2019 annual report - westfield, indiana

2019 ANNUAL REPORT

2 WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT

32020 ANNUAL REPORT


2020 CITY COUNCIL

Scott WillisVice President

District 1

Scott FreiDistrict 4

Cindy L. Spoljaric At Large

Jake Gilbert District 2

Mike JohnsDistrict 5

Troy PattonAt Large

Joe EdwardsPresidentDistrict 3

2020 Board of Public Works and Safety: Mayor Andy Cook, Randy Graham, Jim Ake

Andy CookMayor

Todd BurtronChief of Staff

52020 ANNUAL REPORT

CHIEFS

2020, what a year. Who could have predicted the challenges we would face? A world pandemic with COVID-19. A nation struggling with social unrest. Our profession of choice being challenged on all fronts. Listening to phrases like “defund the police” or “reform the police.” I remember back in May being asked, “What are you going to do?” “shouldn’t you start making changes?” My answer was simple. The Westfield Police Department is a nationally accredited police department. We operate under a very strict set of accepted standards. We are not perfect; we are human but we do hold ourselves accountable. When we make mistakes, we discipline. When we do things right, we celebrate. We do things the “Westfield Way.” We have an amazing team of men and women whose mission it is to serve the entire community. We have spent the past several years examining

our general orders. We changed policies in regards to pursuits, use of force including choke holds and de-escalation requirements. We work hard on our outreach initiatives realizing the importance of building relationships with those we serve. In 2020, we transitioned to a new body worn and vehicle camera system promoting transparency of our actions. We also transitioned from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Summary Reporting System (SRS) to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS is a criminal reporting system that is designed to capture a significant number of details on each crime incident. We utilize a robust wellness program designed to take care of each other consisting of peer support, critical incident stress management team (CISM), departmental chaplains and a fitness program.

As COVID-19 shut the nation down our team continued to serve the community. By implementing strict protocols, we managed to stay healthy and keep staffing at a normal level. Our Support Division also transitioned services to an online platform finding efficient solutions for daily business operations. We formed a recruitment team that assisted with the hiring of a record number of new officers. We celebrated the retirements of Bob Rushforth, Chuck Blackford, Mike Seagrave and Deb Clement. Criminalist Shandra Hawes and Rita Chiu were hired to fill the Property/Evidence vacancies. Kristie Foote was hired as an additional Records Assistant. Wade Burtron, Steffan Short and Matt Ford were promoted to Sergeant in the Patrol Division. Billy Adams was promoted to Lieutenant. Tyler Dougherty was promoted to Sergeant in School Resources. Rob Dine was promoted to Detective Lieutenant and Greg Marlow was promoted to Detective Sergeant. Adam Zosso and Morgan Berns were also added to the Investigation Division as Detectives. Chuck Nichols was appointed to the position of Fleet Manager and charged with overseeing both our fleet and quartermaster programs. We continue to fine tune the Crash Team, Drone Team and the Field Training Program.

The pandemic put our numerous outreach programs on pause, but we look forward to 2021 and the possibility of getting back to normal. Building a relationship with the community is the most important thing we do. It is at our core, our mission. We define this mission and how we do it as the “Westfield Way.” We will continue to examine the way we do things, hold ourselves accountable and take care of each other so we can professionally serve all people.

As police officers and citizens, we have an obligation to ensure all of our residents can live and thrive in a stable and safe community. Our basic mission is to effectively fight crime, reduce traffic related problems and address quality of life concerns. We create partnerships with those we serve, hire outstanding officers and staff and utilize technology to share information and operate more efficiently.

In 2020, we continued our Police Substations and Directed Patrols program to provide enhanced security and consistent, uniformed police presence at all schools in our district. The safety of the kids, teachers and staff in our schools will remain a top priority for our agency in 2021.

In 2020, our officers and staff successfully continued to provide exceptional service to our residents, in spite of the numerous challenges created by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our officers developed new ways to interact, investigate crimes and solve problems. As an agency, we continued to grow along with the city, and hired 18 new employees during the year. We look forward to 2021 and our renewed ability to conduct our outreach events and programs, and to further develop connections with those we serve.


