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MMARCHARCH 20132013 VVOLUMEOLUME V IV I-- IISSUESSUE 33

Our MissionOur Mission Work in partnership with our community to protect life and property, reduce crime, and enhance the security and quality of liWork in partnership with our community to protect life and property, reduce crime, and enhance the security and quality of li fe fe in our cityin our city

Centralia Police Department PO Box 609, 118 W. Maple Street Centralia, WA 98531 www.cityofcentralia.com / cpd@cityofcentralia.com 1-800-748-6422 or 740-2726

Do you have a question about the law, police procedures, policing tactics? Why we write tickets on

some people we stop and not oth-ers? Send it in - we will pick ques-tions e-mailed to us and provide an opinion, answer, department proce-

dure or practice, or what the law says. E-mail your question to

cpd@cityofcentralia.com.

Special Operations

Many folks think that our department con-sists of two functions, patrol and detective divisions. But wait, there’s more. In ad-dition to our civilian employees (see work-load indicators at

right), there is a six person unit (one ser-geant and five officers) who comprise our special operations division. That unit han-dles specialized anti-crime enforcement efforts (gangs, drugs, street crimes), traffic enforcement and education, our school resource officer program, and depart-mental in-service training.

The anti-crime team (two officers and a sergeant) works street and mid level drug cases, specialized enforcement regarding gangs and graffiti, and special events, along with assisting the traffic team in traffic em-phasis patrols. They have been very suc-cessful in their enforcement work in our community. In the first three months of this year, they have opened 11 drug deliv-ery cases, two other federal government assistance cases; they have seized $136,778 in cash, eight vehicles, one residence and property, over $25,000 in other personal property, all associated with the delivery of drugs; along with more than 70 pounds of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. The anti-crime team also assists detectives on cases where an immediate infusion of additional personnel is needed for an investigation.

The traffic team (two officers) are tasked with providing the leading effort in traffic enforcement in our community. Each officer has a vehicle and motorcycle as-signed, and the team works a flex schedule

to be most effective in providing enforce-ment and education to those in our com-munity. They concentrate on school zone, crosswalk, and railroad crossing enforce-ment, along with emphasis patrols pertain-ing to speeding, DUI, and seat belt usage (day and night). Members of the team also teach the municipal court approved traffic school for those first time minor traffic offenders who are offered the opportunity to attend the school to keep the violation off their driving record. Last year 169 indi-viduals attended this school. They also provide support to local DUI Impact panels and alcoholic counseling services. Finally, the in-service training requirements for all of our officers are coordinated through the training officer who is assigned to this team. All CPD officers undergo 48 hours of in-service training each year (in addition to other training tailored to the needs of offic-ers depending upon what departmental program to which they are assigned). The training manager also provides training oversight to our K-9 Program (see page 2).

The third unit in our special operations divi-sion is our school resource officer. In part-nership with the Centralia School District (which funds 67% of the costs of the posi-tion) and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (the high school is actually in the county), this officer works full-time during the school year at the high school and middle school providing security, mentorship, sub-ject matter expertise in civics class, and general unofficial counseling to our stu-dents.

The special operations division does the extra work that enhances the quality of our community. Unfortunately, it is the most vulnerable to funding cutbacks as our pri-mary mission is to provide patrol and de-tective services to our community.

Fast Facts

It takes more than police offic-ers to provide safety and securi-ty for a community. Consider the work of our civilian support

staff:

Transcribe more than 1,000

statements per year.

Process, catalog, and store more than 7,000 items in our

property/evidence vaults

Transactions with property

movement - almost 300 per

month.

Process and prepare ser-vice files for about 1,000 Centralia Municipal Court

Warrants each year.

Sell about 900 dog licenses

each year.

Prepare all report summar-ies on Index crime for sub-mission to the FBI - about

1500 reports per year.

Fingerprint more than 500 people per year for license

applications.

All of this in addition to han-dling all counter traffic, data entry, processing invoices and payroll, records management, and tracking officer training.

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“You can’t build a reputation on what you are planning to do” - Henry Ford

MEET OUR EMPLOYEES

OFFICER RICK HUGHES

I started with the Centralia Police Department in 1994 as a reserve officer. In 1994 I attended the Reserve Law Enforcement Academy and graduated in 1995. In July of 1995 I ap-plied and was hired with the Centralia Police De-partment as a full-time officer. I am currently assigned to the detective division in-vestigating fraud, forger-ies and all other types of property crimes. I have been with the Centralia Police Depart-ment for 18 years, most of those as a patrol officer. As a detective I see each case as a chal-lenge and strive to treat everyone I contact with respect and dignity.

