2010 Annual Report

CITY of BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT of ACTIVITIES For 2010

The Benton Police Department began 2010 to achieve ten goals and objectives in addition to all the services that we provide. Eight of those goals were accomplished and the two remaining are waiting funding to be completed. Goals accomplished are:

• To reduce the number of traffic accidents city wide, by utilizing public education and selective traffic programs. A target of a minimum of a 10% reduction in accidents is targeted. A reduction of 7.819% was achieved.
• Formation of an Accident Reconstruction Team, to allow officers/investigators to utilize resources to produce a better work product during fatality and serious injury accidents. Established and enhanced training in progress.
• Enhanced departmental training and preparedness in missing person/children procedures. Policy and procedure updates in this area as well as Communication Division training on this subject. Update community programs in child safety. Established and in progress.
• Grant procurement with emphasis on departmental vehicles and updating the departmental handgun. Achieved in part, awaiting funding.
• Explore and obtain less lethal weaponry for patrol and SWAT personnel. A 40 mm launcher and multipurpose Taser obtained for SWAT.
• Obtain a full time Grant Officer for the Benton Police Department and or Public Safety. Not obtained due to lack of funding.
• To continue community policing practices, to include a Junior Citizens Police Academy along with the current Citizens Police Academy. Achieved with the help of the Benton Chapter of the Golden Kiwanis.
• To obtain additional funding to obtain a third K-9 unit for the Benton Police Department. Achieved with the help of the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. K-9 Honor is active on duty.
• To seek out funding to obtain updated and needed communication improvements. Plan in progress awaiting research and funding.
• To expand the SIU division by utilizing personnel from neighboring departments. Completed with help of assignment of one Sergeant from the Bryant Police Department and task force assignment of one Benton SIU Detective to an IRS Financial Crimes Unit.

NUMBERS

Crime reporting figures compared to 2009 show some increases in crime categories reported. It is important to note that in several of the increased crime categories that those crimes were solved by the Benton Police Department.  Reporting of the NIBRS crime statistics showed an increase in violent crime reports and an increase in property crime reports in the City of Benton.  The NIBRS reporting covers all the crime categories, and showed a slight increase of crime in the City of Benton of + 6.82% when compared to 2009 totals.  There were 27,108 police calls for service in 2010 as compared to 23,954 in 2009 which showed an increase of 11%.

Police Department staffing reduced in 2010 for a total of staff of 55 sworn in 2010, compared to 56 in 2009. It should be noted, that the rise in the level of reactive incidents reduced time for proactive enforcement, which was evident in the numbers listed above.  We are currently budgeted to have 55 officers in place to begin 2011. The Benton Police Department lost 3 officers in 2010 putting the turnover rate at 5.45% for the year.

TRAINING

The Benton Police Department officers completed 6664 training hours, which was less than the amount of training obtained in 2009. This was caused in the reduction of new officer training in 2010 comparably. At times limited staffing caused some cancellation of classes. We sought out to low cost and grant funded classes to save on costs. In addition to training obtained, we hosted a number of training classes and opened them up to other departments. Those classes consisted of Prescription Drug Diversion Investigation, Concerns of Police Survivors, Responding to Active Shooter in a School or Business Environment.

RECORDS DIVISION

The records division processed 30280 reports for the public (up 9.85% from 2009), which included 3169 new warrants and 1766 subpoenas along with the incident and accident reports received. We had an increase in collections of + 22.35% for a total of $459,167 in 2010 compared to 2009.

Collection and disbursement amounts increased due to the police department’s emphasis placed on warrant service and public voluntary surrender programs.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION

The Criminal Investigation Division enhanced it investigative tool chest in the receiving of a grant to obtain an Evidence Collection Vehicle and a Fuming Chamber for enhancing fingerprints.

The Division also revamped the Benton Police Department’s web site on Sex Offenders adding an all inclusive list of offenders in Benton. The web page and enhanced registration/monitoring procedures caused Benton Police Department to be touted by ACIC as being in the top three of law enforcement agencies in the State Of Arkansas in efficiency in Sex Offender Registration and Monitoring.

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

The Objective of SIU is to detect and disrupt drug traffic in the City of Benton. In 2010, Bryant Police Department assigned a Sergeant to work with the unit. This gave the Unit more mobility both jurisdictions, much like the drug trade.  The Unit’s secondary mission is to be used in their capacity to detect and solve other crime problems that may arise or surge in the cities using covert techniques.

