unselfishly led and coordinated several com- plex investigations involving numerous violent career criminals with lengthy criminal records.” Krueger goes on to report Went- worth worked tirelessly with other members of our drug unit, members of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and fed- eral prosecutors to help bring down several high-level drug deal- ers and one criminal who was selling assault weapons illegally to convicted felons and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Wentworth’s investigation led to eight arrests, and the seizing of multiple items of evidence, including nearly 200 illegal firearms. According to Krueger, Wentworth’s “attention to the details in- sures he is able to successfully investigate, and ultimately hold responsible, individuals who focus on supplying illegal narcotics and firearms to the streets of Paducah, and the region.” Mike Wentworth, Re,red February of 2014 Although this is our 2013 Annual Report, it seems fitting to announce the retirement of our Employee of the Year Matt Wentworth’s brother, Mike Wentworth. Mike faithfully served the Paducah- McCracken County area for 20-year, starting as a Deputy for the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office before joining the ranks of the PPD in November of 2001. At the PPD, he served both in Patrol/ Operations and as a detective. He too is known for being a man of great character and we were all glad to have had the opportunity to work with him all these years. We wish Mike well in retirement. Krueger added, “His reputation of being fair, honest and of irreproachable character precedes him wherever he goes.” For the reasons stated, Wentworth was rightfully chosen as our 2013 Employee of the Year, and we admire all he does for our organization and the community we serve. “It’s important to recognize our employees’ efforts, and Det. Matt Wentworth exemplifies those things we want in our officers,” said Chief Brandon Barnhill. “He is a person of great character; patient, honest and fair-dealing with all; and he has a passion for policing.” Our award ceremony is held each spring at the Emerging Technology Building on the WKCTC campus. It is open to the public and we encourage citizens to attend. To read the entire nomination, and those of past award nom- inees and recipients, check out our website at paducahky.gov. UNIT 249 13 WHY? Heath High School ● Columbine ● Sandy Hook ● Aurora, CO Movie Theater ● North Hollywood Bank shoot-out ● Westside Middle School ● Stamps High School ● Parker Middle School ● Accent Signage Systems ● Sikh Temple, Oak Creek, WI ● Clackamas Town Center ● Cafe Racer Espresso ● IHOP Carson City, NV ● Gabby Giffords ● HarRord Beer Distributor ● Jiverly Wong ● Pinelake Health and Rehab ● Steven Kazmierczak ● City Hall in Kirkwood ● Robert Hawkins ● Virginia Tech ● Sulejman Talovic ● Charles Carl Roberts ● Kyle Aaron Huff ● Red Lake Senior High School ● Terry Michael Ratzmann ● Lockheed Plant– Meridian, MS ● Edgewater Technology ● Larry Gene Ashbrook ● Mark Orrin Barton ● University of Iowa Shoo,ng ● Stockton Schoolyard Shoo,ng ● Thurston High School ● Oikos University Shoo,ng ● 49th Street Elementary School ● Appalachian School of Law ● Arapahoe High School ● Bard College at Simon’s Rock ● Evan E. Ramsey ● Blackville-Hilda High School ● Campbell County High School ● Case Western Reserve University ● Central High School, Knoxville, TN ● Chardon High School ● Deer Creek Middle School 2010 ● East Carter High School ● Fron,er Middle School ● John McDonogh High School ● Parker Middle School Dance ● Pearl High School ● Pla8e Canyon High School ● John Jason McLaughlin ● San Diego State University shoo,ng ● Santana High School ● Richland High School ● University of Alabama in Huntsville shoo,ng ● University of Central Arkansas 2008 ● Wickliffe Search any of these incidents Patrol officers armed with rifles? These tragedies, which have steadily increased over the past 20 years, illustrate the level of concern law enforcement has for responding to what are sometimes called “active shooter” situations. These deadly encounters always erupt quickly—too quickly for patrol officers to sit back and wait on a SWAT team—and they often end with either the suspect killing them- selves or a police-suspect gunfight. While some people are concerned about the very militaristic look of weapons systems such as the AR-15 style rifle pictured above, the reality is these weapons systems are extremely accurate and highly efficient. They are designed for use under stress and for combative encounters. The truth is, the police officers’ handgun, universally accepted as a law enforcement tool since the mid-19th century, is not that accurate at distances of more than about 50 feet (especially under high stress conditions). One thing you will notice from the listed incidents is that many of them involved schools, workplaces, and other open settings where officers would have been forced to take shots at distances much farther than 50 feet. The PPD has taken significant steps in the past few years to arm officers with patrol rifles and to help ensure we are pre- pared for the worst of incidents. We have developed new policies; adapted a three-day rifleman’s qualification course, which is followed by an eight-hour annual update; we require a minimum of two firearms qualifications each year; we put all patrol officers through an active-shooter response training course; and we have developed specific action plans related to our local schools. The world is changing, and while it may or may not be more dangerous, the nature of violence certainly seems as though it is more extreme. We know, and December 1, 1997, reminds us, our citizens expect us to be ready to respond to these incidents. While we hope we never have to deal with one of these situations, we stand trained, equipped, and ready. 14 RECRUITING The Paducah Police Department usually runs at least one hiring process each year. We encourage those interested in applying to carefully review the qualifications and disqualifiers on our website at paducahky.gov. However, here are the basics: You must be a U.S. Citizen and 21 years of age You must have at least one of the following: 60 College Credit Hours 2 Years of full-time military service At least one year of sworn law enforcement (working for a local or state policing agency). Be a person of good character The hiring process is not easy. We know our community expects us to hire the best, and so the process is rigorous. We follow most of the essential steps other professional law enforcement agencies use and we work hard to find candidates who not only have a passion for policing, but for community service. The hiring process starts with a physical fitness test. In 2013, we had 55 people show up to test for four positions. This test is a state-wide standard, given to us by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. It is sometimes referred to as the “POPS test,” which stands for Police Officer Professional Standards. For specifics on the POPS test, check out the KLEC link on the left column of DOCJT’s website at: docjt.ky.gov. Candidates who successfully pass the POPS physical test move on to a written test, offered the same day. The written test is a general aptitude test, and requires little to no specific police