Police Department

Police Department
2012 Annual Report
Did you know…
The average age of TPD personnel is 39.4 years
old? And did you know the TPD has 391 years of
combined experience?
Department Profile
Page 4
Operations Division
Organizational Chart
4
ARC Team
Message from the Chief
5
Dive Team
Organization Structure
Support Services
6-7
8-10
Department Activity
Traffic Enforcement
Volunteers in Policing
Special Events
School Resource Officer
Emergency Preparedness
Investigations
Training
20
Property and Evidence
Dispatch
20
Fleet
Officer of the Year
21
Community Outreach
12
22
Recruitment
2013 Goals
2
Page 14-19
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"Embraced by Our Community
Esteemed by Our Profession"
We accomplish this by Providing Premier and Innovative Police
Services in support of our Town Values, Philosophies, and Goals
Follow Us...
Truckee Police Department
3
Town Council 2012
Police 2012
Mayor …………………………………. Joan deRyk Jones
Sworn Personnel …………………………
24
Vice Mayor ………………………….. Barbara Green
Civilian Personnel ……………………….
4
Council Members ……………….. Caroline Wallace Dee
Mark Brown
Richard Anderson
Volunteers ………………………………….
14
Reserve Sergeants ………………………
2
Reserve Officers …………………………
2
Marked Vehicles …………………………
10
Unmarked Vehicles …………………….
4
Bicycles ………………………………………
4
Paddle Boards …………………………….
2
Boat ……………………………………………
1
Calls for Service ………………………….
13,337
Established ……….………………………..
2001
Police Department Budget…………..
$5,320,817
Town 2012
4
4
Town Manager …………………..
Tony Lashbrook
Assistant Town Manager ……
Alex Terrazas
Established ………………………..
1993
Town Budget (General Fund)
$17,711,413
Population ……………………….…
16,181
A YEAR OF CHANGE
On behalf of the dedicated members of the Truckee Police Department, I am pleased to present our 2012 Annual Report to the
community we serve. The men and women of the Truckee Police Department are committed to providing exceptional public safety
services to our residents and guests. Every day our employees and volunteers have positive impacts on our community and make a
difference.
The year 2012 proved to be busy and full of change. Change began with my appointment as Chief of Police in early February 2012.
A change in leadership for any organization is mixed with opportunities and challenges. We were no different. I am pleased to
report we embraced the opportunities and pushed through the challenges, turning them into positive outcomes. The department
experienced a number of retirements and welcomed many new faces. Three of our senior employees earned promotions, which
ushered in exciting new energy to the organization.
We implemented a new communication philosophy with the public and garnered improved
community partnerships. The success of your police department is dependent upon our community policing philosophy, and the collaborative partnerships we have established and nurtured with our regional neighbors. The members of the Truckee Police Department are committed to ensuring Truckee continues to be a desirable and safe community in which to live,
work, and play.
We truly appreciate the strong support we receive from our residents and guests, our elected
officials and Town staff. We embrace the concept of community-oriented government and
police-community partnerships that emphasize “The Truckee Way”.
Your police department takes pride in its excellent reputation with our regional
partners in public safety, education, special districts and many other community stakeholders. We place significant importance on these partnerships as we
recognize we cannot provide a safe community without the help and cooperation of these partners. We are committed to improving these partnerships
even more by enhancing our two-way communications and seeking feedback
regarding our service.
As we move into 2013, we will build upon the progress gained in 2012 and
remain committed to preventing and reducing crime, improving traffic safety,
enhancing emergency preparedness and nurturing community partnerships.
The Town of Truckee is an incredible place to call home and a unique place in
which to recreate. I am proud to serve as your police chief and I assure you
our department will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do, and
provide the highest possible service to our community. The objective of this Annual Report is
to inform you, our community, of the many achievements and challenges we faced on your
behalf in 2012. We hope you find it informative and enjoyable.
Town Manager Tony Lashbrook &
Police Chief Adam McGill
Thank you for your interest in our Annual Report.
Please visit our website at
www.townoftruckee.com for more information about our services. We also ask that you and
consider signing up for our community alert system at www.nixle.com.
Sincerely,
Adam McGill
Truckee Police Department
Did you know…
The Town’s elevation rises from
5,500 feet at its eastern boundary
to 7,500 feet in the northwest corner, covering nearly 34 sq miles?
Capitan Leftwich,
Executive Assistant
Rosemary O’Gorman,
Chief McGill & Captain Mitchell
The Support Services Division includes Investigations, Property
and Evidence, School Resource Officer (SRO) and Volunteers in
Policing (VIP). The division is comprised of two detectives, a
field and evidence specialist, a school resource officer assigned
to the Truckee schools, the department volunteer group
(which includes 14 volunteers), an administrative sergeant and
a police captain.
The Support Services Division provides police support and administrative services to the department.
