Call of the day

Police call of the day - Reviewing activity from overnight I read about an unusual police pursuit that started in Superior at about 1:30 AM. The fleeing vehicle came across the Blatnik Bridge into Duluth and proceeded north on Hwy 53. The vehicle ended up driving into the St. Louis County Jail parking lot where he stopped. Needless to say the driver will be spending some time at that location.

Best Practices for Investigating Officer Involved Shootings

As part of my role as the Mid-Size Agencies Section General Chair (part of the International Association of Chief's of Police) I recently attended a meeting to begin looking at best practices for investigating officer involved shootings.  It was a stimulating meeting that hit on many of the issues we face when investigating these incidents.  The work will continue through the next year with the recommendations coming out some time next year.

Synthetic Drug Bill

I just found out Representative Simonson's synthetic drug bill will not get a hearing this session, despite his hard work.  That means no new law at the state level.  We will continue to work on the nuisance injunction and wait for the federal trial, but will continue to vigorously look for ways to end the synthetic epidemic in our community.

Synthetics.......

I was at the Capitol today testifying for the need to improve our State synthetic drug law. While this is gruesome, it needs to be told. In recent weeks Duluth police and fire have responded to several mutilation incidents involving peopl...e high on synthetics (this is on top of the many other synthetic drug related calls): 1. Male dug his eye ball out of his head with a fork 2. Male pulled out his teeth 3. Male chewed on his arm. Here is a disturbing incident of a synthetic drug/bath salt user...It is disturbing, but we need parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of these drugs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh_nZiuFC4o

Last Place Update

I need to update you on our efforts to deal with the Last Place on Earth.  Our two pronged approach involved a civil suit seeking a remedy to the problems associated with the business and its impact on the neighborhood.  For now, the business is required to pay for two police officers to be present in the area and address the crime and disorder issues one hour prior to the business opening until one hour after closing at a cost of over $30,000 a month. 

On another front the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed 54 criminal charges against the owner of the business and several employees.  Myself, impacted area businesses and families of those who lives who have been ruined by the drugs sold in this business are hoping for long prison sentences at the conclusion of the trial.   The trial is scheduled for later this year.

Police Resources

The New York Times printed a great story on police and the impact we have on crime.  It also focused on spending for police versus the spending for incarceration.  In the story Lawrence W. Sherman,  an American criminologist on the faculties of the University of Maryland and Cambridge University in Britain is quoted saying “The United States today is the only country I know of that spends more on prisons than police,”  . “In England and Wales, the spending on police is twice as high as on corrections. In Australia it’s more than three times higher. In Japan it’s seven times higher. Only in the United States is it lower, and only in our recent history.”     The story goes on to focus on the relationship between more police on the street and lower crime rate.  Here's the link to the article http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/nyregion/police-have-done-more-than-prisons-to-cut-crime-in-new-york.html?hp&_r=3&pagewanted=all

The NY Times article's focus matches up with a news story by Duluth's ABC station on the additional police stationed in the area of the Last Place on Earth and how their presence is making a difference.   Here is that story  http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S2916418.shtml?cat=10335

So, how about cutting the Department of Corrections budget and giving that money to communities with higher crime areas to hire more police officers?

Bratton goes to Oakland

The former chief of NYPD and LAPD is now heading to Oakland.  Bratton has made incredible strides in both cities.  It will be interesting to see what he can do in Oakland.   He is one person I wish I could have worked for.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_22428183/big-crowds-expected-oaklands-vote-william-bratton