knowledge. We do however, require candidates to make at least a 70 percent in all substantive areas. Once candidates pass the physical and written tests, they are offered an interview before an interview panel. The panel usually consists of three members of the police department (usually of different ranks), and one member at-large from the community who has a background in policing/public safety. This interview is scored, and those making a minimum 40 out of 50 are placed in an eligibility pool, from which hiring decisions are made. The Chief of Police will usually review several of the top candidates, and decide which ones will move on through the process. The Chief then orders polygraph examinations. The polygraph (lie detector test) is an important tool. It is used to gauge someone’s truthfulness, and it is a preliminary step in the background investigation. Those found unfit for employment are excluded, while those who pass the polygraph phase move on to a full background investigation. Each background investigation is assigned to a specially trained background investigator. We currently have several detectives who are trained in background investigations, and each investigation takes about 40 hours. Candidates who pass the background are given a conditional offer of employment, which allows us to conduct medical and psychological screening. Those candidates who successfully pass all aspects of the testing are recommended to the City Commission, which has the final vote on hiring. There currently are nine officers who help with recruiting, and the PPD will gladly send one or more of them to your school or civic group (regardless of the age group), to discuss what it means to be a Paducah police officer. Each year we attend many career fairs in our region, and even if we are not actively hiring we are always glad to discuss our department with anyone interested in policing. One of the issues addressed by our Minority Recruitment Committee in 2012 was the need for officers to be more involved in the lives of young people—finding positive ways to connect, mentor, and develop young people’s interest at an earlier age—especially minorities. Since hearing this call, we have started a Junior Citizens’ Police Academy and brought back our Law Enforcement Explorer Program. However, we are open to new and creative ways of connecting with young people. If you have a group you would like an officer to speak to, or an idea of how might better connect, let us know by emailing Captain David White at dwhite@paducahky.gov. 15 WHAT ISWHAT ISWHAT ISWHAT IS of Professional Standards? 16 PPPP olice officers have perhaps one of the most important jobs in our society, and it is not one that is taken lightly. Citizens have high expectations, and rightfully they should expect the best. Paducah police officers know our community expects us to be accountable for our actions, and the Office of Professional Standards helps make sure we live up to the community’s expectations. Specifically, we help manage the recruitment and hiring of new officers; we ensure officers maintain all the necessary training and certifications; we review and assist with the development of policies; we maintain accreditation standards through the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, and we conduct internal affairs investigations on internal and external complaints. Professionalism is a term that gets used so often, people may take for granted what it means. If you look to a dictionary definition you’ll find the use of words like “skills,” “competence,” “conduct” and behavior expected from a professional. The Paducah Police Department takes many steps to ensure we provide professional law enforcement services, but professionalism in an organization can be linked to four important components: Training, supervision, policy & procedure, and the informal organizational culture. Training— In 2013, we dedicated close to 7,000 man-hours to in-house training and our officers each attended their 40-hour state peace officer certifications courses in a variety of different disciplines and areas. The Office Paducah plays host to many Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) courses and others are offered throughout west- ern Kentucky. However, other, more specialized, training in some of the more complex areas requires officers to travel to places like the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) at the University of North Florida. IPTM is world-renowned in law enforcement training. Command staff officers attend training classes that include courses hosted by the FBI. Others take courses offered by FLETC, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Supervision—The component of supervision, particularly front-line supervision, is critical to the professionalism of a police department. Police officers have to handle some of the most dangerous and complex situations society has to offer, and this requires close, competent supervision. Our department maintains about a seven-to- one officer-to-front-line-supervisor ratio. New supervisors are competitively selected and receive formal leadership training within 12 months of their appointments. Policy & Procedures—The Office of Professional Standards assists the Chief and other command staff officers with the development of policies and procedures. While it seems like a simple task, policies and procedures are constantly shifting. They should always represent the best practices in the profession, and so they are influenced by new court decisions, evolving tactical knowledge, and the general social expectations of the community. Overall culture—Finally, the department’s overall internal culture is important. Private sector companies invest a great deal of time trying to develop and foster a positive atmosphere for employees because they know a positive organizational culture produces more productive employees. It also produces less of a gap between who you say you are and who you really are as an organization. Police officers sometimes don’t get the same level of attention that private sector employees get in this regard, so we have to creatively find ways to help encourage officers to stay positive, even though much of their job involves dealing with life’s negative situations. As such, Chief Barnhill brought in Dr. Jack Enter, PhD. Enter, who spoke to a large gathering of our officers at WKCTC this past December, is a well-known lecturer on the importance of personal accountability in organizational culture. He has given presentations around the globe to groups like the FBI, Scotland Yard, and others. In policing, the number of officer injuries/accident, incidents of use of force, and number of complaints are measures of a healthy culture. In 2013, we are pleased to see record low number of Uses of Force, as well as a reduced number of complaints over the previous year. It is our sincere desire to bring all of the necessary elements of professionalism, and to be the most professional police department in the Common- wealth. We understand the importance of working with our community and remaining transparent in what we do. Hopefully, public confidence will be high as a result of our efforts. In 2013, we are happy to report we had only one formal, external complaint report. “Formal complaints” are those in which the complaining party comes forward and produces a written/ notarized statement of their complaint. Contrary to what some people may think, supervisors tend to catch and correct more policy violations than the public. In 2013, we had 16 internally produced complaints (10 less than in 2012), which required formal officer counseling or a written reprimand. Six of the 16 internal disciplinary actions were the result of at-fault collisions, though no one suffered any significant injuries in any of these crashes. While we hoped to report no at-fault collisions to the community, the PPD drives more than a half- million miles a year, under the pressures of responding to emergency calls, and in all weather conditions, so it is not surprising that our officers occasionally are involved in collisions. In general, complaints are received by any supervi- sor, and all complaints are investigated thoroughly. If you have a complaint with one of our offices, feel free to contact the Office of Professional Standards at (270) 444-8534. USE OF FORCE Response to Resistance 1 . 