Our staff is constantly striving to be the best we can be. We have been part of a collaborative effort to improve our response to witness intimidation related to domestic violence. Here is a link to an article on the effort
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&article_id=3579&issue_id=122014
Duluth PD continues to be a leader in policing......
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Current Events in Policing
Police everywhere
are in the spotlight now due to recent controversial events. For the last few
weeks I haven't been able to turn on the national news without hearing about
police use of force somewhere in the nation. This has caused me to think about
incidents I was involved with during my career.
One took
place on a September morning 16 years ago. While on duty I drove by a gas
station and saw a male wearing a ski mask walk inside, carrying a duffle bag.
The temperature was in the 60s, so there was no need to be wearing a ski mask.
I pulled into the
gas station lot, went inside, approached him, patted him down for weapons and
asked for ID. Immediately I sensed there was going to be a problem. The male
seemed like he was under the influence of a chemical or suffering from mental
illness.
Not wanting to
disturb the small store's business, I asked him to come outside with me. He
reluctantly agreed. As we were walking out, I noticed a large butcher knife
protruding from a cut in his duffle bag. I told him to give me the duffle bag
and he refused. I tried to take the bag away — and the fight was on.
We fell to the
ground and rolled around next to the gas pump. After a few seconds I was able
to throw the bag a short distance away so he could not reach the knife. Then I felt him
wrenching on my holstered handgun. I heard the sound of the leather creaking
and felt the gun being pulled back and forth. I recall the surreal feeling of
looking up at a 60-year-old woman pumping her gas about 4 feet away, watching
this potential life-or-death battle like nothing was going on. I shouted to her
to go call 911. After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only 15
seconds, I was able to overpower and subdue him until another officer arrived.
This case
highlights how quickly things can escalate and the dangers our officers face.
In hindsight I would have done things differently, but at the time I did not
have the luxury of knowing what was about to happen. Police officers have to
make serious, split-second decisions, often under extreme stress. We must
remember that when judging incidents.
Duluth police
make a positive impact every minute of every day in our community. While we are
human and not without fault, Duluth officers focus on community policing
activities and place a high value on relationships with those we serve. We
train and expect our officers to de-escalate tense situations and be restrained
in the use of force whenever possible.
There are times,
however, when police have to use force. If you find yourself in a situation
with an officer and you feel you have done nothing wrong, you still need to do
what the officer tells you. Some individuals feel they do not have to obey a
lawful order from the police, as I've experienced many times. People need to
cooperate with police and if they feel wronged or want to make a complaint,
they should do it after the interaction is over.
We want to hear
about it because we care. Remember, there are cameras in the squad cars,
cameras on officers and cameras on many street corners that have proven to be
very valuable not only for criminal investigations, but also for complaints. I
had a complaint last week that was quickly resolved by reviewing camera footage
of the incident that clearly showed the officer did not do what was alleged.
We recognize and
embrace the importance of building relationships with our diverse community to
break down the feelings of mistrust, but it does take two willing participants
to make that happen.
If you are
interested in becoming part of the solution and learning more about how we
train our officers and why the police do this or that, consider attending the
Duluth Police Department's Citizens' Police Academy. The CPA is an informative
learning process by which citizens receive classroom and field instruction on
the responsibilities facing our officers. Classes are held 6-9 p.m. on
Wednesdays for 11 weeks in the spring and fall. If you are interested in taking
part, contact Mike Peterson at 730-5040 or email mpeterson@duluthmn.gov.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Current Police Events Part 1
There are many different policing styles and strategies among law enforcement agencies in this country. In the next couple of posts I am going to highlight what we are doing in Duluth that seperates us from some other police agencies. In Duluth, our staff have engrained themselves into the very fabric of our City. We are the guardians, protectors and helpers of our citizenry, not a militaristic occupying army. Here is a portion of an email I sent to our City Councilors earlier this week that highlights some of our community policing efforts.
Dear
Councilors,
In light of the current
national events I was hoping to make you aware of our community policing
efforts and values that separate us from many of the cities
experiencing troubled police-community relations.
First, our
department is focused on building relationships with our community
members. We know that to break down barriers of mistrust we need to
build healthy relationships with those we serve. Every week members
of our department are either attending community meetings or we
are hosting them. Whether it be community club meetings, business
meetings or neighborhood meetings we are there. We have been actively
engaged with the health and wellness of our youth through programs like the
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative to lower the number
of juveniles that are incarcerated, the new Police Activities League or spending
time at the numerous youth after school programs; our officers seek out
opportunities to have positive interaction with our
youth.
When it comes
to use of force issues we focus on deescalating tense situations through verbal
communication and listening. We train to be successful at policing in a
free and democratic society that must be restrained in our use of
force when ever possible and treat people with courtesy, respect and
dignity.
Respectfully,
Your Police Chief
Gordon Ramsay
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Vile of Life
Thanks Jery Lawson and Officer Russ Bradley for your work on this great project.
From the Duluth News-Tribune.
From the Duluth News-Tribune.
Vial of Life program aims to provide quick medical history
The Duluth police and fire departments introduced a program Monday that they say will save lives.
