The Police Department continues to be a very busy, proactive, community based agency.  Our total calls for service – ICRs – (not including calls specific to the PGA) for 2002 totaled 16,362, which were 2,373 calls over and above the year 2001. 

Even with the added calls for service in 2002, the officers continued to demonstrate their dedication to the community, and department by producing higher numbers in the area of enforcement as reflected by the number of citations/warnings issued, the number of DWI/DUI arrests, illegal drug traffic/use enforcement, and overall officer initiated citizen contacts.  Please refer to the attached charts and graphs.

All team members – patrol officers/detectives/School Resource Officers – continually collaborated, and worked together with our office and administrative staff to set an outstanding overall 2002-crime clearance rate of 66 percent.  Such a rate testifies to absolute stellar performance.  When compared to a statewide average clearance rate, which never rises above a percentage in the low forties, the Chaska Police Department really shines.  During two months of 2002, our crime clearance rate was 75 percent, and our lowest month of the year rendered a clearance rate of 55 percent.     I continue to be fiercely proud of our officers, and staff.

Our team of Community Service Officers has increased their hours of patrol coverage, and conversely has been able to bring greater regulation, and compliance in the area of animal control and licensure.  They continue to respond to vehicle lock-outs, perform vacation house checks, monitor/enforce City ordinances, assist Kevin Abraham (MSB) with the management of our fleet, and perform many untold tasks, which keeps the police department and City “well oiled.”      

We continue to survey our “customers” to be sure that we are delivering the same high level of quality service, as we have a long history of doing.  Even though we are answering an ever-rising volume of calls for service, arrest needs, and everyday citizen contacts our survey results are outstanding.

The 2002 PGA Championship was an outstanding success in every regard.  Our department – who was the stand-alone agency – had absolute final responsibility throughout the planning and execution phases for the physical security and well-being of all persons, and we shined.  The task of securing an event of such magnitude in regard to expected and unexpected possibilities and threats was fully answered.  We forged many new partnerships, and we had fun!  

We look forward to 2003, and are preparing to launch a new community safety initiative.  Stay tuned…