2% of all arrests involved force The Paducah Police Department requires a Response to Resistance report be completed any,me an officer uses force beyond rou,ne handcuffing techniques. These incidents, while uncommon, require a report from each officer involved. We report the number of actual incidents, as well as total number of reports. We are happy to report a 10 percent decrease in the use of force over the previous year. Overall, force—above normal handcuffing techniques—was used in only 1.2 percent of all arrests in 2013. We have excluded reports where officers used a firearm to humanely euthanize crically injured animals. TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS: 33 TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTS: 47 Incidents by: FORCE TYPE BY RACE White Black All other Races SoV Empty-hand: 13 13 0 (Superior Strength) Hard Empty-hand: 1 0 0 OC Spray: 1 0 0 Taser (ECD): 3 1 0 Impact Baton: 1 0 0 K-9 / Dog Bite: 1 1 Firearm (pointed): 3 0 0 Firearm Discharged: 0 0 0 Suspect was injured: 11 Officer was injured: 10 Medical Treatment Required: 9 Suspect was intoxicated: 17 Suspect was: Male: 27 Female: 6 Juvenile: 4 17 Nov. 6, 2013 — After night shift Officer Nick Francescon spotted a stolen mini-van on Paducah’s Southside, he tried to conduct a traffic stop. The suspect refused to stop and led police on a short pursuit before the supervisor called for officers to back off. Sometime later, Officer Austin Guill was patrolling the Lower- town area, when his patrol car was struck by the stolen vehicle at the intersection of North 7th and Madison streets. The driver, later identified as Terry Murray, is believed to have run a stop sign at a high rate of speed, striking Guill’s patrol car in its passenger side. Murray fled the scene prior to other officers arriving and though there were witnesses who heard the crash and saw a man flee in the darkness, there was no clear identification made. Sgt. Kevin Neal quickly called for Officer Shawn Craven and his K-9 partner, Huub. Huub tracked from the scene to a dumpster a couple of blocks away, where officers found Murray hiding. The K-9 also found a bag near the dumpster, which contained Murray’s identification and several other items. Murray, who was wanted on an arrest warrant from California, was taken to the police station. At the station, detectives discovered Murray had broken glass in his hair, and several bruises and other injuries consistent with wearing a seatbelt in a serious crash. According to Chief Brandon Barnhill, “If it had not been for the K-9 this case may have gone cold. The K-9’s successful track and discovery of Murray hiding in that dumpster not only helped us identify him as a suspect, it helped us collect significant evidence which would have otherwise been lost.” Guill, who was seriously injured in the crash, has been recovering, but remains off work. Murray was charged with several felony counts and is awaiting trial. K-9 team finds suspect The Paducah Police Department operates three K-9 teams, which allows us to have a K-9 on each of the three patrol shifts. The assignment is not an easy one. The officer has to complete an extended training course with the dog, and he is responsible at all times for the dog’s well-being and care. The dog lives with the handler, and they train together weekly when they are not working the street. They are a vital resource and our dogs are all trained as multi- purpose service dogs—meaning they can be used to run tracks, like in Guill’s case, they can be used in apprehension, and drug detection. In 2013, the K-9 teams aided in 399 narcotics searches, 16 area/ article searches, 12 building searches, and 147 apprehensions (that’s people/property & drugs). These efforts yielded the sei- zures of: 104.8 ounces of Marijuana; 143.3 grams of Meth; 71.9 grams of Crack Cocaine; and, they aided in the forfeitures of two vehicles and $46,550 in cash related to drug trafficking. The K-9 teams are glad to conduct community-based programs for schools, churches, and other civic groups. In 2013, they conducted 21 demonstrations, showing off their skills in front of nearly 1,000 people. Officer Guill’s cruiser on November 6, 2013 The PPD is in the process of helping organize a private, 501c3, non-profit foundation fund. This Foundation Fund would provide a way for citizens, businesses, and charitable trusts to give money to specific police operations, which may other- wise go unfunded through the normal budget processes. For example, the addition of a new K-9 team, D.A.R.E. or other educational efforts are areas that could benefit from a 501c3. The Foundation will be managed by a board of directors, outside of the police department. For more information on the Foundation Fund, check out our website at: www.paducahky.gov/ PPD Seeks to help establish a private Foundation fund 18 The PPD Celebrates Retirements The PPD had two retirements in 2013, Officer Brent Obermark, and Officer Michael Simak. Both men served in the Army before joining the ranks of the PPD in 1995. Both spent their careers in Patrol/Operations, as primary assignments, though they both had extra duties over the years; Obermark spending several years on the Bomb Squad and Simak as a K-9 officer. We are all proud to have served with both men, and we are glad to call them friends. We wish them both well in their retirement. AWARDS Service Commendation Officer Justin Hodges — According to his nomination, Officer Hodges was assigned a felony theft investigation involving several radiators and batteries from vehicles on Paducah’s south side. Hodges spent hours reviewing video, investigating the case and collecting evidence, which ultimately led to the suspect’s arrest and confession. The incident involved 12 cases and approximately $10,500 in stolen property. Chief’s Award Det. Justin Crowell — According to his nomination, Det. Crowell had the responsibility of creating a forensics lab to recover and document digital evidence, as part of the Regional Computer Forensics Lab project, one of only five in the Commonwealth. He had to help write department policy, develop new forms, and protocols. He attended more than 200 hours of training in computer forensics, and since 2011 has processed more than 314 