6
Support Services Captain
Harwood Mitchell
The Operations Division of the Police Department consists of Patrol,
Reserves, Traffic, Adventure Recreation & Community Team, Dive
Team and Special Events. The division is staffed by Captain Leftwich,
along with four sergeants, 14 officers, two reserve sergeants and
two reserve officers.
Operations Captain
Rob Leftwich
Truckee Police Department
The police department has 14 dedicated volunteers who provide assistance in a variety of
areas, ranging from snow patrol and traffic control, to working the front desk and assisting
with special events. They also set up digital signboards used for traffic control and enforcement. Their mission is to promote the quality of life in Truckee through a partnership between the community and the police department.
During winter months, volunteers often respond to call-outs to assist officers with heavy
traffic in snowy and icy conditions. Two dedicated patrol vehicles are assigned to them. In
the summer, volunteers help out with the many special events held in the community, including the Fourth of July parade and Truckee Thursdays. Their support is critical to the successful hosting of these events.
In 2012, the volunteers gave over 2,300 hours of their time assisting the police department.
Since the inception of the VIP program in 2003, they have contributed nearly 20,000 hours of
time.
Karen Justesen was selected as the 2012 Volunteer
of the Year. Karen frequently volunteers in the front
office of the police department, helping the community service officer during peak workload times and
by filling in when needed. She contributed over 132
hours in 2012, and received a Bronze Presidential
Volunteer Service Award. Eight other volunteers
also received either Bronze or Silver awards in 2012.
If you are interested in joining the team of VIPs please contact
Sergeant John Mon Pere at 550-2331 or jmonpere@townoftruckee.com
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8
The school resource officer provides police services during
school days to approximately 2,300 students who attend the
public schools in the Town of Truckee. In addition to those
students, there are approximately 330 staff members who
are made up of support personnel, counselors, teachers and
administrators at these schools. The police department and
the school district completed a Memorandum of
Understanding this year, which defines the expectations of
the school resource officer and district. This is the first year
a formal Memorandum of Understanding has existed.
The School Resource Officer is involved in meetings with
students, counselors, teachers, administrators, parents and
the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB). This board
aids truants and their parents to improve school attendance
through the use of available school and community resources.
The School Resource Officer partners with the Nevada County Public Health Department on alcohol and tobacco prevention programs for youth.
The School Resource Officer is working with Truckee High
School students and staff to plan and carry out the “Every 15
Minutes” program, which is designed to educate students
about the dangers of drinking and driving. Planning started
at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. The program
will be conducted in 2013.
Along with the “Every 15 Minutes” program, the police department has several other programs which are designed to
educate and enforce the laws regarding the sale of alcohol
and tobacco to minors. The goal is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of our youth’s hands. The police department has
worked in conjunction with the Nevada County Tobacco Use
Prevention Project and the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee to conduct audits on businesses in Truckee
which sell tobacco and alcohol. Two tobacco audits were
conducted in 2012. The first audit checked 17 businesses in
which two stores sold tobacco to the decoy (an 88.2% success rate). During the second audit of the same businesses,
only three stores completed the transaction (an 82.4% suc-
School Resources Officer
Ryan Moreau
“
”
cess rate). One alcohol audit was conducted with a 92.8%
success rate; only one business out of 14 completed the
transaction for alcohol.
Did you know…
Within the 30 days prior to participating in the 2012 Healthy Kids Survey,
Tahoe Truckee Unified School District 11th
graders reported:
57% had used alcohol
37% have used marijuana
10% have used Rx drugs
17% have used tobacco products
26% report heavy drug use
Truckee Police Department
Noteworthy cases of 2012:
The Truckee PD Investigations Unit consists of two full-time
detectives, a reserve officer when necessary, and a full-time
field and evidence specialist. A detective sergeant oversees
the unit; management and direction of activities is provided
under the leadership of the support services captain.
In the past year, the Investigations Unit assisted in, or took
over, the investigation of 114 cases. Many of these cases
resulted in arrests.
In addition to the investigation of felony cases, the Investigations Unit is responsible for the monitoring of Truckee’s local
registered sex offenders and registered drug offenders. In
the past year, three sex offenders were arrested for various
violations, including failure to register, falsifying registration
information and fresh offenses, such as possession of child
pornography.
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10