Speaking at the Duluth-St. Louis County Public Safety Building, officials announced the city’s adoption of the Vial of Life program, in which residents can affix a plastic baggie with pertinent medical history and personal details to their refrigerator and a corresponding sticker to their front doors.
“It allows us to give quick care to people in need who are living in their own homes,” said Russ Bradley, the police department’s east community officer. “It alerts first responders that there is medical information available.”
There are 2,500 kits available free at police and fire stations across the city. Bradley said he expected senior citizens, mostly, to use the program, but Vial of Life could benefit anyone.
“When we’re in an emergency situation, time is of the essence,” Duluth Fire Capt. Corey Swartout said. “This is a proven program.”
The local authorities thanked a citizen patroller, Jerry Lawson, for his effort in bringing the program to the Northland. Lawson, who is retired and spends winters in Florida, sought counsel with authorities there after observing the program firsthand.
“It’s going to save lives,” said Lawson, who learned of the program while attending a ride-along with sheriff’s deputies in Daytona Beach, Fla. “Not just older people, but everyone.”
Lawson gave the real-life example of a man who’d had a stroke and couldn’t answer any of the first responders’ questions because the afflicted man couldn’t speak.
In addition to pertinent health information, Vial of Life users can inform first responders of important contact information as well.
Bradley said police can spend exorbitant amounts of time trying to track down family and others.
“Sometimes they can be very difficult to find,” he said.
With quick access to vital health and contact information, first responders figure to be better equipped to help those they serve.
“I think there’s a need for this,” Bradley said.
Essentia Health purchased the stickers for the 2,500 kits and Super One provided the plastic baggies (which years ago replaced the program’s original vials for cost reasons).
What happens if the 2,500 kits get scooped up?
“We’ll make another 2,500,” Lawson said, “and give them out till everybody’s got them.”
Vial of Life kits
To get a free Vial of Life kit, visit:
There are 2,500 kits available free at police and fire stations across the city. Bradley said he expected senior citizens, mostly, to use the program, but Vial of Life could benefit anyone.
“When we’re in an emergency situation, time is of the essence,” Duluth Fire Capt. Corey Swartout said. “This is a proven program.”
The local authorities thanked a citizen patroller, Jerry Lawson, for his effort in bringing the program to the Northland. Lawson, who is retired and spends winters in Florida, sought counsel with authorities there after observing the program firsthand.
“It’s going to save lives,” said Lawson, who learned of the program while attending a ride-along with sheriff’s deputies in Daytona Beach, Fla. “Not just older people, but everyone.”
Lawson gave the real-life example of a man who’d had a stroke and couldn’t answer any of the first responders’ questions because the afflicted man couldn’t speak.
In addition to pertinent health information, Vial of Life users can inform first responders of important contact information as well.
Bradley said police can spend exorbitant amounts of time trying to track down family and others.
“Sometimes they can be very difficult to find,” he said.
With quick access to vital health and contact information, first responders figure to be better equipped to help those they serve.
“I think there’s a need for this,” Bradley said.
Essentia Health purchased the stickers for the 2,500 kits and Super One provided the plastic baggies (which years ago replaced the program’s original vials for cost reasons).
What happens if the 2,500 kits get scooped up?
“We’ll make another 2,500,” Lawson said, “and give them out till everybody’s got them.”
Vial of Life kits
To get a free Vial of Life kit, visit:
- Duluth Police Headquarters, 2030 N. Arlington Ave.
- West Area Police Station, 5830 Grand Ave.
- Lincoln Park substation, 2012 W. Superior St.
- Duluth’s main fire hall, 602 W. Second St.
- Fire Station 2, 2627 W. Superior St.
- Fire Station 4, 425 W. College St.
- Fire Station 6, 1031 N. 51st Ave. E.
- Fire Station 11, 3501 Woodland Ave.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
The formula.......
What does policing need to strengthen trust and build relationships in the communities we serve?
1. We Need the Right People
We need to better recruit and hire people with maturity, excellent communication skills, compassion, diverse life experience and background as well as a college education. Additionally, we need people who desire to make our neighborhoods better; not someone who sees their job as an occupying force,but a dedicated relationship builder who has a stake in our community’s success.
2. We Need the Right Training
Training of our officers continues to improve. Whether it is crisis intervention training for dealing with those who are mentally ill or de-escalization training or verbal skill enhancement, our officers have never been better trained. But we can do better, I recently heard of a study that found for every hour of extra in-service training an officer receives their use of force incidents drop 4%. That is a good return on your investment. Police involved shootings and improper use of force garner the most attention from our community, so we will continue to train on innovative practices to ensure our officers are trained well above national standards. We will work with all those we serve to build understanding and support for those rare instances when despite officers doing the right thing and for the right reason, things go wrong.
3. We Need Technology
Innovative technology will also help us reduce prevent and reduce crime as well as the need for police to use force. While privacy advocates and I share the same concerns about big government watching our citizen’s activities, there are occasions where emerging technology will prevent a police officer, innocent people or even a dangerous suspect from getting hurt. Innovations are occurring rapidly, so we must begin talking about technology and policing now because technology is often developing faster than good policies can be established. Technology used in policing must be shared openly with the public and vetted properly so there is a clear and legal understanding of when and how the technology can be used to keep our community safe.