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72020 ANNUAL REPORT


OFFICERS & CIVILIAN STAFF

Chief Joel Rush Asst. Chief Scott Jordan Captain Charles Hollowell Captain Mike Vickroy Det. Captain Jim Lilly Lt. Bob Rushforth

Lt. Bobbie Gorrell Lt. Brodie Houston Lt. Mike Seagrave Lt. Rory Gentry Lt. Mike Siara Lt. Eric Grimes

Lt. Billy Adams Det. Lt. Rob Dine Sgt. Jackie Carter Sgt. Josh Harrell Sgt. Jeff Swiatkowski Sgt. Wade Burtron

Sgt. Matt Ford Sgt. Steffan Short Sgt. Tyler Dougherty Det. Sgt. Greg Marlow Det. Brett Bays Det. Tony Howard

Det. Adam Zosso Criminalist Chuck Blackford Criminalist Shandra Hawes Criminalist Rita ChiuDet. Morgan Berns Officer Angie Martin

Officer Mike Wheeler Officer Joseph Hopkins Officer Song Kang Officer Chuck Nichols Officer Broc Larrison Officer Chad Tribbett

Officer Qaiumuzzaman Khan

Det. Tony Howard

92020 ANNUAL REPORT

OFFICERS & CIVILIAN STAFF

Chaplain Daniel Minton

Officer Brandon Gehlhausen Officer Dewey Abney K9 Pilot Officer Elias Rebollar Officer Eli Stubbs K9 Scout

Officer Anuar Velazquez K9 Billy Officer Taylor McCorkle Officer Andrew Brunett Officer LeeAnn Carter Officer Jeremy Thomas

Officer Clayton Wylie Officer Tyler Mitchell Officer Devin Cornwell Officer Marcus Harris Officer Joshua Adley Officer Ethan Wygant

Officer Nick Bonds Officer Kaeden Gebhart Officer Winyu Sheriff Officer Derek Baldridge Officer Andrew Bowell Officer David Dugger

Officer Qaiumuzzaman Khan Officer Charles Terry Officer Lindsay Bevilaqua Officer Lisa McGlohn Officer William Ottenweller Officer Jonathan Mathioudakis

Officer Rafael Diaz Records ManagerAmanda Aiyar

Records AssistantKristie Foote

Chaplain Tim KrupskiRecords QCAssistant Andrea Gambrel

ReceptionistDebra Clement


PATROL DIVISION

The Westfield Patrol Division is the largest and most visible unit of the Westfield Police Department. This division currently has 37 sworn officers. The personnel assigned to this division are the initial responders and investigators of crimes such as thefts, robberies, burglaries, assaults, death investigations and drug or alcohol related incidents. Additionally, these employees are responsible for foot and neighborhood patrols, school patrols and substation visits, residential vacation checks, public relation details, security checks and the investigation of traffic crashes, traffic enforcement, criminal apprehension and other miscellaneous calls for service. Within the Patrol Division, there are also specialized groups that participate in the following areas: Operations Support, Community Service, Field Training Officers, Bicycle Patrol, Emergency Response Unit (ESU), Honor Guard, K-9 Unit, Public Information, Civilian Police Academy and Neighborhood Crime Watch.

The City of Westfield is divided into four patrol beats/districts. Each beat/district has an officer assigned to it and it is this officer’s main responsibility to patrol the residential and business districts within this assigned area. Additionally, dividing the city into beats/districts, ensures that these residential and business districts are patrolled more thoroughly and consistently. By having beats/districts, officer response times are reduced, patrols are better concentrated and a better police presence is circulated throughout the city.

The Patrol Division is focused on being proactive instead of reactive in an environment that has constant growth and change. Being proactive is achieved in several ways, but one of our main actions is through team input and collaboration. This is accomplished through monthly Directed Activity Plans where officers that are assigned to squads/teams can share ideas on areas to target, due to crime trends, traffic enforcement locations, high crime, high automobile crash locations, school patrols and substation visits and community outreach opportunities. From these group efforts, many self-initiated activities and patrol related functions are developed. The main objective is to keep the City of Westfield safe and build a bond with the public. Moreover, these directed activity methods help to reduce crime and traffic accidents, and build positive relationships within our community.