Arrest in a case involving a juvenile that was involved in
sexual acts as payment for narcotics. This case was
solved using digital forensics and an informant. The
suspect recently pled to 8-years in a state prison and
must register as a sex offender for life.

Following a rash of residential burglaries, a suspect was
identified driving a stolen vehicle. The suspect and an
accomplice were arrested and the stolen property recovered. Several cases were closed as a result of these
arrests.

A parolee stabbed a person in a local grocery store with
a knife and fled the scene. Investigations assisted patrol
to later locate the suspect hiding under a residential
deck. The suspect was arrested without incident and
returned to prison. The suspect was charged with
attempted murder.

Following a rash of snowblower thefts, the Investigations Unit developed a suspect and arrested him. One
snowblower was recovered and the investigation continues to search for the recovery of other snowblower
units. An additional suspect is being charged in this case
as an accomplice and narcotics distributor.
Did you know…
Truckee Police Officers drove
over 350,000 miles last year
while patrolling the Town?
The Truckee PD employs a field and
evidence specialist who, among other
duties, is responsible for maintaining
the department’s property and evidence storage facilities. Many changes
have been made in property and evidence this past year. TPD conducted a
property room audit in March 2012
upon the arrival of the new chief of
police. The audit made recommendations regarding space and location of
an off-site storage facility. Additional
storage space for property and evidence was already in the works and
was completed in the fall of 2012. As
with any municipal police property
room, storage is always a point of conversation. Our field and evidence specialist works with the District Attor-
Truckee PD prides itself in its modern
and well-maintained patrol fleet. Late
model Chevrolet Tahoes are the primary field vehicle. TPD has utilized the
Chevrolet Tahoe since 2007 and has
found that this vehicle is the most cost
-effective and functional vehicle available for use in Truckee. The department operates and maintains several
specialty and unmarked vehicles and
trailers. TPD department volunteers
have two vehicles assigned for their
use. TPD’s entire vehicle fleet is fourwheel drive. The department patrol
fleet consists of 10 marked vehicles for
field use.
In 2012, TPD implemented a new
graphic look on marked vehicles. The
Truckee police took in over 2,400
pieces of property and evidence during
2012. Additionally, we were able to
return, or dispose of, over 620 items of
property and evidence to either the
rightful owner of the property, or to
various authorized disposal sites for
contraband materials.
ney’s office and others to expedite the
return of property and evidence items
no longer needed for an evidentiary
purpose, to known owners and victims.
patrol vehicle pictured above displays
the new graphic. TPD has the new
graphic on half of the fleet; through
vehicle attrition over the next two
years, the graphics on all of the vehicles will be changed. The purpose of
the change is to make it easier for citizens to recognize the vehicle as a police vehicle. The larger “POLICE” insignia in the middle of the doors is more
quickly identified at any distance.
TPD patrol vehicles are fully outfitted
with modern law enforcement equipment and technology. TPD maintains
Angela Smith, the TPD Property and
Evidence Specialist (pictured to the left)
was selected as a finalist for 2012
Property and Evidence Officer of the
Year by the California Association of
Property and Evidence, Inc.
mobile data computers with GPS and
presently have in-car digital camera
systems in each vehicle. The Town of
Truckee’s fleet replacement plan provides for budgeted replacement of
patrol vehicles once they have reached
125,000 miles.
TPD maintains a patrol boat utilized on
Donner Lake during summer months.
The boat is also able to respond to
emergency requests from other law
enforcement agencies in the region.
Truckee Police Department
The Truckee Police Department
serves a diverse community of residents and visitors who either call
Truckee home, or visit Truckee because of the many year-round outdoor adventure and recreational
opportunities. The Truckee Police
Department recognizes its responsibility to interact with as many
segments of our community as possible and to do so in the most efficient manner.
In 2012, we undertook several new
strategies to better connect with
the community and our visitors.
Part of our commitment is to improve communications and partnerships with those we serve and,
in particular, focus on areas of
town that may have been underserved in the past. We increased
our participation at numerous community events and enhanced partnerships with organizations in the
region.
As part of this ongoing effort, we
increased our community engagement. All of the approaches centered on our intent to engage the
community at as many levels as
possible, to include service clubs,
events, business groups and resident associations. We also wanted
12
“
I want our officers to fully
embrace the Truckee life-
”
style.
to embrace the adventurous outdoor lifestyle enjoyed by so many
of our residents and visitors. This
strategy was implemented to create opportunities for positive interactions, and counteract the sometimes negative perception associated with meeting a police officer.
We wanted to demonstrate that
our officers work and live in Truckee for the same reasons as our residents and visitors.
We returned officers to bicycles to
improve our presence in Regional
Park, the Legacy Trail area, downtown and Donner Lake. TPD officers on bikes is not new for the
department, but the community
can now expect to see the bicycle
officers as part of the normal
makeup of the community. We
were able to provide officers on
foot beats downtown on occasion,
and plan to do this more consistently in 2013, so we can enhance
our partnership with the business
community throughout the Town.
As happens each summer, officers
returned to their patrol duties on
Donner Lake, but with an added
tool. In addition to patrolling in our
patrol boat, we now use stand-up
paddle boards to positively interact
and embrace lake-goers engaged in
human-powered sports.
These
officers are responsible for ensuring a positive and safe environment
in, and around ,Donner Lake.
Members of our staff participated
in events such as:

Truckee Day

Veteran’s Day Ceremony

Chili Cook-off


Pump Track Grand Opening

Big Truck Day

Reading in Schools

Rx Take Back Day

Halloween Parade

CHP Trucker Appreciation Day

Community Collaborative
Members of our staff spoke at a
number of service club and community meetings, such as:

Tahoe Donner Homeowners
Association

Glenshire Homeowners Association
th

July 4 Parade and Fireworks

Senior Pancake Breakfast

Family Resource Center

Public Services-One Neighborhood at a Time Day

Rotary

Sunrise Rotary

Optimists

TTUSD Career Day

ID Theft Prevention Paper
Shred Event

Truckee Thursdays
Members of our staff are on the
following community boards of
directors:

Tahoe Donner Fall Festival

Tahoe Safe Alliance

Tahoe Donner Annual Meeting
and Barbeque

Family Resource Center

Truckee Tahoe Airport Advisory
Committee

Truckee Elem. Pumpkin Patch
Truckee Tahoe Futures Without
Drug Dependence
“We are committed to improving
our communications with those we
serve, and will strive to find new,
innovative ways to better interact
with our community. We are confident our new approaches will accomplish those objectives” said
Chief of Police Adam McGill.
Chief McGill added, “Anything we
can do that gets officers out of
their vehicles and invites positive
interaction with our community is a
step in the right direction.”
“I want our officers to fully embrace the Truckee lifestyle and embody who we are as a community to know what our community expects of us and interact with as
many segments of our community
as possible. Policing in Truckee is
unique and it is our responsibility
to adjust not the community’s responsibility to adjust to us. In
Truckee we don’t just say we are a
Community Oriented Policing department - we actually live it,” said
Chief McGill.
Truckee Police Department
The Truckee Police Department is
using the community’s passion for
an adventure lifestyle to interact on
a whole new level. It has formed
the Adventure Recreation and
Community Team, or ARC Team.
The ARC Team is a group of handpicked community-oriented officers
to boat, bike and paddle-board
around downtown Truckee, Regional Park, the Legacy Trail and Donner
Lake. ARC officers wear yellow jerseys and are often found cycling
around town; marine officers patrol
14
Donner Lake by boat or paddle
boards.
The paddle boards and related
equipment were almost entirely
donated by Tahoe SUP. Tahoe SUP
is a regional paddle board manufacture that has roots in Truckee, and
tested boards in Donner Lake when
the company first started. The Specialized mountain bikes used by
the ARC Team were purchased locally at Paco’s. The Police Department has owned the patrol boat
since 2003.
Since 2003, Truckee Police and
Truckee Fire have had a regional
dive team. The team regularly
trains once a month in local lakes
and waterways, as well as providing
mutual aid assistance to other
agencies, as requested. Typically,
the team is called upon to recover
drowning victims or locate submerged evidence. All team members are rated minimally as “Rescue
Divers”, and can perform operations in almost any water condition
to maximum safety depths in highaltitude lakes. The dive team functions in cooperation with the Truckee Fire Department. In a typical
operation, the divers themselves,
are supported on the surface by
stand-by medical teams and logistics.
TPD’s dive team is equipped with
Diving Unlimited International drysuits, DiveRite Transpak BCDs,
Sherwood Blizzard regulators, Biofins and all other necessary equipment. In 2010, the dive team acquired Ocean Technology Systems
(OTS) Guardian full-face communication masks. These masks protect
a diver’s face from contaminated
water and enable clear communication with each other and the surface for miles, if necessary. Generous grants from the California Department of Boating and Waterways provide 100% financing for all
dive team equipment and maintenance. Ongoing funding for equipment and operations is supplied by
the COPS grant.
The dive team responds to at least
one recovery operation every summer. All of the recent drowning
victims in the Truckee area would
probably be alive today if a lifejacket had been used. In the past
year, the dive team responded to
three emergency call-outs. In
January 2012, the team searched
the east end of Donner Lake for a
deceased drowning victim who fell