digital forensic examinations. Sgt. Kevin Neal and Det. Chris Baxter — According to the their nomination, Neal and Baxter developed the curriculum for a three-day Rifleman’s Course, aimed at increasing the knowledge and skill of officers with the new weapons system. They put countless hours into the development and implementation of the new training curriculum. Safe Driving Awards (5, 10, 15, & 20 Year Pins) Five Year Pin — Sgt. Joe Hayes; Ptl. Gretchen Morgan; Det. Justin Hodges; Ptl. Corey Willenborg; Ptl. Josh Bryant; Ptl. Beau Green Twenty Year Pin — Capt. Mark Roberts Lifesaving Awards Sgt. George Johnson — According to his nomination, Sgt. Johnson was the first crisis negotiator to arrive and begin communicating with a man who had climbed 75 feet up the superstructure of the Brookport Bridge and was threatening to jump. For 20 minutes, Johnson used his skills and experi- ence as the sole negotiator to de-escalate the situation prior to the arrival of a sheriff’s department negotiator. Sgt. Johnson and Sheriff’s Captain J.T. Coleman then talked with the man for the next hour, finally convincing him to allow firefighters to bring him down safely. Ptl. Travis Watson and Ptl. David Carroll — According to their nomination, Carroll and Watson were dispatched to a local motel for the report of an infant that was not breathing. The pair performed CPR on the child until they were relieved by Paducah Fire Department and Mercy Ambulance person- nel. The infant was transported to Baptist Hospital, where the staff regained a pulse. He later was flown to Kosair Chil- dren’s Hospital, where he passed away. Sgt. Wes Orazine and Ptl. Steven Thompson — According to their nomination, both men responded to a threatening suicide call, where they made entry to the residence to find a women attempting to hang herself from a metal pipe in the ceiling. Sgt. Orazine was able to lift the woman up while Thompson cut the rope to free her. She was not seriously injured. Sgt. Steve Smith, Ptl. Brent Obermark & Ptl. Ryan Burrow — According to their nomination, the three officers respond- ed to a vehicle collision, where they found a car had hit a building. The driver was unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel. Smith and Obermark pulled the man from the car, realized he was not breathing, and the three initiated CPR until Paducah Fire Fighters responded with an AED and took over. The man later recovered from his injuries. Ptl. Beau Green and Ptl. Nickolas Francescon — According to their nomination, these patrolmen responded to the report of a 3-year-old child that had been shot in the head and was unresponsive. Officers immediately began CPR, and continued until Paducah Firefighters and Mercy Ambulance personnel arrived. The child regained a heartbeat and was transferred to Vanderbilt Hospital, where he later died. Each year the PPD hosts an annual Awards Ceremony, which is open to the public. Employees are recognized for their actions that go above and beyond the normal call of duty. We would also like to thank WKCTC, and especially Kevin O’Neill at the Emerging Technologies Workforce Solutions for helping provide the space each year for this ceremony. 19 Brent Obermark Michael Simak The PPD also has a G.R.E.A.T. program. G.R.E.A.T., or Gang Resistance Education and Training, is a program targeting middle school students in the classroom. Officer Travis Counts teaches the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum at Paducah Middle School, and in 2013, had 165 students complete the program. This is Officer Counts’ ninth year as a G.R.E.A.T. instructor. He says the program focuses on decision-making skills, as well as goal setting, and it gives the PPD another opportunity to reach out to the young people in our community. Like D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T. keeps its mission focus simple: “To prevent youth crime, violence, and gang involvement.”2 For more information on the G.R.E.A.T. program, check out their website at www.great-online.org. 1. DARE America: Retrieved on 3/6/2014 from: h8p://www.dare.org/mission-vision/ 2. GREAT: Retrieved on 3/6/2014 from: h8p://www.great-online.org/Organiza,on/ Default.Aspx DARE Officer Gretchen Morgan with “Darren” the DARE mascot 20 Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) started as a concept in the mid-1980s in Los Angeles, CA. From there it swept the nation, and it has been taught in classrooms across America and in other parts around the world ever since. According to D.A.R.E. America, the parent company who manages the administrative aspects of the program, D.A.R.E.’s mission is simple: “Teaching students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives.” Their vision is for “A world in which students every- where are empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse, and other dangerous behaviors.”1 The program primarily targets 5th grade students, by providing a multi-week curriculum focusing on good decision making skills and constructive ways to prevent, avoid or respond to situations involving drugs, alcohol, or other dangers. The D.A.R.E. officers also provide an abbreviated curriculum to K-3rd grade, with age-appropriate lessons on personal safety and conflict resolution. The PPD currently has two D.A.R.E. Officers, Gretchen Morgan and Chris Fearon, both Operations officers. Both had to attend the two-week D.A.R.E. Officer certification course, and both have now taught the program for several years. In 2012, they were able to present the curriculum at Clark, McNabb, and St. Mary Elementary Schools, and in 2014, we will be adding Morgan Elementary. All total, we were able to reach 239 elementary school students in 2013. We are thankful for the cooperation and partnership of both Paducah City Schools and St. Mary School System for allowing us the opportunity to make a difference in these young peoples’ lives. The D.A.R.E. program is financially supported by the Paducah-McCracken County Drug Council. In 2013, they sponsored a golf scramble, which raised $3,000 to help pay for t-shirts, certificates, and other program materials. If you are interested in contributing to the DARE effort, contact Officer Morgan or Fearon for more information. They can be reached by emailing them at: gmorgan@paducahky.gov or cfearon@paducahky.gov. EVIDENCE REPORT The Evidence team consists of Evidence Technician Amy Travis and her assistant, Amanda Kinser. Together, they are responsible for taking in, cataloging, and safeguarding all the evidence that rolls in and out of the department. In 2013, we took in 3,033 items and $76,862.31 in seized cash. All total, we had 11, 946 items in our possession at the end of 2013. In addition to taking things in, the Evidence team oversees the destruction, forfeiture, and return of evidence to victims and occasionally offenders. They report disposing of 3,113 items, and so there was very little change in the total number of items from 2012 to 2013. Included in this year’s dispositions was the forfeiture of $22,290.52 cash to the department, and 33 guns were sent to the Kentucky State Police. In Kentucky, forfeited guns must be taken to the Kentucky State Police, who then resell the guns to licensed gun dealers. Monies raised from these sales fund grants for local agencies to supplement the purchase of bullet-proof