Seized drug monies primarily fund equipment used by the SIU. Operational funds are supplied through the general budget. There are 6 Detectives currently assigned to the unit. Two of these detectives are assigned on multi jurisdictional task forces. The utilization of a Federal grant funded Interdiction program, named BICEP, allowed for two Benton K-9 units and their handlers to seek out fugitives, drug smuggling on the interstate that runs through our city added to the success of the Unit.

In 2009, the SIU and the officers of the Benton Police Department seized $667,097.48 worth of drugs from streets of Benton. In 2010 the unit exceeded it goals and seized $4,399,021.53 from the streets of Benton/Bryant.  They arrested 420 persons on a total of 708 drug related charges. During these investigations they seized 10 weapons, one of which along with 12 vehicles for forfeiture.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

In 2010, the Benton Code Enforcement Unit handled 1339 code cases, up +4.18% from the 1283 code cases in 2009. Compliance was obtained in 1056 of those cases. The two Benton Code Enforcement Officers completed 3345 follow ups and issued 983 notices of violations. They tagged 45 vehicles of which 4 were towed. They also removed 1458 signs that were in violation of the sign ordinance. No condemnations had to be performed because of compliance by property owners to voluntarily tear down or raze their own severely non-compliant unsafe properties. This action saved legal costs and time, which is the primary goal of code enforcement to get property owners to maintain their own properties.

GRANTS

The Benton Police Department sought out grant funding for a number of projects in 2010. In 2010, the Benton Police Department applied for 24 grant funding opportunities and was successful in 12 of them totaling $301,360.42.  2010 Grants received are as follows:

• Selective Traffic Enforcement Grant (DWI, Seat Belt, and Child restraint enforcement) -----$61,000.00
• Wal-Mart Foundation Grant (police technology improvements)-----$1000.00
• Ed Byrne JAG Grant (computer software and Breathalyzer machine)-----$14,410.00
• SPNOTA Grant- (SWAT taser)--- $2,000.00
• Ed Byrne Stimulus Grant (Fingerprint Fuming Chamber)-----$6,325.12
• Federal Bulletproof Vest Re-imbursement Grant-----$6539.75
• Arkansas Chiefs of Police Bulletproof Vest Re-imbursement Grant-----$3805.50
• Overtime Special Projects Grants (BICEP/HITDA, Operation,)-----$ 24,000.00
• DEA Task Force—(Overtime) $17,000.00
• Teen Alcohol Abuse Mini Grant- (Advertisement/detection equipment)- $34,630.05
• Domestic Violence Reporting- (Statistics/education)- $1200.00
• Evidence Collection Vehicle Grant- $129,450.00

ENFORCEMENT PROJECTS

The Benton Police Department developed a number of innovative enforcement projects to better serve the community. The enforcement projects were also instrumental in team building within the department and especially with the interaction with other law enforcement agencies.

Projects implemented and conducted:

• DWI sobriety checkpoints (multi agency)
• Multi agency warrant sweeps
• Departmental warrant service enhancement and community volunteer surrender programs
• Study of traffic accident locations and community awareness of problem accident location, along with enhanced traffic enforcement in those areas to reduce accidents.
• Two different Multi Agency Operation Lifesaver Projects were conducted, with the Union Pacific Railroad Police.
• Establishing the Benton Interstate Criminal Enforcement Program (BICEP), to have an increased visible presence on the interstate to deter and apprehend traveling criminals and drug traffic that use the interstate to violate laws in our city.
• Improved and expanded Sex Offender Registration Procedure. This program will allow us to be up to date with mandatory compliance set for all departments by 2011. ACIC officials tout the Benton Police Department in the top three of the state in our current program efforts.
• Prescription Abuse Drug Guide,  phase two and three developed to educate law enforcement, teachers and parents on commonly used and abused prescription medication and a growing prescription abuse problem within the city and country. This project was funded by drug-seized funds.
• Two prescription Drug Take Back Programs was conducted. The first in cooperation with all of the law enforcement agencies in Saline County. The second in conjunction with a national campaign. Benton Police Department had a large involvement in the Arkansas campaign, Benton Officers were involved in the organization of the state wide effort using publicity campaigns and development of the state website www.artakeback.org. The City of Benton led the state in collecting 440 pounds of unwanted, expired prescription meds that were destroyed. The success of the City of Benton was largely due to a collaborative effort of Prescription Meds committee put together in the City of Benton that is staffed by many organizations as well as a large effort by the Benton Courier.
• Benton Police Department installed a 24 hour collection box for Prescription Meds in the lobby wall of the Benton Police Department. It was the third such box in the state. This project was funded from drug seized funds.
• The Benton Police Department agrees to join the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, which will be a grant funded overtime project to seek out those that will victimize
• Assignment of one detective to the IRS Financial Crimes Taskforce.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

