2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks
2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks 2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks
of 30,224 inhabitants in the City of Fairbanks, is 2.0 law enforcement employees per 1000 inhabitants. Commissioned officers alone are at 1.4 per 1000. The current population of Fairbanks is estimated at approximately 32,000 with an additional 50,000 people residing in the area that frequent the city. The Fairbanks Police Department subscribes to the values of community policing, and works actively with our partner organization- the Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.’s). The VIP’s staff and field community-patrols every weekend, beginning on Thursdays. The VIP’s assist patrol on impounds, searches, locating stolen vehicles, DUI patrol and other activities. Community policing and the Volunteers in Policing are an invaluable asset. There are currently thirty-three commissioned officers assigned to patrol, with eleven members staffing each of three shifts. At full-staffing, each patrol shift consists of a Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and eight patrol officers. This year, the Fairbanks Police Department employed its first graduate from the Police Corps. The coming year promises to employ at least two more officers from this program. Currently the patrol division is working a 4-10 shift. This work schedule allows for an “overlap” of shifts during peak service hours, and affords the “off-going” shift officers an opportunity to complete arrest reports and court complaints during regular dutyhours, reducing the need to pay overtime. Sergeant Jim Geier was wounded in the line of duty in the month of December. Sergeant Geier is still on light duty as a result of this. Sergeant Geier is expected to make a complete recovery. Page 16
DOWNTOWN FOOT AND BIKE PATROL Downtown foot/bike patrol offers law enforcement officers a unique opportunity to interact with the public in a very accessible and positive way. The Downtown foot patrol area is bordered by Slater Street on the north and 10 th Ave on the south. The east border is the Steese Expressway and Barnette Street the west border. This area includes Golden Heart Park, Graehl Landing, the Visitor’s Center and numerous local businesses and restaurants. The hours for foot patrol are from noon to 10 pm. The volume of foot traffic downtown during the summer is considerable and consists of business owners, patrons, and tourists. A foot/bike patrol officer has the ability to interact with the public in a relatively lowkey manor. Officers can build a rapport with people who otherwise may have very little police contact. Being on foot or on a bicycle reduces the barriers between the public and law enforcement. This gives the public and opportunity to ask general questions or address concerns that are not emergency oriented. Establishing a police presence in the downtown area fosters a feeling of confidence and safety. During the summer of 2004 the foot/ bike officer responded to a variety of complaints to include drinking in public, trespassing, thefts, and assaults. Twenty one arrests were made and six citations written. Most of these offenses involved the nuisance crimes such as open container, drinking in public, and disorderly conduct. One concern frequently mentioned by business owners and patrons is the number of chronic inebriates who hang out in mass in the downtown parks during the summer. A foot patrol officer is able to enforce liquor violations and respond quickly to problems that invariably occur. The Officer’s ability to quickly respond to even minor problems discourages those who engage in illegal behavior and often encourages them to move their activities out of the downtown area. Another problem arose during the summer of 2004. A group of juveniles was targeting the chronic inebriate population for late night assaults and robberies. Initially victims were not reporting the assaults to police, but after some questioning about injuries a pattern of attacks emerged. By analyzing the crimes, police and social service were able to focus directed patrols and resources to combat the problem. These actions provided more protection to a vulnerable population and ended the assaults. Overall a foot patrol officer is in a unique position to act as a liaison between the community and the department. Through networking and extensive community contact a patrol officer can help address community concerns, identify effective strategies, track crime trends, and provide services to people who may otherwise slip through the cracks. Page 17
- Page 2 and 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s Lett
- Page 4 and 5: CITY OF FAIRBANKS The City of Fairb
- Page 6 and 7: Our uniformed staff averages just l
- Page 8 and 9: Custodian (.5) Communications Lead
- Page 10 and 11: GOOD-BYES, HELLOS AND PROMOTIONS 20
- Page 12 and 13: Highlights of 2004 February: First
- Page 14 and 15: GOALS FOR 2005 Director Paul Harris
- Page 16 and 17: watched as the weight of the jade c
- Page 20 and 21: USE OF FORCE Incidents which requir
- Page 22 and 23: Sergeant Dan Welborn has written tr
- Page 24 and 25: F.P.D. MOTORCYCLE PROGRAM The Fairb
- Page 26 and 27: In 2004, Detective Randy Coffey com
- Page 28 and 29: ABADE/METRO The term METRO is short
- Page 30 and 31: North Star VFD 13% Rural Deltana 0%
- Page 32 and 33: Department. In addition, a comprehe
- Page 34 and 35: EVIDENCE The Evidence Unit is manne
- Page 36 and 37: The team responded, with support fr
- Page 38 and 39: DEPARTMENT FLEET The Fairbanks Poli
- Page 40 and 41: Director Paul Harris congratulates
- Page 42 and 43: PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION On Novembe
- Page 44 and 45: # OF CITATIONS 450 400 350 300 250
- Page 46 and 47: 2004 STATISTICS MAJOR CALLS FOR SER
- Page 48 and 49: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On June 24, 2004 t
- Page 50: The Volunteers In Police sponsored
<strong>of</strong> 30,224 inhabitants in the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fairbanks</strong>, is 2.0 law enforcement<br />
employees per 1000 inhabitants. Commissioned <strong>of</strong>ficers alone are at 1.4 per<br />
1000. The current population <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fairbanks</strong> is estimated at approximately<br />
32,000 with an additional 50,000 people residing in the area that frequent the<br />
city.<br />
The <strong>Fairbanks</strong> Police<br />
Department subscribes to the<br />
values <strong>of</strong> community policing,<br />
and works actively with our<br />
partner organization- the<br />
Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.’s).<br />
The VIP’s staff and field<br />
community-patrols every<br />
weekend, beginning on Thursdays. The VIP’s assist patrol on impounds,<br />
searches, locating stolen vehicles, DUI patrol and other activities. Community<br />
policing and the Volunteers in Policing are an invaluable asset.<br />
There are currently thirty-three<br />
commissioned <strong>of</strong>ficers assigned to patrol,<br />
with eleven members staffing each <strong>of</strong> three<br />
shifts. At full-staffing, each patrol shift<br />
consists <strong>of</strong> a Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and<br />
eight patrol <strong>of</strong>ficers. This year, the<br />
<strong>Fairbanks</strong> Police Department employed its<br />
first graduate from the Police Corps. The<br />
coming year promises to employ at least two<br />
more <strong>of</strong>ficers from this program. Currently<br />
the patrol division is working a 4-10 shift.<br />
This work schedule allows for an “overlap”<br />
<strong>of</strong> shifts during peak service hours, and<br />
affords the “<strong>of</strong>f-going” shift <strong>of</strong>ficers an<br />
opportunity to complete arrest reports and<br />
court complaints during regular dutyhours,<br />
reducing the need to pay overtime.<br />
Sergeant Jim Geier was wounded in the line <strong>of</strong> duty in the month <strong>of</strong> December.<br />
Sergeant Geier is still on light duty as a result <strong>of</strong> this. Sergeant Geier is<br />
expected to make a complete recovery.<br />
Page 16
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