vests. The Evidence team also manages our in-car video systems for all of our cruisers. These systems, which were traditionally VHS-based, have now been converted to newer technology and download directly to a computer server. The computer system catalogs these videos, which later may have to be copied for prosecutors and defense attorneys. In 2013, we responded to 562 video requests. The Evidence Technicians are also responsible for transporting evidence to and from our state crime laboratories. People are often curious about the forensic analysis of evidence. In most cases, forensic tests are completed by the Kentucky State Police crime laboratories, which are located in Madisonville, Frankfort, and Louisville. One final thing to report—our drug drop box, which is located in the department’s lobby, continues to be successful. In 2013, we recovered 220.75 pounds of pills. This drop box is offered as a service to our community and citizens may drop off unwanted or unused prescription medications (no liquids) any time our lobby is open. We encourage people who want to drop off medications to remove the labels from their bottles. The prescription drug drop box is our effort to help reduce the amount of prescription medications around your house. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2008, there were nearly 15,000 overdose deaths from misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, and they were responsible for some 475,000 emergency room visits nation-wide in 2009.1 Additionally, Kentucky ranks 5th nationally in the number of overdose deaths. According to the CDC, roughly 71 percent of people who abuse prescription pain killers obtained them from a friend or relative. 1. CDC informa,on obtained on 3/2/14 from: h8p://www.cdc.gov/ homeandrecrea,onalsafety/rxbrief/ Our Prescrip,on Drug Drop Box — Located in our main lobby 21 SPECIALIZED UNITS SWAT BOMB SQUAD CRISIS NEGOTIATION TRAFFIC CRASH RECONSTRUCTION When the 911 call comes in, and the circumstances demand more than what the everyday patrol officer is equipped to handle, specialized units roll into action. The PPD has four specialized units—SWAT, Bomb Squad, Crisis Negotiators, and Traffic Crash Reconstruction. In each unit, officers have specialized knowledge and skills unique to their discipline and are prepared to spring into action. The SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team consists of nine operators, a two-man sniper team, two medics (under the medical direction of Dr. Irvin Smith), Squad Leaders Lofton Rowley and Jason Montgomery, and their team leader, Sgt. Joe Hayes. SWAT specializes in handling high-risk situations, such as barri- caded subjects and serious felony warrants. The PPD recognizes the use of such aggressive military-style tactics is not to be taken lightly. We use a carefully designed “threat matrix” to determine if this level of force is justified. Usually, they are going after the worst of the worst—people who have threatened or fought police and who are known to be armed. In 2013, SWAT put in 192 hours of training, and was needed in only two incidents. One incident involved a high-risk felony drug operation, and the other involved a suspected barricaded subject who was armed with a shotgun after a report at the residence of someone being shot. It was later determined the suspect had fled the residence prior to police surrounding the house. The SWAT team works hand-in-hand with our Crisis Negotiators, who were also called to the above referenced incident. The PPD has four negotiators, led by Sgt. George Johnson, and they are specially trained to handle negotiations between barricaded subjects and police. Many of these cases involved people who are either homicidal or suicidal. The Negotiators train quarterly, and attended the Rocky Mountain Hostage Negotiators Conference in Colorado this past fall. The PPD operates one of the state’s only Bomb Squads, which helps cover a multi-county area of Western Kentucky. The Bomb Squad, led by Sgt. Will Gilbert, has three other Bomb Technicians. They responded to five incidents in Paducah-McCracken County, and participated in 248 hours of in-service training. All three of these teams — SWAT, Bomb, and Crisis Negotiators — participate regularly in large-scale exercises, like the one held at West Kentucky Community and Technical College this past fall. Director of Security for WKCTC and retired PPD captain, Steve Orazine, organized a very realistic scenario involving a shooting on campus. The Traffic Crash Reconstruction (TCR) Unit, led by Captain David White, has trained TCR investigators. These highly trained officers are called on to investigate serious and fatal traffic collisions. In 2013, they investigated all of our four fatal collisions. Nationwide, traffic collisions kill more than 30,000 each year. In an effort to conduct the most thorough investigation possible, we rely on the TCR Unit. This effort is three-fold. First, it is the TCR’s responsibility to determine if criminal charges are applicable, and if so, to investigate and help successfully prosecute those cases, which may involve felony or misdemeanor offenses. Second, it is to help document and preserve evidence that may later be used in civil proceedings, since police have the near exclusive right and responsibility to investigate the collisions when they occur. And finally, their investigation into causational factors helps aid in the continuous research efforts underway by academics, government experts, and automotive engineers who are trying to make our automobiles and roadways safer. The specialized units are supervised by Captain Mark Roberts. If you have any questions or would like for one of these groups to demonstrate and discuss their particular area of interest to your school or civic group, please contact Captain Roberts at: mroberts@paducahky.gov. 22 Internet SAFETY In today’s world, we could not function without computers. If fact, according the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 75 percent of U.S. households have at least one computer; up from 48 percent in 2000.1 We constantly have parents asking us how to keep their children safe while using the Internet, and though policing has historically stuck to traditional spatial contexts, such as jurisdictional bounda- ries, the Internet phenomena changed the landscape of potential criminal activity. Internet-based crimes include everything from child pornography, to financial crimes and identity theft. And while it doesn’t always rise to the level of criminal intent, young people also have to worry about on-line bullying, threats, and harassment. Parents are right to be concerned not only about their children’s safety while using the Internet, but also about protecting them- selves as well. The PPD has tried to respond to these shifts in tech- nology and we have been involved in numerous investigations. We have also tried to respond to the need for more public education and awareness. In addition to her presentations on texting and driving (featured on page 32), Officer Gretchen Morgan also makes public presentations on Internet safety. She says the message to young people is simple, and involves using good common sense. According to Morgan, follow the four R’s: RECOGNIZE techniques used by on-line predators REFUSE requests for personal