04-25-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 25, 2016 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 22 9. 2015 ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT (continued) As it relates to Part I crimes, there were zero homicides in the area, zero rapes reported, one robbery, one aggravated assault, 23 reported burglaries, 124 thefts, 4 auto thefts, and one arson for a total of 154. This was a decrease from 188 Part I crimes experienced in 2014. For traffic related crimes, the Police Department issued a total of 1,495 total citations as well as 82 DUIs, 55 seatbelt violations, 14 use of wireless communications device, 488 speeding violations, and 275 traffic crashes. Injuries were involved in 37 of those crashes. The Orono Police Department also investigated a total of 376 referred cases from patrol resulting in 267 arrests. There were 24 death investigations and 69 referred vulnerable adult cases from patrol and/or Hennepin County Adult Protection. The Police Department also investigated 133 theft cases, with 35 of those being theft from vehicles, 24 burglary cases, 52 assaults, and 8 criminal sex reported offenses. A total of 155 handgun permits were issued in 2015. Other activities the Orono Police Department was involved with in 2015 included responding to 478 alarms, with 389 of those being false alarms; 1,006 medical calls; 260 welfare checks; and 124 lockouts. The total number of calls received in 2015 amounted to 20,748, with 10,056 of those requiring a report or a follow-up. The Investigations Division of the Police Department was involved with a double fatality on Highway 12. The incident happened on County Road 15 in the City of Minnetonka Beach and resulted in the investigators submitting the case and signing the complaint for felony charges of criminal vehicular offense resulting in death. Other investigations by the Police Department included a felony domestic assault, strangulation and kidnapping case that was charged out, and the arrest and conviction of a serial burglar responsible for over 35 burglaries metro-wide. In addition the Investigations Division assisted the FBI with an internet child pornography case, uncovered a marijuana and poppy plant growing operation, identified three identity thieves working the area and coordinated with the United States Postal inspectors and executed three search warrants in one day, recovering stolen property and mail. Liquor and tobacco compliance checks were also conducted, with two businesses failing the alcohol check and one that failed the tobacco check. A safety talk was also given at the Gillespie Center. Three detectives attended training on investigations of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. Farniok stated the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) is a group of officers that specialize in handling domestic assault cases and working with victims. This team offered support to over 20 domestic assault victims. The Orono Police Department is also involved with the West Metro Drug Task Force, with 80 search warrants being arrested and 69 arrests and 58 firearms seized. Farniok noted the amount of cocaine, crack and prescription drugs in this area is increasing due to the demand. The West Metro Drug Task Force seized illegal drugs with a street value of $5,352,744.98 in 2015. The annual budget of the West Metro Drug Task Force is $210,192.00, with $120,000 being distributed back to the departments at $20,000 per agent.