Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office

2009 “6 Month Report Card”

Why this report card?

“During the 2008 election, I made several promises to address concerns and focus on improvements in the performance of our Sheriff’s Office. My primary focus since taking office has been productivity and responsiveness to crime and citizen’s needs countywide. I have put together this “6 month Report Card” to reflect upon those campaign promises and accurately demonstrate our effectiveness, accountability and efficiency. Where applicable, I have used 2008 statistics for the same time period to provide a true and accurate comparative analysis. I hope in this report, you find what I know to be a dynamic demonstration of both the quality of our office and the critical focus of our staff to the service of our citizens.”

-Sheriff Tony Thompson

Calls For Service (Jan 1 – Jun 30):

2008- 7,913 2009- 9,110

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

Mar

ch

April

May

June

02 0 04 0 06 0 08 0 0

1 0 0 01 2 0 01 4 0 0

C a lls F o r S e r v ic e b y M o n t h /Y e a r

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 9

Early Accomplishments: Immediately following the election, Sheriff Kubik’s administration began to assist in the task of transitioning to new leadership. Following nearly 20 years under Mike’s command, the effort to transition and make dynamic, effective decisions was no small task. To that end, there has been much work and effort expended in ensuring a seamless (as much as possible) and undetectable transition from his tenure to Sheriff Thompson’s. While all indications are that this effort was largely successful, many changes to existing procedures, policies, and focus were still implemented. These changes were driven on improving citizen access, re-focusing officers on productivity, reaching out to take more of a leadership role (statewide) on issues important to Black Hawk County and to the Sheriff’s Office.

2009 Accomplishments (to date): Restructured Administrative staff at a savings of $14,000 Initiated Inmate Worker Program which resulted in an immediate cost savings to the county by performing previously contracted work.

Initiated Evening Visitation (Currently serving 1/3 of inmate population) Initiated Town Hall Meetings to improve communications and connectivity to the citizens of Black Hawk County.

Administrative participation in the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association’s State: Jails Committee and State Legislative Committee

Initiated sentenced inmate booking fee ($25.00)- Generating $20,000 in revenue (approximately) per year.

Changes to Administrative Office hours: Monday-Friday 8-4:30 for any Sheriff’s Office business.

Revamping the departmental training program Redesigned Sworn Officer Evaluation Program Initiated a Citizen Complaint and Audit procedure and form Increased revenues for weapons permits Increased community services programming and expanding drug education programming

Changed inmate uniforms at a cost savings of $2.00 per uniform Initiated Citizen’s Advisory Council for greater community involvement and oversight/advisory opportunity

Initiating new jail inmate programming such as Batterer’s Education, Life skills, Parenting Program, expanded Ministerial and Community Outreach, Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous, and GED.

Altered the Jail’s food service contract saving $16,000 annually by focusing on milk served and hot vs. cold meals.

Improved safety by increasing staff: one booking clerk and one third shift patrolman.

Comparative Statistics (Room and Board): One of the most immediate areas that captured the new administration’s attention was the process and function of recovering fees owed to the Sheriff’s Office through the process of “confession of judgment”. A sentenced inmate is charged $65.00 per day for expenses of room and board. Upon completion of their time service in the county jail, the total owed to the county is calculated and documented on a Confession of Judgment form. This form allows for the inmate to make a determination on payment schedule and amount to begin the process of repayment. We also implemented a $25.00 booking fee to recoup the expense of booking a sentenced inmate into our facility. This will aid in recovering costs for equipment, paper, printer ink, etc. in the future. In years previous, there was a very ad-hoc approach to recovery of these funds. As you can see in the chart below, with each month, we continue to recover more and more of those funds which are intended to repay the citizens of Black Hawk County for the expenses of housing and feeding sentenced inmates in the Black Hawk County Jail. In future months, we anticipate continued improvement in this revenue stream due to our continued focus and diligence in recovery.

Janu

ary

Febru

ary

March

April

May

June

$0.00$5,000.00

$10,000.00$15,000.00$20,000.00$25,000.00$30,000.00$35,000.00

$40,000.00

Room and Board/Booking Fee Revenue

20082009

2008 $20,344. $27,681. $22,725. $22,251. $28,270. $22,033.2009 $22,264. $22,340. $30,355. $33,681. $37,348. $32,404.