4. Community Policing Needs Support
We must continue to embrace and build on community policing. My own career experience with community policing guides me today because I know how well it works. To do community policing right it requires putting the right people in the right places, having sufficient staffing, funding and training. When police build relationships with community members, community groups and our business community we solve problems and reduce crime; as well as improve our neighborhoods. I want our officers to know the business owners and employees as well as the residents in their beats. A serious use of force incident in our community recently showed strong trust and faith in our police department. This support and trust happened as a direct result of the relationships our officers have built with community members. This is what community policing is all about and it is what we will continue to build on in the years ahead.
1. We Need the Right People
We need to better recruit and hire people with maturity, excellent communication skills, compassion, diverse life experience and background as well as a college education. Additionally, we need people who desire to make our neighborhoods better; not someone who sees their job as an occupying force,but a dedicated relationship builder who has a stake in our community’s success.
2. We Need the Right Training
Training of our officers continues to improve. Whether it is crisis intervention training for dealing with those who are mentally ill or de-escalization training or verbal skill enhancement, our officers have never been better trained. But we can do better, I recently heard of a study that found for every hour of extra in-service training an officer receives their use of force incidents drop 4%. That is a good return on your investment. Police involved shootings and improper use of force garner the most attention from our community, so we will continue to train on innovative practices to ensure our officers are trained well above national standards. We will work with all those we serve to build understanding and support for those rare instances when despite officers doing the right thing and for the right reason, things go wrong.
3. We Need Technology
Innovative technology will also help us reduce prevent and reduce crime as well as the need for police to use force. While privacy advocates and I share the same concerns about big government watching our citizen’s activities, there are occasions where emerging technology will prevent a police officer, innocent people or even a dangerous suspect from getting hurt. Innovations are occurring rapidly, so we must begin talking about technology and policing now because technology is often developing faster than good policies can be established. Technology used in policing must be shared openly with the public and vetted properly so there is a clear and legal understanding of when and how the technology can be used to keep our community safe.
4. Community Policing Needs Support
We must continue to embrace and build on community policing. My own career experience with community policing guides me today because I know how well it works. To do community policing right it requires putting the right people in the right places, having sufficient staffing, funding and training. When police build relationships with community members, community groups and our business community we solve problems and reduce crime; as well as improve our neighborhoods. I want our officers to know the business owners and employees as well as the residents in their beats. A serious use of force incident in our community recently showed strong trust and faith in our police department. This support and trust happened as a direct result of the relationships our officers have built with community members. This is what community policing is all about and it is what we will continue to build on in the years ahead.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Good things going on
There is too much focus on things going wrong in our world. At a local level, we live in a great City where good far out weighs bad...Here are a couple of video links that are a good reminder.
Hillfest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN4L2Tr1omY
Meet on the Street - Lincoln Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmkLHGyVuM
Hillfest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN4L2Tr1omY
Meet on the Street - Lincoln Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmkLHGyVuM
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Good work you won't hear about in the news
What you won't hear about on the news, but happens every minute of everyday; great customer service by our officers. Here were a couple of the emails I received from people involved in crashes last week
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 10:34 AM
To: Gordon Ramsay
Subject: Thank you
On Monday, I was in one of the many multiple car crunches. The three policemen who worked the accident renewed my faith in humans. They were efficient, clear, had ...a sense of humor, and kind. What a great combination. Their mommas must be very proud of them.
Pat
______________________________
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 12:06 AM
To: police
Subject: Increment weather - thank you for helping out
Greetings,
First big storm and so many accidents. I was part of one of the pile ups on the 32 ave E just between Graysolon and London Rd. Probably not the worst of the day, but enough to make me shaken. I would like to say thank you to the police department and specifically officer Webster (sp?) - I hope I got the name correctly. The whole situation caused me the worst panic attack in years. The officer was very calm, cordial and checked on me a number of times to make sure I was ok. In a situation when one has no control of the car, sliding and bumping with other people/cars doing the same, it was appretiated to have the help and support. Thank you.
To: Gordon Ramsay
Subject: Thank you
On Monday, I was in one of the many multiple car crunches. The three policemen who worked the accident renewed my faith in humans. They were efficient, clear, had ...a sense of humor, and kind. What a great combination. Their mommas must be very proud of them.
Pat
______________________________
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 12:06 AM
To: police
Subject: Increment weather - thank you for helping out
Greetings,
First big storm and so many accidents. I was part of one of the pile ups on the 32 ave E just between Graysolon and London Rd. Probably not the worst of the day, but enough to make me shaken. I would like to say thank you to the police department and specifically officer Webster (sp?) - I hope I got the name correctly. The whole situation caused me the worst panic attack in years. The officer was very calm, cordial and checked on me a number of times to make sure I was ok. In a situation when one has no control of the car, sliding and bumping with other people/cars doing the same, it was appretiated to have the help and support. Thank you.
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