2020 focal points for the Patrol Division were to reduce automobile accidents at high crash locations, enforce distracted driving legislation, help to maintain a safe school district, ensure safe protesting and continuing high levels of service during COVID-19. Officers targeted high crash locations looking for drivers that were distracted, following too closely and speeding. Additionally, officers conducted daily school patrols and substations visits and were viewed as very positive by the students and school staff. These school visits further provided extra patrolling efforts to assist our School Resource Officers and school administrators in maintaining a safe learning environment. Patrol also had to adapt to several environmental concerns while being responsive and proactive. Moreover, we provided safe and interactive services during several peaceful protests and learned how to effectively and safely provide services to the public while wearing masks/face coverings and other protective equipment due to COVID-19.

The Patrol Division would like to encourage all employees and residents of the City of Westfield to report any suspicious activities to the dispatch center. Additionally, police networking with the community builds positive relationships and trust between law enforcement and the citizens that we have sworn to protect and serve. Joint endeavors are also necessary to ensure that our city remains one of the safest communities within that State of Indiana and throughout the United States.

112020 ANNUAL REPORT

BIKE PATROL

April 2008 marked the beginning of the Westfield Police Department’s Bike Patrol. The Bike Team was assembled to assist in patrolling areas difficult to access and cover with a patrol car. The team was created to encourage a better relationship with the community. Interaction between bike officers and the public is a benefit of the team; making officers more approachable and giving them the opportunity to receive important feedback on activity in the community.

Bike officers have the same responsibilities as officers in vehicles. Bike officers routinely answer calls for service and patrol neighborhoods and city parks and trails. Since its

beginning, the Bike Team has been a success by increasing the level of police presence throughout the city. The Bike Team is also a welcomed and regular presence at special events occurring in the city and will continue to be utilized to provide quality service to Westfield residents and visitors.

The Bike Team started with six members and grew to 17 members in 2020. The Bike Patrol Unit provides Bike officers with Cannondale, 21-speed mountain bikes which are fully equipped for police functions. In addition, each officer is issued a complete uniform consisting of high visibility shirts, bicycle shorts, nylon gun belts, shoes, bike gloves and a helmet that is worn at all times while the officer is riding.

All Bike officers must complete and pass a rigorous training course on braking, evasive maneuvers, dismounts, stair riding, slow speed drills and various other skills.

Westfield Police Bike Team consists of the following officers:

Chief Joel RushAsst. Chief Scott JordanLt. Mike SiaraLt. Billy AdamsSgt. Jackie CarterSgt. Jeff SwiatkowskiSgt. Matt Ford

Sgt. Jackie Carter

Sgt. Steffan ShortDetective Adam ZossoOfficer Mike WheelerOfficer Joe HopkinsOfficer Chuck NicholsOfficer Broc Larrison

Officer Chad TribbettOfficer Andrew BrunettOfficer Song KangOfficer Devin Cornwell


TITLECRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

InvestigationsThe Criminal Investigations Division (CID) consists of two investigative roles, detectives and civilian criminalists. The detectives are responsible for the management of all case reports, investigating all major crimes and any complex crimes initially investigated by patrol personnel. The civilian criminalists are responsible for the preservation of the departments property room and locating, collecting, storing, preserving and analyzing physical evidence at crime scenes.

Every detective in the Westfield Police Department began their law enforcement careers as patrol officers. Officers earn assignment to CID based upon various attributes such as knowledge, experience and investigative ability. Upon assignment to the division, members receive specialized training to help with the performance of their duties. The division currently consists of nine team members: Criminalist Shandra Hawes, Criminalist Rita Chiu, Detective

Brett Bays, Detective Tony Howard, Detective Adam Zosso, Detective Morgan Berns, Detective Sergeant Greg Marlow, Detective Lieutenant Rob Dine and Captain Jim Lilly.

The mission of the Criminal Investigations Division is to combat crime by conducting prompt and proactive investigations. Our team members are dedicated to using all available resources to solve crimes, improve the quality of life and ensure the safety of our community by apprehending and seeking prosecution of those who commit crimes.