off a canoe. The victim, who had
not been wearing a life-jacket, was
located approximately 500 feet
from shore. In July 2012, the team
was called out for a swimmer in
Boca Reservoir who had entered
the water from shore and was
quickly overcome by the cold water. That person was recovered
very close to shore and was not
wearing a life-jacket. In December
2012, the team responded to Stampede Reservoir to assist Sierra
County Sheriff’s Department with
missing kayakers. The husband and
wife kayakers were located on the
shore suffering from extreme hypothermia after falling in the freezing
water; both recovered. In this case,
both kayakers had been wearing
safety gear and were able to exit
the water alive.
The team trains, on average, every
other month. These training sessions will typically focus on a specific skill set, such as ice-diving,
item recovery with lift bags, communications, search patterns, and
safety reviews. In 2012, the PD
team purchased new BCDs, thermal
undergarments and pressure hosing to replace the 10-years old
equipment. Additional equipment
updating is planned for 2013, with
funding obtained by grants.
Truckee Police Department
Arrests
Adult Felonies
100
Adult Misdemeanors
340
Juvenile Felonies
10
Juvenile Misdemeanors
52
High Speed Pursuits
0
502
Use of Force
6
TOTAL ARRESTS
Misdemeanor Crimes
Felony Crimes
Traffic Enforcement
Public Intoxication
85
Homicides
0
Vandalism
73
Rapes*
4
Disturbances
12
Robberies
1
Batteries
38
Assaults
104
Batteries/Domestic Violence
48
Burglaries
61
Minors in Possession
3
Thefts
163
Petty Thefts
109
Vehicle Thefts
17
Narcotics
59
Arsons
1
Sex Offences
15
Other Felonies
66
City Ordinances
10
Suspended Licenses
19
Driving Under Influence
106
Warrants
51
Other Misdemeanors
91
Other Miscellaneous
479
16
*All four of the reported
rape cases reported to
Truckee Police in 2012
were determined to be
unfounded.
Citations Issued (Including Warnings)
Moving/Hazardous
Parking
Equipment
Registration
Safety Restraints
TOTAL CITATIONS
631
75
61
65
13
845
Collisions Reported (Accidents Investigated)
Fatal Accidents
Injury Accidents
Non-Injury
DUI Accidents
TOTAL ACCIDENTS
2
30
82
13
127
Did you know…
Criminal charges are filed on 73% of cases submitted to the District Attorney’s Office? This demonstrates TPD’s ability to carry
out solid investigations and produce quality reports.
Truckee PD responded to over 400
traffic collisions in 2012. Of those, we
wrote 127 collision reports involving
30 injury collisions and two fatalities.
Both the fatalities involved bicyclists
and in both cases, the bicyclist was
determined to have caused the collision. Fatal investigations are handled
by a specially-trained team comprised
of TPD officers that look at several factors to come to a conclusion on the
cause of the collision. The team interviews the involved parties, drafts a
scale diagram of the scene using laser
measuring equipment, conducts a
complete vehicle examination and uses
other resources as needed. These investigations often take several months
to complete. In 2012, the team upgraded some of the measuring equip-
ment with the latest diagramming
software to better provide scale diagrams for reconstruction.
Over 10% of the collisions TPD handled involved alcohol consumption. In
addition to alcohol-related collisions,
TDP arrested 106 drivers for DUI in
2012. Part of the year’s DUI enforcement was funded with money from
the California Office of Traffic Safety
through a countywide “Avoid” grant.
This grant allowed Truckee PD to increase staffing during holiday periods
in an effort to reduce alcohol-involved
collisions.
In 2012, Truckee PD wrote a total of
845 traffic citations. Using the Traffic
Enforcement Index (TEI - a nationally
recognized statistical model for traffic
enforcement), Truckee ranks at approximately 18%. This formula looks
at the total number of collisions versus total number of citations written.
The model suggests that a town such
as Truckee, with a high visitor-type
population should have a TEI near
30% to have an effective traffic program that reduces the number of
collisions.
Statistical data is only part of the
equation. TDP believes in measured
enforcement in areas which experience a high level of accidents and/or
complaints. The police department’s
approach to traffic enforcement is