information RESPOND assertively if you find yourself in an uncomfortable position REPORT to a parent or other trusted adult If you believe your bank account has been compromised do not hesitate in contacting the financial institution responsible for the account. They are staffed with people who are well-equipped to handle those types of incidents. RCFL Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory The Paducah Police Department partners with the United States Secret Service (USSS) and others to house a Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. Det. Justin Crowell and Officer William Hodges have been specially trained by the USSS to forensically examine computers, cell phones, and other data-storing electronics. As part of the RCFL concept, Crowell and Hodges not only handle PPD cases, but act as regional experts and help surrounding agencies with the processing of computer-based evidence. In 2013, we conducted 235 examinations — 21 on computers, 111 cell phones, and 103 other digital media. These were associated with 74 cases, including 35 PPD cases and 39 for surrounding agencies. The cases involved: four Homicides; eight robberies; 17 sex offens- es; 11 thefts; 17 drug offenses and 16 other crimes. 1. USDL: Retrieved on 3/6/2014 from: h8p://www.bls.gov/opub/focus/ volume1_number4/cex_1_4.htm Morgan also adds that people should never post personal information; respect copyright laws; don’t forward emails to “everyone;” secure your passwords; and never download anything from anyone you don’t know or trust. For more information on Internet safety or to arrange a public presentation on the topic, please contact Officer Morgan at gmorgan@paducahky.gov. 23 DISASTER PLANNING 24 This picture (top left) was taken by one of our off-duty officers in November 2013 from the I24 Bridge, looking west as tornado warning sirens started to sound over Brookport, IL. While the tornado isn’t visible amid the heavy rain, that storm showed us just how unforgiving Mother Nature can be, and how quickly our area can be affected by a disaster. While Paducah is a great place to live, we are situated in a part of the country where we have to be concerned with the threats of tornados, floods, severe winter storms, earthquakes, and yes, we have even had to deal with a hurricane. You may not remember, but in September of 2008, Hurricane Ike caused one of the largest state-wide power outages in Kentucky history. The PPD works with our local Emergency Management officials as well as other first responders to ensure we are ready. We attend monthly meetings with our Local Emergency Preparedness Committee (LEPC), and we routinely attend weather briefings when we know bad weather is likely. While we work to ensure the department is equipped and ready, we would like to know our citizens have family emergency plans and take reasonable steps to ensure their own safety in a crisis. Perhaps one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself is to buy a NOAA Weather Alert Radio. These radios sound an alarm when severe weather is imminent. They can be purchased at most major retailers and electronic stores, and cost around $20-$30 dollars. Some citizens may have had them when they first came out, but grew tired of the alert always going off when weather was several counties away. Many of the newer models are programmable all the way down to McCracken County, and can even be programed to specific types of watches or warnings, such as tornado warnings only. This keeps you from hearing all the extra beeps, but when set properly those emergency tones could save your life. If you’re more in tune with newer technologies, you may elect to use your cell phone. Most smart phones are equipped to receive weather alerts and there are various weather apps for phones. These would provide you with very similar protection, and have the advantage of providing you with updated information wherever you may be. In addition to having a weather alert radio or making sure your cell phone is set to receive weather alerts from NOAA, you should have some basic supplies on hand, and never overlook the obvious— flashlights, batteries, a battery pow- ered radio, water and non-perishable food items. If you have advanced warning, take time to prepare essential items and discuss a family plan. While we may all laugh at the cliché of getting the milk, bread, and eggs every time winter weather threatens, there is something to be said for being prepared—for something other than a great French Toast meal. Take time ahead of severe weather to ensure you have food; more than a few day’s worth of any important prescription medications; fuel up your vehicles, and fully charge your cell phones. When severe weather does hit, stay off the roads if at all possible. Heavy traffic immediately following a severe thunderstorm/tornado or during a winter weather event distracts law enforcement from dealing directly with those affected, and causes us to use up precious resources. If the Ice Storm of 2009 taught us anything, it is that we should all be prepared to be completely self-sufficient for at least a few days, and willing to survive moderate inconveniences for several weeks. 443-TELL CALL THE TIP LINE West Kentucky Crime Stoppers (270-443-8355) IN 2013 354 tips 33 arrests 28 cases cleared 21 fugitives arrested 21 rewards approved $4,850 in approved rewards + + = HONORING OUR VETERANS HONORING OUR MILITARY VETERANS HONORING OUR MILITARY VETERANS HONORING OUR MILITARY VETERANS HONORING OUR MILITARY VETERANS RECRUITING MILITARY PERSONNEL We are always interested in recruiting people who have military experience. If you are (or know of) someone who is close to separating from full-time military service and interested in policing, please contact Sgt. Wes Kimbler at wkimbler@paducahky.gov. WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT to provide special test dates/times to accommodate those military personnel who may not otherwise be able to test with us. These arrangements are made on a case-by- case basis. If you find yourself in this situation, please tell us and we’ll do all we can to help you meet the testing obligations. Assistant Chief Brian Krueger— USMC Captain Jason Merrick— Navy Sgt. William Gilbert— USMC Sgt. Wes Kimbler—Army Sgt. Steve Smith—Army Sgt. Kevin Neal— USMC Sgt. Joe Hayes—USMC Sgt. Wes Orazine— USMC Det. Rob Estes—USMC Ptl. Brian Kopischke— USMC Det. Nathan Young—Navy Ptl. Paul Stevenson— Army Ptl. Cindy Neihoff— Army Ptl. Travis Counts—Navy Det. Troy Turner—Navy Ptl. LoVon Rowley Jr. — Army Det. Christopher Baxter— Navy Ptl. Nathan Antonites—Army Ptl. Keith Thuline—Army Ptl. David Carroll—USCG Ptl. Ryan Burrow—Army Ptl. Blake Quinn—Army Kelly Drew—Army Josh Anderson—Army Lourdes Morrison—Navy 25 GRANTS 26 Dept. of Jus,ce $7,435.61 (Bulletproof vests) KY Law Enforcement $8,985.00 Service Fee KY Highway Safety $40,500.00 (Enforcement/Educa,on) KY Highway Safety $10,000.00 (Educa,on) KY Homeland Security $32,000.00 Jus,ce Assistance Grant $13,382.00 TOTAL: $112,302.61 85% 3% 3% 8% 1% City of Paducah - Police Department 2013 Actual Expenditures Personal Services Contractual Services Fuel Supplies/Equipment Capital Outlay Personal Services $7,717,666 Contractual Services $305,904 Fuel $266,268 Supplies/Equipment $687,566 Capital Outlay $58,209 Total $9,035,613 