Det. Captain Lilly


TITLE


CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

CriminalistsThe criminalists are a support function of the Investigations Division that is responsible for Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence/Property Management.

When requested, criminalists respond to scenes within the City of Westfield. Criminalists aid patrol officers and detectives in the documentation, collection and preservation of evidence. This may be completed through photography, videography, sketches, measurements and evidence processing. The evaluation of the physical evidence documented and collected at the scenes allows for the detection of a crime and assists in apprehending an offender. This forensic evidence (whether it be fingerprints, footprints, hair, broken glass, tool marks or blood) obtained from a crime scene can be the key to solving the crime.

When not on a crime scene, the criminalists are working hard to keep our property room organized and up to date based on CALEA standards. All evidence collected or received from officers is stored in the property room, which is secured to maintain a chain of custody. Keeping track of the property/evidence that is stored in the property room is one of the most important aspects of their job. When lost or stolen property is submitted to the property room, they strive to keep the property secure until the rightful owner is able to claim it.

They also take part in community outreach and events such as the Citizen’s Academy, CSI Camp, tours and the Jake Laird event. Their goal is to provide the community with the basic knowledge of forensics and help them understand how they contribute to keeping our community safe. They are constantly learning and attending trainings to provide the best service they can to the community.

In 2020, two new criminalists were hired. After 30 years of service, Sworn Criminalist Chuck Blackford retired. At this time, the Crime Scene Unit is made up of two Civilian Criminalists—Shandra Hawes and Rita Chiu. Shandra came from Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency with experience and knowledge in crime scene investigation. Rita came from Toledo Police Department and worked with the drug unit and firearm unit. They are excited to join the department and help solve crimes for the citizens of Westfield.

Criminalist Shandra Hawes

Criminalist Rita Chiu


TITLETHANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, OFFICER BLACKFORD!


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The Support Division is comprised of sworn officers and civilian staff members. These individuals work primarily in the office during normal business hours and are responsible for a variety of areas including International CALEA accreditation, training, records, fleet maintenance and management, processing claims, public relations, computer technical support and the compilation of crime and traffic statistics. Members of the Support Division work on many community outreach programs and utilize social media platforms to enrich the relationship between the police department and residents. This division organizes numerous community events and social media tools are consistently utilized to share important crime information and safety tips.

In 2020, our Support Division staff successfully continued to provide exceptional service to our residents, in spite of the numerous challenges created by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They developed new processes and utilized

technology to continue to provide great customer service to our residents and officers.

Members of the Support Division include Lieutenant Brodie Houston (CALEA Accreditation and Professional Standards), Lieutenant Bobbie Gorrell (Administration and Training) and Records Manager/Social Media Coordinator Amanda Aiyar. Other members of the Support Division include Records Assistants Andrea Gambrel and Kristie Foote. In 2020, Administrative Assistant Debra Clement retired after 12 years of service. She was an important part of our team and her presence in the office will be missed by all.

SUPPORT DIVISION


The Records Division is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of records kept in response to daily police activity. The division is also responsible for processing and complying with public access requests for records, subpoenas, as well as other court orders.

The records staff comprises of three civilian staff members with responsibilities varying from customer service, collecting and processing fees, processing gun permits, tow releases, preparing paperwork for attorneys and prosecutors, disseminating reports to various local and state agencies, processing conceal carry permits to collecting and analyzing crime statistics and complying with records retention laws.

The Records Division also provides support to the patrol and investigations divisions, takes on special projects including statistics, presentations, assisting with community days, social media and other

administrative duties as needed.

2020 held many challenges for our department. In order to continue to provide our residents with excellent service throughout the pandemic, we transitioned nearly all of our services to an all-digital platform to more effectively and efficiently serve our residents. Additionally, our long-time receptionist Debra Clement decided to retire to spend more time with her family. As such, we were able to hire a new Records Assistant, Kristie Foote. Records Assistant Andrea Gambrel took on a new role as Records Quality Control Assistant.

In the coming year, our goals are to continue to provide excellent customer service to residents and personnel we assist and to provide timely information regarding crime trends, high accident locations, public relations information and other public service information via social media or other methods as necessary.

