Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Department Safety Report 2014.pdfRexburg Police Department 2014 Safety Report 1REXBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT � SAFETY PROGRAM -YEAR END REPORT Since the start of the cities safety program and before, the Rexburg Police Department has always put safety at the forefront for its employees. The career of Law Enforcement demands that we continually skive towards safer ways of performing our duties. With that in mind we have taken the City of Rexburg's Safety Program very seriously. Following are descriptions of the safety programs we have instituted and steps we have taken for the continual safety of our employees and others who may be affected by our actions. RPD Comprehensive Safety Paan The RPD Comprehensive Safety Plan is really a map we developed to help lead to the overall increased safety of Rexburg Police Department employees and the citizens of our community by addressing four key areas; Employee Physical Fitness, Officer Safety, Employee Mental Health, and Professionalism. Belo 10) ProgLqrn Below 100 is a program that we brought into the Rexburg Police Department early in 2014. It is an initiative to reduce police line -of -duty deaths to fewer than one hundred per year by emphasizing 5 tenants, these are outlined below. We have two officers whom we have sent to training and are now certified instructors in this program. Facts: There have not been fewer than 100 police officer deaths each year in the United States since 1944. For the last 50 years, the average has been well over 150 and the last decade over 160. 2010 and 2011 both had 174 line of duty deaths. The first complete year after Below 100 began was 2012 and we saw a 50 year low in Zine o'f duty deaths with 120. The Below 100 program has five points of safety that are emphasized to reduce Line of Duty Deaths and Injury. These five points are as follows; Wear your seat belt. Law Enforcement in Idaho is exempt by state law from having to wear a seatbelt. The Rexburg Police Department does not follow that tenant We have a mandatory seat belt policy, which requires every one of its employees to vv,here a seatbelt while on duty in a moving vehicle and we emphasize personal use off duty. We know seatbelts save lives and officers break. just as easily as anyone else. 2. Wear vour vest. All uniformed officers are required to wear a bullet proof vest while on duty. We have partnered with the 1100 WEAR YOUR BELL WEAR YOUR VEST. WATCH YOUR SPEED. WIN -WHAT'S IMPORTANT NOW? REMEMBER: COMPLACENCY HILLS! _„,0 National Bullet Proof Vest program to provide bullet proof vests to all of our officers. We have also saved the city thousands of dollars by applying for and getting grants for several years that pays for 1/2 the cost of the vests. 3. Watch your speed. We know that speed kills. We constantly emphasize to officers to watch their speed. We have detailed policy in place for high speed pursuits that details exactly how and when they are to be done. We train on this policy multiple times each year and after any pursuit we have an after action review. 4. Win -What's Important Now! We teach and emphasize to each officer the absolute need to establish within them the need to WIN in any life threatening situation. If you are constantly prioritizing what's most important, you won't have time for the distractions that can get you into trouble, hurt or killed. Our officers are trained to never give up and to always decide that they are going home to their families no matter what. j Remember: Complacency Kills! Complacency is among the most dangerous and insidious threats we face because it lays us open to all others. We are always emphasizing this point. We constantly teach that it is notjust another alarm call, a common traffic stop, or this is Rexburg nothing bad ever happens here. We must be vigilant constantly, especially in a day and age where the news is fill of Police Officers being ambushed and killed. Each Rexburg Police Department vehicle has a "Below 100" Chevron sticker placed in it, where it is highly 1 9 visible by the officers inside. This chevron is a reminder to the officers of the five tenants of safety. We also have posters in the offices that coincide with safety videos on the five tenants of safety. Our goal is to prevent first, then reduce injury and/or deaths to officers by constantly reminding them of the five tenants of safety. We brought this class to the Rexburg Police Department to teach the skills for "Tactical Life Saving". What this basically means is that an officer maybe involved in a life threatening situation such as a school shooting where there will be no medical personnel present for extended periods of time and they may need to perform lifesaving skills to save their own lives or those around them. This was a two day training, taught by Major Peder Ahearn of Ada County. The training consisted of the need and proper use of IPOK kits "Individual Patrol Officer Kits". These kits contain everything needed to quickly address moderate to severely bleeding injuries. Employees were taught how to use and apply Israeli bandages and Combat Application Tourniquets. Each employee was supplied with an IPOK kit that can be worn on their person. One kit was also placed at the gum range and each ERT "Emergency Response Team" member received an extra lit to be worn on their tactical gear. QuarterIV Safety Meeting 014 The Rexburg Police Department, not only implemented the above programs and trainings this year, but also participated in having Quarterly Safety Meetings, with 100% attendance by all of our employees. Following are the subjects that were taught. Topic Time Period Winter Storms & Extreme Cold - December 2013 through February 2014 Fight the Decline — 3 ways to combat March 2014 through May 2015 aging and maintain Fitness Fireworks Safety - .Tune 2014 through August 2014 Enterovirus D68 (EV -D68) Safety _ September 2014 through November 2014 precautions, signs and symptoms Number In,jaaries 'type i[n.jaaries DEate Loss of Alork Non -Loss of 91/1 /2014 Work Conclusion N/A C7fficcr slipped stepping out of a concession stand and bruised his arm. As the Chief of Police I again emphasize the importance that safety plays in the Rexburg Police Department. We understand that the lives of the RPD employees, the employees of other city departments, and the lives of the citizens of Rexburg depend on what we may or may not do. We will continue to strive for higher safety standards through education, training and self- evaluation. Chief Shane Turman October 28, 2014