BUDGET BREAKDOWN Strategic Plan Reduce Crime: Enhance patrol capabilities; explore on-line reporting; standardize patrol response (telephone reports); increase investigative capabilities through partnerships, increase investigative technology and equipment. Enhance Recruitment & Career Development: Expand efforts through community forums and meetings. The police department remains committed to recruiting an applicant pool that is reflective of the community. The applicant pool rarely has the number of females and minorities that would give us the desired diversity in our workforce. We will continue to focus our recruitment efforts on attracting a more diverse applicant pool while maintaining our high employment standard to ensure a professional work force. We also must be proactive in identifying ad coordinating succession planning for future leaders. Mentoring education, leadership training and rotational duty assignments will be utilized to develop our future leaders. Community Engagement: Our crime reduction efforts are dependent upon strong engagement with all segments of the community. We continue our challenge of getting citizens and business owners with busy schedules involved with the police department and their neighborhoods. Our goal is for citizen and neighborhood involvement to be proactive rather than reactive. Provide Exemplary Training Solutions: Assess current operation style, utilize new technology, equipment and multimedia sources to deliver current and timely training. The on-going rapid change in technology creates multiple problems for the department. The technology and training to investigate these types of crime is expensive and the training is complex. Strengthen Domestic Preparedness: Strengthen knowledge of emergency operations, compatibility and partnerships; securing/hardening of current operations headquarters; continue advancement toward a new police department facility. Ensure all our supervision is training the ICS protocols. Virtually all organizations, public and private, maintain some type of strategic organizational plan. The Paducah Police Department maintains a three-year strategic plan, which we publish for both our officers and our community. Strategic plans are not meant to be too specific. They are designed to give a general direction to the organization’s efforts — to build a general framework from which more specific objectives and goals can be set by the individuals and groups within the organization. Chief Barnhill developed these plans in conjunction with other command staff. They have been structured around five substantive areas — reduce crime; enhance recruit- ment & career development; community engagement; provide exemplary training solutions; and strengthen domestic preparedness. All of these areas cover major themes within the law enforcement profession. Reduce Crime: Crime reduction is, of course, our main focus. We know the best strategies are those that meet our community’s expectations, and in today’s world our strategies need to focus on efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and the best uses of technology and effective partnerships. Recruitment & Career Development: We want to do our best to draw in the best possible candidate pool. We work hard to develop good leaders from within the organization, capital- izing on employees’ talents and preparing them to accept greater responsibility. Our success over the long haul is dependent on our people at all stages of their careers. Community Engagement at all levels is critical to our success. We need to understand the needs and expectations of our community. We desire to be engaged with citizens at all levels in our community. We are not close-minded and do not think we can develop solutions without first understanding the community’s problems and concerns. Provide Exemplary Training Solutions: Technology and knowledge are constantly shifting and evolving in policing, and training is expensive. In the heat of the economic recession, training took a financial hit, and we recognize the need to develop a strategy that maximizes both technology and available resources. Strengthen Domestic Preparedness: Interoperability is not just a buzzword, it is a critical answer in crisis. We know the community expects a unified response in a disaster and we’re working hard ensure we will be ready. Our Strategic Plan 2014 — 2016 27 EXPLORER POST 111 LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPLORING The Law Enforcement Exploring program is designed for young people, ages 14-20, who are interested in a policing career. Par- ticipants should have a strong desire to learn more about polic- ing, and be willing to make a serious commitment, since the pro- gram meets regularly throughout the year. The PPD program, known as Explorer Post 111, meets every Thursday, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Paducah Police Depart- ment’s Kentucky Oaks Mall Resource Office. In 2013, Advisor Paul Stevenson reports having about a dozen regular attending participants, with a fairly even split between boys and girls. The Explorer Chief was Sara Hughes, and the Sergeant was Jason Armstrong. Each week the Explorers get to learn the basics of police work — from patrol tactics, to radio procedures and report writing, they work through both classroom and practical exercises. The group then tests their skills each year at a regional Law Enforce- ment Explorer competition, known as Winterfest in Gatlinburg, TN. In addition to learning more about law enforcement tactics and competing, the Explorers regularly help with local events. In 2013, they helped block intersections for the Iron Mom Half Marathon; they helped park cars at the Dragon Boat Race; they helped with Halloween on Jefferson, as well as National Night Out and several other local block party-style events around town. In 2013, the Explorers also helped put together a community service project involving bike registrations, where they helped younger kids document their bicycle’s serial number, in case of theft. Parents of youth who may be interested in policing, but who are not ready to commit to a program that meets weekly, should check out our Junior Citizens’ Police Academy (JCPA). It is our hope that the JCPA will act as an introduction to policing as we attempt to mentor young people and encourage their interest. Students who successfully complete the JCPA and who are eager to learn more should contact one of the Explorer Advisors: Officer Paul Stevenson: pstevenson@paducahky.gov Sgt. Wes Orazine: worazine@paducahky.gov THANK YOU Chief Brandon Barnhill would like to thank the two Explorer Advisors, Sgt. Wes Orazine and Officer Paul Stevenson, as well as their wives, Ginger Orazine and Tammy Stevenson, for volunteering their ,me to help mentor our Explorers. 