The Benton Police Department worked hard on improving community projects to better develop community networking in the concept of community policing. These community ties improved the image of the Benton Police Department and well as the partnership between the community and the Police Department in improving the quality of life in the City of Benton. Projects included:

• Shop with a Cop program- allowed 40 children in need, to Christmas shop with donated funds with a police officer.
• Neighborhood Watch Programs- 7 active neighborhood watches in operation in the City of Benton.
• Special Olympics- the Benton Police Department has a big heart when it comes to programs related to the Special Olympics. In 2010:
• 15 Benton Police officers participated in the Polar Plunge and received awards for the most funds raised by a law enforcement agency; most funds raised by any team overall, and best costume. Officers raised $5300.00, in this project in 2010.
• 15 Benton Police officers participated in the Torch Run and Benton Police officers also participated in the Special Olympic Awards presentation ceremony at Searcy.
• The Tip a Cop program- Benton Police Department officers raised $5600.00 for Special Olympics, by waiting tables at Colton’s Restaurant. Not only did they participate in Benton, but they also volunteered service to this project in other cities throughout Central Arkansas. Benton Police Department ranked 2nd most money raised out of all the law enforcement agencies in State of Arkansas in this event in 2010.
• 2nd Annual Public Safety Picnic was conducted bonding Benton Police, Fire, Communications, and Ambulance Service and their families together. A kickball game was conducted in which the Fire Department took home the traveling trophy.
• Enhanced the new and improved Benton Police web site to provide the community with updated information and services provided by the Benton Police Department. The web site can be found at www.bentonpolice.org.
• School Resource Officers provided programs provided by Jr. Achievement in addition to their duties of teaching 82 classes at Benton Public Schools.
• The Citizen’s Police Academy graduated 10 citizens. Graduates will become alumni and help in the 2011 Citizen’s Academy as well as other police department programs. We also graduated 14 students in the 1st Benton Police Junior Police Academy.
• Annual Fishing Derby was hosted by Benton Police Department and Golden Kiwanis. Thirty children from the Benton Boys and Girls Club participated and each received their own fishing pole compliments of Wal-Mart, Arkansas Game and Fish, and the Benton Fraternal Order of Police.
• Take 25 Program in May 2010, allowed Benton Police to be part of a national campaign to bring awareness to child safety. New photography techniques enabled officers to provide instant photos and fingerprints of children to parents for safety.

2011 GOALS and OBJECTIVES

The Benton Police Department will seek to achieve 10 goals and objectives that will improve their services to the citizens of Benton in a number of ways. These goals are as follows:

1. Enhance the Neighborhood Watch Program. Increase the numbers, educate and set up a communication avenue to communicate with us and each other.
2. Establish a Business Watch Program utilizing Patrol Division Lieutenants and the Chamber of Commerce.
3. Establish a Pharmacy Watch Program utilizing Special Investigative Unit personnel.
4. Decrease crime percentages in each NIBRS crime category by at least 10%.
5. Establish a Property Room Manager’s position to better utilize investigative resources and evidence handling procedures.
6. Establish a city wide Crime Mapping interactive page. This program will be open to all citizens of Benton and elsewhere to explore where crime is occurring in the City of Benton.
7. Update departmental firearms and to establish consistency in types of firearms utilized by the department.
8. Explore a grant to develop a Sex Offender Registration Team. This would be a two officer unit that would handle all of the sex offender requirements that our detectives currently shoulder.
9. Seek funding outside of the general fund, to update department vehicles.
10. Explore the possibility of an on line reporting system to streamline public access to obtain them.

The Benton Police Department in 2010 contributed to a significant reduction in crime in the City of Benton. It is our belief in 2011, that the goals listed above along with the energy and drive of the leadership of the Benton Police Department will inspire all members of the Benton Police Department to the highest degree of integrity, professionalism, and proactiveness. In doing so, the Benton Police Department will greatly improve our services provided to the City of Benton and achieve it’s mission as outlined in the Mission Statement of the Benton Police Department.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kirk R. Lane

Chief of Police

January 12, 2011