Previous to this I worked as a mechanic in the United States Air Force and later retail sales of automotive parts. I had always wanted to work in law enforcement and the opportunity arose in 1994 which allowed me to work in a career that has always been of interest and lifelong goal. This career has led me in the direction that I had hoped of achieving in my life. Every day has been different and has had its challeng-es. It's never been dull!

I am married and have three grown daughters that have blessed me with four wonderful grandchildren.

I enjoy working and spending time with my wife traveling and working at home. As a po-lice officer I have learned it's not what you see on the outside it's what we have inside that makes us who we are. Dignity, respect and pas-sion for what we do and how we treat each oth-er!!!

THANK YOU OFFICER BYRNES

NEW K-9 TEAMS ON THE WAY

Centralia PD Officer Tracy Murphy, a certified canine master

trainer, is currently training two new K-9 teams; one from

Chehalis PD and one from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Of-

fice. The training began the first of March and will continue

into May, at which time the teams will go through certifica-

tion tests from the Washington State Police Canine Associa-

tion and the State Criminal Justice Training

Commission. When certified, these two teams

will join three existing K-9 teams (two at Cen-

tralia and one at LCSO) to provide for addi-

tional coverage for patrol units in all three

jurisdictions. This will also be Chehalis PD’s

first K-9 team in more than 10 years. A future

E-Newsletter will contain more information

regarding the training currently underway.

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THE DATA PAGE This page presented for those of you who love “looking at the numbers””

Index Crime Feb. YTD

Murder 0 0

Rape 0 0

Robbery 1 2

Felony Assault 0 8

Burglary 7 19

Theft 48 101

Auto Theft 2 9

Arson 0 0

Total 58 139

Centralia Police Department Community Policing Calendar

2013 March 28 - Citizens’ Police Acade-my begins

April / May - Spring Cleanup Pro-ject

April 21 - 27 - Volunteer Recogni-tion Week

May 12 through 18 - National Po-lice Week

May 14th - City Council CPD Recognitions

May 15th - Peace Officers’ Memo-rial Day

June - Special Olympics Torch Run

July 4th - Summerfest, Borst Park, Downtown Parade, Fairgrounds Fireworks Show

July 13 & 14 - Seattle to Portland Bike Ride

August 6th - National Night Out Against Crime

September - Wellness Fair

October 31st - Halloween Safe Trick or Treat Downtown

November 20th - Tower Crawl

December - CDA Christmas Tractor Parade

December - Day with Santa

Department Category Feb. 2013

YTD 2012 YTD

Calls for Service and Complaints: 1462 3170 3630

Traffic Infraction Notices Issued: 88 200 163

Criminal Misdemeanor Citations Issued: 34 63 79

Felony Arrests (non warrant): 19 53 62

Warrants Served (Felony & Misdemeanor): 56 113 151

Summons Requests: 4 7 6

Juvenile Arrests and Referrals: 9 16 5

Traffic Collision Investigations and Reports: 39 71 86

4

“A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty” - Winston Churchill

Crime Stoppers is a great program that gets the public involved in helping us to solve crime. They help publicize crimes that have been com-

mitted and screen callers; often times providing cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of those who commit crimes in Centralia and Lewis County. This organization, led by dedicated volunteers, will have their annual fund raising dinner at the Community Events Pavilion located at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 20th. Tickets are $25.00 each and a silent auction is included in the evening’s festivities. All are welcome and there will also be enter-tainment with “Keepers of the Faith” Quartet. Tickets are available at the Centralia Police Department, Rose’s Furniture, and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, please contact Glade Austin (262-3196) or Bob Cosser (748-7863). Please support this program that supports all residents of Lewis County.

OFFICER DERIC MAKEIN AND HIS “ MINI-POSSE” FROM DELLS DAY CARE

Centralia officers routinely visit pre school and elementary school classes, visiting with the kids, reading

to them, taking recess with them and sometimes having lunch with them.

Centralia Police Department

Citizens’ Police Academy

Starts Thursday March 28th

For Information or to Register

Call CPD @ 330.7680

9 Weeks

One Night Per Week

Learn about how your police

department operates