28 Citizens’ Police Academy & Junior Ci,zens’ Police Academy For more informa,on on the CPA, contact Sgt. George Johnson at gjohnson@paducahky.gov For more informa,on on the JCPA, contact Officer Chris Bolton at cbolton@paducahky.gov Each August through October, the Paducah Police Department hosts a Citizens’ Police Academy. The pro- gram, now in its 18th year, is designed to help citizens in the community better understand their police department. The program meets every Thursday night for eleven weeks, and each session is about three hours long. Additionally, participants are encouraged to schedule ride- a-longs with patrol officers at their convenience over the course of the class. This helps the participants see first- hand what the job is like. We try our best to expose participants to all of the various aspects of our department. They listen to presentations on all of the major areas of police work, as well as the specialized units, and major training areas, such as defensive tactics and firearms. Jerome Mansfield, who was recently appointed as the Emergency Management Director for McCracken County, attended the 2013 session. He says “without a doubt, every CPA graduate leaves with a renewed respect for the de- partment’s men and women whose daily efforts provide the residents of Paducah with a safe and secure communi- ty.” We generally host 15-20 students, and it is a first come- first serve basis, so those interested in applying for the course should inquire with the CPA Coordinator, Sgt. George Johnson. The application deadline will be in early July. The Junior Citizens’ Police Academy (JCPA) was started in 2012, and is now going into its third year. The youth version of the long-standing CPA program, the JCPA is aimed at youth ages 13-18 from Paducah and McCracken County who have an interest in policing. In 2013, we had 24 area youth participate. The JCPA meets during the summer months in a day-camp style format: Monday-Friday for one week, from 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. The program is free for participants. Lunch is provided each day, and each participant receives a t-shirt. The curriculum, which was developed by our recruiting staff, is a fairly rigorous mix of classroom and practical experiences, where participants are challenged with mock scenarios of crime scenes, traffic stops, and some of the other basic functional aspects of policing. According to Captain David White, “we want to use the JCPA as a recruiting tool. It was developed by our recruiters as a way to reach out to students who may have an interest in policing, but haven’t taken any steps to figure out what policing is really like.” White says he hopes students not only have fun in the program, but that they walk away with a better understanding of what police officers do. Those who want to transition from the JCPA into something more serious are encouraged to join our Law Enforcement Explorer program. In 2013, the JCPA program was funded by a $2,500 grant from the BNSF Railway, and we thank them for their support. 29 ● ● DONT B TXTING AND DRIVING ITS DANGEROUS AND AGAINST THE LAW PADUCAH POLICE... ?? SEND COMPOSE A MESSAGE Don’t be In-text-icated In today’s world texting is one of the primary modes of communication. We have all become so accustom to instant communications, we sometimes forget that things can wait— at least for the 10-15 minutes we are behind the wheel between Point A and Point B in our daily commutes. In September of 2007, local resident Hillary Coltharp was involved in a tragic crash that nearly took her life (pictured left). She was texting and driving at the time. However, once she emerged from her injuries, she developed a passion for sharing her story with others, in hopes she may prevent them from making the same mistake. Coltharp is friends with PPD Officer Gretchen Morgan, so it seemed to be a natural fit to pair them together for public presentations. Captain Don Hodgson, who spearheads most of the department’s traffic enforcement and education efforts, helped secure Kentucky Highway Safety Grant money to help with the project, and together, the trio has delivered the message to approximately 4,000 people in Paducah- McCracken County, as well as around the state. “There are many distractions in the car, but one of the most significant ones is the cell phone,” Morgan said. “Especially texting, because it takes the driver’s cognitive, manual, and visual attentions off the road.” According to Morgan, the average text message creates about a five second distraction. Distracted driving, which includes “inattention,” accounts for about 30-40 percent of all collisions each year. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsored research, these crashes injure an estimated 421,000 people nation- wide, and they add, Americans send an average of 171.3 BILLION text messages each month.1 Together, these facts cause law enforcement to be very concerned about cell phone use in the driver’s seat, and Kentucky, like many other states, has made texting and driving illegal. The PPD program, which has used the title “Don’t be In-Text- icated,” can be presented in about 45 minutes, depending on the size of the group, and the target audience is young drivers. Though they primarily present it at high schools, they have also reached out to church youth groups and other civic organizations to get the message out. If you have a group who would benefit from hearing the program contact Captain Don Hodgson at dhodgson@paducahky.gov. From left to right: Capt. Hodgson, Hillary Coltharp, Ptl Morgan 1. NHTSA/ Distracteddriving.gov: Retrieved on 3/6/2014 from: h8p://www.distrac,on.gov/ content/get-the-facts/facts-and-sta,s,cs.html 30 Honor Guard The Paducah Police Department’s Honor Guard once again represented the department well in 2013. The officers of the Honor Guard led many parades, presented or posted the Colors at ballgames, recognition ceremonies and memorial services, and served as casket guard and pallbearers for retiree and line-of-duty funerals. Nationwide, there were 105 officers who died in the line of duty in 2013. Two of those were in Kentucky, and both touched the Paducah Police Department family. Deputy Chad Shaw of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office died of a heart attack on August 6. He was a great friend to many at the PPD and the membership of our local FOP Lodge #15. Officer Jason Ellis of the Bardstown Police Department was shot to death on May 25. His widow is the cousin of Paducah police Det. Justin Rundles. The Honor Guard was privileged to assist with the funeral services of two retired Paducah Police Department officers: Capt. Hal Cole and Capt. James Smith. Capt. Cole served the PPD for 30 years, from 1936-1966, before joining the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department. Capt. Smith served the PPD for 27 years, retiring in 1979 and taking the job as security chief at a local hospital. Besides the two retiree funerals, the Honor Guard also assisted with the funeral services of former McCracken County Sheriff Howard Walker and retired Metropolis, IL, Police Sgt. Ricky Parmer. A couple of other highlights for the Honor Guard in 2013 were an invitation to present the Colors for a second year at a St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball game and the flag retirement cere- mony that was conducted at the police department. At the core of every Honor Guard is respect for the flag – “the Colors” – and being able to conduct that ceremony was, indeed, an hon- or. Honor Guard members in 2013 were Capt. Shawn Maxie, Sgt. Steve Smith, Sgt. Wes Kimbler, Sgt. Wes Orazine, Officer Jason Hicks, Officer Keith Thuline and Officer Matthew Scheer. Officer Ryan Conn left the team in 2013. PPD Honor Guard presenng the colors at a St. Louis Cardinal’s game. 31 Circa 1900