RECORDS DIVISION


TITLE


The Westfield Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency.

In 1979, the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) was created through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations: The International Association of Chiefs of Police, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, The National Sheriffs Association and The Police Executive Research Forum. The Goals of CALEA are: (1) strengthen crime prevention; (2) formalize essential

management procedures; (3) establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; (4) improve service delivery; (5) solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and (6) boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency.

Accreditation is considered to be one of the highest honors a law enforcement agency can obtain and identifies the nationally recognized level of professional excellence in law enforcement management and service. CALEA Accreditation serves as the international gold standard for public safety agencies. The process of CALEA Accreditation begins with a rigorous self-assessment, requiring review of policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. This is followed with an assessment by independent assessors with significant public safety experience. Additionally, public feedback is received to promote community trust and engagement, and structured interviews are conducted with select agency personnel and others with knowledge of the agency’s effectiveness and overall service delivery capacities. The decision to accredit is rendered by a governing body of twenty-one Commissioners following a public hearing and review of all reporting documentation.

The department received initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in April of 2016. CALEA Accreditation is a continuous process which serves as the foundation for a successful, well-managed, transparent, community-focused public safety agency. Each year since, an independent review and audit of the Westfield Police Department’s policies, procedures and proofs of compliance have been conducted. To this end, an agency must maintain its accredited status by remaining in compliance with CALEA standards at all times.

In October 2019, assessors from CALEA conducted an on-site visit. The assessors interviewed numerous community members and WPD personnel regarding predetermined focus areas including diversity, recruiting, community relations and wellness to ensure compliance with CALEA standards and direct our department for the future.

In 2020, the result on the on-site assessment and CALEA Board of Commissioners review was announced. The Westfield Police Department earned its 5th year Law Enforcement Accreditation Certification Award during a virtual hearing with CALEA Commissioners.

A complete review of the 5th edition CALEA Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies was conducted in order to maintain its commitment to excellence. As a result, the 6th edition CALEA Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies was introduced. During the 2020 assessment period, WPD began transitioning to the 6th edition to maintain best practices and program integrity.

The Westfield Police Department Accreditation Manager participated in the CALEA Fall Virtual Conference which offered public safety workshops that address contemporary issues and provide management solutions to mid-level and command staff.

The 2020 Indiana Police Accreditation Coalition is comprised of agencies across the State of Indiana who have attained or are in the process of attaining state or international accreditation. WPD joined this group of public safety professionals for quarterly virtual meetings to maintain communication and the roadmap for compliance.

The City of Westfield and Westfield Police Department continues to demonstrate a commitment to professional excellence through accreditation.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION: CALEA


TITLE

WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT18

SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION

The Westfield Police Special Services Division oversees the management of traffic enforcement teams, K9 teams, school resources officers and department training and development. Additionally, the Special Services Division implements Law Enforcement operations plans for citywide events such as marathons, triathlons and festivals. The division’s roles and responsibilities remained the same for 2020, but we faced many challenges and had to restructure operations for the safety of our officers.

The Special Services Division is typically responsible for ensuring the safety and security of marathons, special events and sports events, but many of these were canceled or delayed in 2020. We redirected our efforts to support the agency’s COVID-19 mitigation protocol and sourcing critical

personal protective supplies.

While COVID-19 delayed our new hire process, we were able to hire and train nine new officers. The social distancing requirement provided us with the opportunity to implement online/internal video-based training for several of our department mandated classes.

During this same period, fleet operations were consolidated into the Special Services Division. A comprehensive overhaul of the entire section was conducted. This allowed for reorganization of fleet assets, streamlined ordering of equipment and improved upon the care and maintenance of department property. During this transition, the department also upgraded our in-car video camera systems and redeployed new body cameras to all patrol officers.

Special Services assisted with the mitigation planning and preparation of civil demonstrations that took place during 2020. With the collaborative efforts of City departments, we were able to facilitate our citizens right to protest in a safe and peaceful manner.