also based on the philosophy that, in
some neighborhoods, it is a quality-of
-life issue and deserves a more holistic approach than writing tickets.
Truckee Police Department
Whether it is a large-scale special
event or a community block party,
officers routinely are present to help
answer questions, keep the peace or
become personally known to community members.
On the department level, special
events and the permit process involves
more public relations and marketing
than would normally be expected. TPD
wants to help the event coordinators
have a successful event. TPD tries to
offer local expertise, help plan logistical challenges and work as a liaison
with community groups and special
districts to assure the event runs
smoothly. A successful special event
normally translates into a positive experience for the attendees. When
attendees have a positive and fun experience, they either return to Truckee
for other reasons, or locals continue to
attend the special events and develop
a stronger bond with the community.
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Regarding special events and what the
region provides, there is no doubt we
will continue to see nationallyrecognized organizations holding large
events which promote the adventurous lifestyle in Truckee (IronMan,
Tough Mudder, X Games, etc.).
The participation in local events provides TPD with a great opportunity to
build credibility for the department
and for the Town. By people getting to
know officers on a more personal level,
TPD gains organizational credibility
based on that relationship. That is the
essence of “Community Oriented
Policing”.
Within special events, TPD builds a
regional reputation as a destination.
The more people that come here and
experience a fun, relaxing and event filled visit, the more likely we will
attract repeat visitors and referral visitors.
Did you know…
Truckee burned down three times in
1871 and was quickly rebuilt each time?
Emergency Preparedness is a diverse
topic and can include everything from
natural disasters to mass homicidal
incidents. Human negligence and/or
accidents can also lead to wide-spread
community emergency, such as with
hazmat incidents.
Services. A good example is Sergeant
Womack and his involvement with the
HazMat Team.
Sergeant Womack
attends monthly trainings, specialized
schooling and scenario-based training,
all of which is structured around multiagency events.
In general, TPD trains, and plans for,
what is referred to as “Unified Command” events. “Unified Command” is
a multi-agency collaborative effort to
respond to events. In California, law
enforcement (TPD) is automatically
designated as the “IC,” or Incident
Command. Although the command is
really a shared effort, law enforcement
is held accountable as the in-charge
agency to request resources, and be
legally responsible for the response.
Some of the largest local concerns are
the hazardous materials contained in
railway cars or trailers transported on
Interstate 80 and widespread forest
fires. The TPD is now using Nixle to
communicate with the community
regarding large-scale incidents.
In Truckee, TPD routinely trains in
Unified Command events with the
Truckee Fire Protection District, California Highway Patrol, neighboring
agencies and the Office of Emergency
Plan, which provides the foundation to
address the specific circumstances.
The plan can be viewed on the Town’s
website at www.Townof Truckee.com.
Sign up for Nixle now.
The Town of Truckee Emergency Operations Center is the key to response.
As with most municipalities, resources
in the police department are not sufficient enough to respond to a largescale incident. Because of that, the
best response is one that uses all Town
resources available to organize a systematic approach to the emergency.
The Town has an Emergency Response
Truckee Police Department
Did you know…
Truckee Police participate in over 2000
hours of on-going training annually?
Officers accumulate an average of 100
plus hours of training a year.
The year 2012 continued a strong tradition for Truckee PD
in the area of training. In California, the State Commission
on Peace Officers Standards and Training requires police
officers to complete 16 hours bi-annually of “Perishable
Skills” training in the areas of range, arrest and control, and
emergency vehicle operations. TPD requires substantially