January February March April May June

Totals:

2008- $143,306.68 2009- $178,395.87

OWI Arrests

0

5

10

15

20

25

20082009

2008 18 11 19 13 21 10

2009 16 11 17 9 16 13

January February March April May June

Comparative Statistics (Patrol Activities): The Patrol Division has been a huge focus for the new administration to more rapidly assess and address the needs of all citizens, as well as the communities in Black Hawk County. Recognizing this increased demand required an increase in expected productivity and a command emphasis on production from those officers. As you compare increased focus on patrol division productivity, you see two distinct trends. The first being self generated activity (arrests and cases worked) and subsequently increasing statistics caused by officer’s increased focus on and attention to certain crimes (drugs for example). Secondly, you see a dramatic decrease in other crimes as a result of the increased officer presence patrolling and overt, proactive approach to crime deterrence (OWIs for example)

Janu

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Febr

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Mar

chAp

rilM

ayJu

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02468

1012141618

Drug/Narcotics Violations

20082009

2008 3 2 11 8 3 4

2009 17 12 16 14 8 9

January February March April May June

Total: 2008- 31 2009- 76

Total: 2008- 92 2009- 82

Janu

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Februa

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March

April

MayJu

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050

100150200250300350400

2008/2009 Arrest Comparison

20082009

2008 277 236 298 325 279 281

2009 291 249 363 323 298 297

January February March April May June

The obvious overall result of this increased focus is that more crimes are detected and/or deterred. The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office is committed to having a larger impact on the nature of crime and the nature of offenses which victimize the citizens of Black Hawk County. By redeploying our patrol and investigation staff in the manner that we have, we are attempting to be more proactive and have more impact on the diminishment of violent crimes and ultimately reduce the demand on all law enforcement agencies. Through continuing to build strong relationships with the communities that we serve; through strengthening the bonds with neighborhood associations, rural neighborhood watches, and committed community service groups; and through ensuring that the cooperative relationships that we share with other area law enforcement and public safety agencies in Black Hawk County continue to flourish, we will ultimately have the improved positive impact that is wanted and necessary in our neighborhoods. The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office embraces the opportunity to be a key player and impetus of change through improved public safety for all the citizens of Black Hawk County in the future.

Totals:

2008- 1,696 2009- 1,821

Comparative Statistics (Jail Activities): Obviously, one of the primary obligations and responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office is the maintenance of the county jail. With recidivism at a record high and booking numbers continuing to rise, it was refreshing to see that over the first six months of the new administration, a trend has begun to develop. Referencing the chart below, you will find that although we are detecting more drug violations, and diligently working the road for arrests and addressing criminal concerns across the county, our jail bookings have reduced. It is possible that for this limited period of time that there is a natural “ebb and flow” to these statistics, but regardless of the reason, our jail has enjoyed a smaller inmate population over the first 6 months of the new administration, thus saving taxpayers dollars for the function of our facility.

Jail Bookings by Month

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2008 945 877 962 968 959 890

2009 936 863 983 860 829 747

January February March April May June

Totals:

2008- 5601 2009- 5218

0

200

400

600

800

1000

Permits to Purchase

# of Permits 461 839

2008 2009

Comparative Statistics (Gun Permits): One of the most unexpected tasks and expectations from the public during this fledgling administration was the increased demand for weapons permits. Whether driven by a national impetus or through local increased focus, the requests and applications for permits to purchase and permits to carry have astronomically increased during the first 6 months of this year. Sheriff Thompson made a subtle increase in fees and the results of increased application and fees made a dramatic impact in revenue for the first 6 months of 2009.

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

Permit to Aquire Revenue

Revenue $2,305 $8,295

2008 2009

Comparative Statistics Cont. (Gun Permits):

Janu

aryMar

ch

May

050

100150200250

Concealed Weapons Permits

20082009

2008 200 124 150 133 98 962009 225 130 168 150 118 88

January February March April May June

Janu

ary

Mar

ch

May

$0.00$500.00

$1,000.00$1,500.00$2,000.00

Concealed Permit Revenues

20082009

2008 $812.00 $536.00 $628.00 $620.00 $412.00 $424.00

2009 $1,819.00 $1,246.00 $1,627.00 $1,462.00 $1,126.00 $843.00

January February March April May June

Totals: 2008- 801 2009- 879

Totals: 2008- $3,008.00 2009- $8,123.00

Closing Comments: As you can see, the first 6 months of this new administration has been a very active and busy time. I am very pleased with the productive start, and anticipate continuing to seek new and inventive ways to continue our slow, methodical and proactive change. I look forward to continuing to focus on ways to improve service while maintaining a rigidly tight budget. I am challenged each day to focus on improving and increasing revenue sources and balancing our productivity with our ever increasing statutory demands. Our jail continues to be a priority to streamline our operation, and champion the positive strides that have been achieved while continuing to find ways to have even greater impact with this facility. Our programming efforts, our focus on recidivism and our earnest desire to ultimately reduce the demand for bed space within our building continues to drive our creativity and inventiveness regarding correctional operations at the Sheriff’s Office. Finally, as our agency continues to grow, mature and change with the times, I pledge an organization that is flexible, ingenious with our budgetary planning and dynamic with our application of law enforcement force within our communities. I pledge professionalism and a genuine desire to serve the citizens of Black Hawk County with creativity, foresight, and commitment to excellence as our focus. I encourage the insightful review of our efforts and short term successes. I hope that it spurs questions and comments. I invite you to contact me at anytime, as I hope that this is yet another demonstration of the intended transparency of this office and of this effort. Sheriff Tony Thompson Black Hawk County Sheriff 225 East 6th Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703 319-291-2587 tthompson@bhcso.org