Crash ReconstructionThe Westfield Police Department has two Crash Reconstruction Teams that investigate and reconstruct all fatal and serious bodily injury crashes. The teams are comprised of a Team Supervisor, Team Lead, Crash Investigator, OWI Specialist, Investigator/Detective, Criminalist and Scene Assistant.



School Resource OfficersThe Westfield Police Department, in cooperation with Westfield Washington Schools, implemented the School Resource Officer Program in August of 2007. The School Resource Officer (SRO) is a sworn Westfield Police Officer assigned to provide Law Enforcement expertise and resources to assist school staff in maintaining safety, security, order and discipline within the schools. The SRO is responsible for the investigation of criminal cases and traffic accidents, the enforcement of criminal and traffic laws and working with school administrators on issues of student and staff safety and security. The schools are the equivalent of the SRO’s patrol area. Currently there are four SROs, assigned to the nine schools that comprise the Westfield Washington School District. The School District has a student population of approximately 7,950 and approximately 1,000 staff members. Each year brings a better understanding of the many ways an SRO can be of service and assistance within the schools.

Sgt. Tyler Dougherty Officer Matt Ford

Officer Anuar Velazquez Officer Mike Wheeler

Officer Lisa McGlohn


It was a challenging year for the Westfield Police Department Training Division. Our instructors and officers had to adapt and adjust our curriculum due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our instructors and officers continued to push through and even grew with nine new hires:

David DuggerAndrew BowellCharles TerryQaiumuzzaman KahnLindsay Bebilaqua


Training

Officer KangTraining Coordinator

Lt. Bobbie GorrellTraining Records Manager

Lisa McGlohnWilliam OttenwellerJonathan Mathioudakis Rafael Diaz

The dedicated instructors and officers found innovative ways to continue our training in order to follow the CDC guidelines while exceeding standards.



TrainingJANUARY1/2 Monthly K91/15-1/16 Building a Model Police Records Unit1/20-1/24 Field Training Officer Course1/20-1/23 Departmental Active Shooter

FEBRUARY2/3-2/7 Basic SRO2/3-2/6 Department Physical Tactics & Taser Recertification2/6 Monthly K92/12 Incident Based Reporting Webinar2/17 Department Firearms - Night Fire2/20 Critical Incident 2/27 Estate Planning 101

MARCH3/5 Monthly K93/9-3/10 The Ultimate Training Officer3/12 Citizens Academy CPR3/16-3/20 NIBRS3/23-3/27 NIBRS

JUNE6/1 RDS Handgun Instructor6/4 Monthly K96/11 New Hire EVO6/12 SFST Refresher6/12 New Hire Firearms Qualifications6/13-6/16 Department Firearms Qualifications6/17-6/18 New Hire OC & Less Lethal6/17-6/20 New Hire Physical Tactics6/18-6/20 New Hire Taser Certification6/20 New Hire Trauma Kit

JULY7/13-7/17 Defensive Tactics Instructor for IU Academy

AUGUST8/3 Axon8/3-8/7 EVO Instructor for IUPD8/4 IDACS Coordinator Course8/6 ALICE Instructor Recertification8/11-8/12 K9 Recertifications8/26 Firearms Qualifications

SEPTEMBER9/10-9/11 Pepperball Instructor Course9/25 Firearms Qualifications9/26-9/27 Pistol Shooting Solutions Advanced Shooting Course9/28-10/10 Child First National Course - Zero Abuse Project

OCTOBER10/6 ALICE Instructor10/8 Breath Test Certification10/14 Breath Test Certification10/19 Advanced Roadside Interview Techniques10/28 Identifying Criminal Vehicles and Occupants

NOVEMBER11/6 Law Enforcement Media & Social Media strategies for a Changing World11/10 Axon Standards11/18 Breath Test Certification11/20 Taser Instructor Course11/24 Axon Records

DECEMBER 12/7-12/18 Crash Recon12/8 Axon Standards Online12/9 Breath Test Certification12/9 Managing Police Records



K-9 DivisionThe Westfield Police Department has a total of three police K-9s including two drug detection and one bomb detection dog: Officer Stubbs and partner Scout, Officer Abney and partner Pilot, and explosives detection dog Billy.