more training in these areas, requiring at least 24 hours
annually. Truckee PD also requires over 25 more hours in
specific policy areas related to arrests, response to calls and
similar topics. Truckee PD also partners with other local
agencies to provide training for officers in joint operations,
special assignments and other law enforcement related
activities. In 2012, TPD provided training to officers for
mental health issues (suicide by cop), Haz-Mat (1st responder and incident commander), environmental crimes investigations, traffic collisions investigations and boat and watercraft training. A common training partner is Truckee Fire
Department. The Fire Department provided advanced first
aid training to officers, provided swift water rescue training
to patrol staff and provided several AEDs and associated
training for patrol staff. The Fire Department and Police
Department have a joint Dive Team and Haz-Mat Team,
both of which train monthly to keep officers ready for immediate response. In total, the Police Department provided
over 2,000 hours of training to its members in 2012.
The year 2012 was a big year for Truckee PD and police dispatch services. Since the department's inception in 2001,
Nevada County has provided dispatch services under a contract between the Town and the County. In 2012, the Town
and the County worked cooperatively to develop a regional
dispatch model. This ultimately resulted in the development of a Countywide Regional Dispatch Center located in
Nevada City and run by the County of Nevada. The Countywide Regional Dispatch Center now dispatches for Nevada
County, Truckee PD, Grass Valley PD, and Nevada City PD.
This regionalization saved the Town of Truckee over
$180,000.00 a year in dispatch costs and maintained a fullservice jail in Truckee (the jail was originally co-located with
the Dispatch Center).
The Countywide Regional Dispatch Center answers over
16,000 calls for service per year generated by the Truckee
area alone. Countywide, the Dispatch Center is expected to
answer over 240,000 calls for service (9-1-1 calls, business
lines, and radio traffic) in calendar year 2013. As part of this
initiative, the Dispatch Center developed a countywide radio
system that allows all units in Nevada County to coordinate
with each other, across the entire county. This means that
in the event of a major incident, law enforcement countywide will have complete interoperability.
TPD is also in the process of upgrading its records management system. This will be a complete upgrade of the system, also allowing for connectivity with other agencies in
the County, including sharing of information. As law enforcement evolves, along with other parts of society, the
ability to share and use information and technology is paramount for successful operations.
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“Life is great; life in Truckee is better. I appreciate the opportunity to
contribute to this community alongside the professionals that make up the
Truckee Police Department.”
- Officer Covington
“
Officer Chase Covington was selected as Officer of the Year by
the Truckee Police Department Police Officers Association.
During his short tenure, just under 18 months, Officer Covington has established a reputation as a hardworking, selfmotivated, proactive officer who has an ability to solve cases
and write quality reports. Officer Covington’s peers and supervisors describe him as “consistently performing his duties
at a level that greatly exceeds his time on as a police officer”.
He performs his duties with confidence, sound judgment, and
an overall sense of what this community wants and expects
from its police officers.
In 2012, Officer Covington was one of the original five founding members selected to form the Adventure, Recreation, and
Community Team (ARC). Since its inception, Officer Covington
has taken an active role in the development of this team. His
input and abilities are highly sought after by other team members, and he continually works with the team to direct and
coordinate activities. One recent example of Officer Covington’s commitment to this team was when he responded to
assist a neighboring agency in a search for two lost kayakers.
Officer Covington’s prompt actions helped lead to the successful rescue of two individuals who were in a life-threatening
situation. Without his efforts as a team member, the outcome may have been drastically different.
Over this past year, Officer Covington has received several
commendations for his work. During the month of July alone,
Officer Covington received four separate written commendations from three different sergeants. In July, his skills as a
police officer and exceptional work led to: the arrest of an inprogress burglary suspect at Regional Park; an assist to State
Parks in which a suspect stole a vehicle and struck a pedestrian, and was ultimately arrested; an arrest of a transient arson
suspect who set a fire behind Safeway; and locating an
attempted murder suspect hiding under his parents’ house. In
all of these instances, Officer Covington worked with fellow
officers, agencies and the community to solve the situations.
Officer Chase Covington exemplifies all that the TPD hopes for
in a Truckee police officer; he serves as a shining example for
the entire department. Congratulations, Officer Covington.
Officer Covington joined the Truckee PD in 2011, after completing the
Public Safety Training course at the Police Academy at Santa Rosa.
He holds a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State
University.
Truckee Police Department
“
W e have changed our hiring philosophy to a Fit Truckee First – Credentials/Technical skills second. We
want to make sure the candidate
wants to be in Truckee first.
Captain
Rob Leftwich
Officer
Brett Heath
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Sergeant
Russ Walsh
Officer
Noel Borden
Sergeant
Danny Renfrow
Officers
Kyle Vickers & Austin Harper
”
This past year, the Police Department
was very busy recruiting. With three
retirements and one departure during
2012, TPD found itself in transition
from top to bottom. Interviews and
selection processes occurred at every
rank within the Police Department.
With a total sworn staff of 24 and support staff of four, TPD hired a new
chief, promoted a captain and two sergeants and hired four officers and one
reserve officer this year.
Chief Adam McGill was hired in
February of 2012 to replace Chief Nick
Sensley. Captain Rob Leftwich was
promoted in-house from the rank of
sergeant to replace Captain Randy
Fenn, who took a command position
with another agency. Sergeant Danny
Renfrow and Sergeant Russ Walsh
were promoted in-house from the rank
of officer.
1. Enhance Community Outreach/Engagement
Increase volunteer unit; establish canine program;
increase ARC presence on trails, downtown and
around Donner Lake; increase participation with
community groups; strengthen relationships with
regional partners.
2. Improve Staffing
Commit to hire candidates who are best fit for
Truckee; hire and maintain full staff; anticipate vacancies and proactively address them.
3. Provide an Optimal Work Environment for All TPD
Employees
4. Successfully Transition and Welcome the Animal
Services Division to TPD
5. Utilize Technology to be More Efficient in Daily Operations
Transition from in car cameras to officer cameras;
continue effort to become as paperless as possible;
utilize application based software.
6. Traffic Safety
Provide consistent and focused traffic education and
enforcement efforts; participate in “Share the Road”
bicycle education campaign; participate in “Click it or
Ticket it” campaign; participate in Distracted Driving
Month campaign; maintain consistent and measured
DUI enforcement efforts; continue outreach for safe
winter driving and parking restrictions.
7. Decrease Use of Alcohol and Tobacco by Minors
Participate in prevention through education and focused enforcement.
Did you know…
From the approximately 25,000 citizen contacts in 2012, TDP only received four
citizen complaints? In fact, 12 of the 14 patrol officers received 16 written
commendations.
Sergeant
Dan Johnston
Officer
Bryan Berry
Officer
Claudio Gasbarri
Officer
Marty Schoenberg
11 years with TPD
36 yrs in law enforcement
10 yrs with TPD
32 yrs in law enforcement
10 yrs with TPD
23 yrs in law enforcement
10 years with TPD
14 yrs in law enforcement
Truckee Police Department
“Protecting & Serving at 6000 Feet”
Truckee Police Department
10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA 96161
Phone: 530.550.2323 Fax: 530.582.7771
www.TownofTruckee.com