Three K-9s are currently incorporated in the patrol division within various shifts. The explosive detection K-9 has been in the temporary care of Song Kang, Westfield Police Department K-9 Trainer. Our K-9 teams are graduates of the Vohne Liche Kennels patrol handler’s course and certified by the American Working Dog Association.

The Westfield K-9s are utilized in various capacities to assist officers with locating drugs and people. Some requests for service stem from traffic stops, building searches, warrants, area searches, tracks, parcel sniffs and school requests. Our police K-9s have also assisted other police agencies within the county as well as the United States Postal Service and Drug Task Force.

K-9 Pilot and Officer AbneyPilot and Officer Abney had another successful year. In the course of their work this year, drugs confiscated included; 68 grams of marijuana, 21 grams of heroin, 72 grams of methamphetamine, 1 grams of cocaine and 76 paraphernalia items. 24 arrests were made from these cases. Pilot and Officer Abney had a total of 144 training hours for 2020.

K-9 Scout and Officer StubbsScout and Officer Stubbs also had a successful year. Scout participated in 57 vehicle sniffs from traffic stops, 300+ school locker sniffs and 2 drug sniffs inside a building. Drugs confiscated included: 1609 grams of marijuana, 20 grams of methamphetamine, 38 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of heroin, 114 paraphernalia items and 36 other illegal items (including: 8 handguns, 2 recovered stolen vehicles and controlled substances). They also participated in 18 other agency assists and 2 warrant services. 43 arrests were made from these cases. Scout and Officer Stubbs had a total of 132 training hours for 2020 and also participated in 2 K-9 demonstrations.

Explosive Detection K-9 Billy In 2019, the Indianapolis Colts donated the funds for Billy as part of their partnership with the City of Westfield. After his prior handler left the department in December of 2020, Billy was placed in temporary care of the Westfield Police Department’s K-9 Trainer, Song Kang. We are currently seeking a new handler to partner with Billy in order to continue our efforts in safeguarding our community.


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TITLESPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION

K9 Division


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EMERGENCY SERVICES & CRISIS NEGOTIATION UNIT

The Noblesville/Westfield Emergency Services Unit (ESU) provides the residents of Westfield, Noblesville and other surrounding communities with a highly trained, highly capable tactical team to mitigate those situations which arise that are outside the capability of the normal police officer. As such, the personnel assigned to the ESU represent the top 1% of the officers at those agencies. In 2020, three WPD officers were assigned to the ESU: Lt. Mike Siara serves the team as an entry operator, Sgt. Josh Harrell serves the team as a Squad Leader and Detective Lt. Rob Dine serves as a less lethal and chemical munitions specialist. Ofc. Ethan Wygant (entry operator) and Detective Morgan Berns (sniper) will join the team full time in 2021.

ESU members undergo a rigorous selection and training process designed to identify those officers who are capable of working long hours, in adverse weather conditions, under extreme stress and scrutiny and who are able to make quick and intelligent tactical decisions. Approximately 50% of officers who attend ESU selection fail to meet the lofty standards of the team and are disqualified from consideration. ESU members are expected to excel in physical fitness, firearms proficiency, communications, teamwork, leadership and tactical trauma care. ESU members train for 12 hours each month, and attend week-long trainings twice each year to maintain their tactical excellence. Additionally, ESU members are routinely called upon to share their considerable knowledge and experience through training other officers at the agency.

The ESU may be called upon to conduct a variety of law enforcement operations; to include, high risk warrant service, barricaded subjects, hostage rescue, high risk vehicle interdiction, dignitary protection, woodland operations and any other task directed by the Chief of Police.

In 2020, the ESU was called to mitigate a number of high-risk critical incidents, to include a barricaded attempted murder suspect, an active gunman, armed suicidal persons and several high-risk warrants.

A separate Crisis Negotiations Unit exists within the ESU to provide the tactical element with critical support. WPD Ofc. LeeAnn Carter and Ofc. Devin Cornwell both serve as Negotiators.


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Chaplaincy ProgramWith a growing city comes an increase in Critical Incident and Stress Management for the Westfield Police Department and also a rise in the frequency of crisis moments which community members face. The chaplaincy program is tasked with caring both for the officers and staff as they handle daily policing, as well as ministering to families of the community going through various crises.

Chaplain Krupski and Chaplain Minton are tasked, as their primary role, to offer assistance to our police officers with emotional, spiritual and familial needs. Secondly, they assist our officers as they interact with the civilian population when these citizens are experiencing crisis during a time of police response or action.

Both Chaplains have responded and will continue to respond at all hours of the day and night to help provide counseling to officers and to assist on scene as support as Westfield Police Department seeks to provide excellence in service. They are likely to be seen walking around the building to check in on our officers and staff or participating in ride-alongs. They assist with calls to the community, such as death notifications or grief counseling for those who have lost loved ones. Every situation is different, but they stand ready to help in any way needed when called upon.

Chaplains Minton and Krupski

WELLNESS PROGRAM


TITLEWELLNESS PROGRAM

Physical Fitness Incentive ProgramLaw Enforcement can be a physically tough and demanding profession involving long and sometimes stressful hours, standing and sitting for long periods, driving at high-speeds, running in a variety of terrains, overcoming obstacles and subduing a combative or resisting subject. Failure on the part of officers to prepare for such activities or successfully complete such tasks can be dangerous and could result injury, property damage and/or the loss of life. The decline of health and fitness among those in the law enforcement community is an indisputable fact. Due to these factors, the Westfield Police Department implemented a voluntary physical fitness incentive program in 2010.

The goal of the voluntary physical fitness incentive program is for sworn members to always maintain a minimum level of physical fitness for duty related tasks, improve work performance, enjoy a healthier lifestyle and successful career. The program serves the interests of the agency, its individual officers and the community it serves.

A law enforcement voluntary physical fitness incentive program helps ensure that: • Officers have the requisite fitness to perform their duties;• Officers lifestyle habits will decrease health risks and improve quality of life; and• Agencies reduce their liability by ensuring officers’ physical readiness to perform while controlling risk and its associated costs.

The physical fitness tests are conducted in the Spring and Fall of each year consisting of push-ups, sit-ups, vertical jump, 300m run and 1.5 mile run. In order for an officer to pass the tests, they must meet or exceed the minimum standards for each event as set by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Exit-Standards. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only one fitness test was offered in the summer, as opposed to the standard two times a year.

In 2020, 43 police officers passed the summer fitness assessment, the most since the inception of the program in 2010. This was a 23% increase from the previous year. In 2019, 35 officers had passed the assessment.

Officers who passed both Spring and Fall Assessments in 2020:Dewey Abney LeeAnn Carter Joe Hopkins Steffan ShortBilly Adams Devin Cornwell Scott Jordan Mike SiaraJosh Adley Rafael Diaz Qaiumuzzaman Kahn Eli StubbsDerek Baldridge Rob Dine Song Kang Jeff SwiatkowskiBrett Bays Tyler Dougherty Broc Larrison Jeremy ThomasMorgan Berns David Dugger Jonathan Mathioudakis Chad TribbettLindsay Bevilaqua Kaeden Gebhart Taylor McCorkle Mike WheelerNick Bonds Eric Grimes Lisa McGlohn Ethan WygantAndrew Bowell Josh Harrell Tyler Mitchell Clayton WylieAndrew Brunett Marcus Harris Will Ottenweller Adam ZossoWade Burtron Charles Hollowell Joel Rush

Lt. Mike Siara


2020 AWARDS

5 Years

Top Gun

20 Years

Mike Wheeler

Chief’sAward

Chuck Nichols

15 Years

Brett Bays

Eli StubbsTyler Dougherty Taylor McCorkle

Morgan BernsMike Siara David Dugger

Life SavingAward

Nick BondsMike Vickroy Tyler Dougherty

Lindsay BevilaquaWinyu Sheriff Kaeden Gebhart


YEAR END STATS

Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)

Traffic


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Calls for Service


YEAR END STATS

Crimes Against a Person

Crimes Against Property


TITLESOCIAL MEDIA


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, LT. SEAGRAVE!



THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, LT. RUSHFORTH!


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, DEB CLEMENT!

WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT

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2019 annual report - westfield, indiana

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