COMMUNITY POLICING PROJECTS ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY I.P.D.
BIKE PATROL
IPD Staff (503) 838-1214
The Independence Police Department Bike Patrol consists of four mountain bikes that have been equipped with special bags and lights and are labeled with POLICE. Our department has four officers who have attended the certified bike patrol training. We use the bikes for neighborhood patrol during the summer and special events. Bike patrol is a high productive means of crime prevention and has proven very beneficial for our department.
The Independence Police Cadet program is a youth oriented program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. The primary purpose is to provide young men and women with the experience to determine if they would like to pursue a career in law enforcement.
The program provides the department with additional human resources and opens an avenue of understanding between police and the community's youth.
CART is a board made up of police trainers from the Monmouth, Independence and Dallas Police Departments. CART provides reserve training for the respective agencies, as well as outside other agencies, by hosting a Reserve Academy annually. The CART academy is a four month, 250 hour, certified training program that prepares reserve police officer for uniformed volunteer service in the community.
CITIZEN RIDE-ALONG PROGRAM
IPD Staff 838-1214
The Citizen Ride-Along Program allows for citizens within the community to ride with a uniformed patrol officer during the officer's patrol shift. The Ride-Along Program gives a citizen the opportunity to experience the day-to-day activities of a police officer. Such an experience will allow a better understanding for the citizen as he/she learns what actually happens on patrol shift, and the misconceptions, stereotypes, and cliches directed at police work can be nullified. Additionally the gap of separation between citizens and police officers can be narrowed, as the community gets to know their police officers through the participation in the Citizen Ride-Along Program
CITY ORDINANCE NUISANCE ENFORCEMENT
Sgt. Hatchell
606-4910
Members of our department meet regularly with other city staff members to review some of the major community problems in regards to zoning or ordinance regulations. Most of the locations that are selected and followed up with are chosen because of their impact upon the community. Many are unsightly locations that violate numerous violations, often times the same location chosen year after year.
From when a location is selected, it is then assigned to a police officer to begin a new case. Our department averages about 300 cases a year. The majority of our cases are abandoned autos, accumulation of objects, and violations of our animal ordinances.
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP DAY
Sgt. Hatchell 606-4910
Each May the two communities organize a Monmouth - Independence clean up day. On this one day - volunteers from all areas of our community, especially local youth show up to assist in making our community cleaner. Thousands of pounds of garbage, tires, tree trimmings, and miscellaneous items are disposed of free of cost to community residences.
Police Officers, Reserve Officers, and Cadet Officers assist with youth work crews and other clean up efforts. The results are often greater than just the beautification improvements because there are many positive encounters between police and the other community members.
Mission Statement: "To do the most good for the most people in the least amount of time" The program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.
Numerous members from our department assist in teaching classes at both the Department of Public Safety and Training and at Western Oregon University. Our department encourages our officers to be involved with this type of educational enhancement. Helping instruct police related classes through these Institutions helps other people learn about our profession but also greatly enhances the knowledge of the officers who are teaching. The strong cooperative contacts that are built with these institutions through our instructors have also proven to be very beneficial to our department and community.
GRADUATION NIGHT
IPD Staff 838-1214
Each year, seniors from Central High School celebrate their graduation with an all-night party. Throughout the year, students and their parents raise money through donations and fund raisers to purchase prizes. Members from the Independence Police Department assist the parents in sponsoring a drug-free party.
The Hispanic Advisory Board was formed by the Polk Co. Services for Children and Families as an effort to provide better services for Hispanic families. HAB is comprised of individuals who represent various agencies through out Polk County. The central focus of the advisory board is to better understand the needs of the Hispanic community and how those needs relate to Polk county resources and services.
The Hispanic Advisory Board is open to representatives from any agency or individuals that want to attend on their own behalf. HAB continually seeks to better understand Hispanic issues.
HISPANIC RADIO OUTREACH
Officer Oliveros 838-1214 Carl Nightengale 838-1214
This is a Spanish-language radio program from KWIP, where the officer will talk about, and take live calls regarding traffic safety. The show is the third Wednesday in March, May, July, September, at 2 PM.
HOP & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Sgt. Mason
The Hop & Heritage Festival is an annual event in Independence in which local talents are able to perform on the main stage amidst an array of local product and food vendors, and historic farming equipment. Ths year, the festival hopes to add an antique tractor pull to the list of activities. The festival was revived several years ago from what was traditionally the Hops festival into the Hop & Heritage Festival, which is clearly geared toward family fun and a celebration and look back at the Heritage of Independence.
INTERAGENCY MAJOR CRIME TEAM
Sgt. Hatchell Sgt. Mason 838-1214
The Polk County Interagency Major Crime Team allows for interagency resource consolidation in the investigation of major crimes. Major crimes are those crimes that put an unnecessary strain on the resources of a police agency. By combining the resources of Independence, Monmouth, and Dallas, criminal investigations will prove to be more effective and the strain upon a particular agency will be lessened.
In such an event in which the Interagency Major Crime Team is deemed necessary by a participating agency's Chief Executive Officer, the Team Administrator will notify the other participating agencies. Based upon the magnitude of the investigation, each agency will direct the necessary personnel to the designated location. The agency in whose jurisdiction the investigation is being conducted has the primary responsibility of the criminal investigation. After seventy-two hours, a review will be conducted to determine if further involvement of the Team is necessary. If further involvement is to occur, the extent of the involvement will also be subsequent reviews will also follow.
INTERAGENCY ENTRY TEAM
Sgt. Hatchell Sgt. Mason 838-1214
The Interagency Entry Team is made up of specially trained officers from all Polk County police agency's including Independence. This team's training prepares them for use in "high risk" situations such as high-risk search warrants, barricaded or armed subject, or other tactical situations which may warrant the team's use. The officers on this team volunteer for this assignment in hopes to increase the safety of other officers as well as the community in which they serve.
LANDLORD TENANT TRAINING
Sgt. Mason 606-4905
The Independence and Monmouth police departments belong to a local group called PAL (Police and Landlords). This group has monthly training meetings with a host of instructors. The partnership between Law Enforcement and Landlords has proven very successful in keeping our neighborhoods free of violent or drug dealing people looking for rental.
LIQUOR LICENSE REVIEWS
Sgt. Hatchell 606-4910
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission requires each liquor outlet to have its business operations reviewed each year by city staff. The City must approve or deny the liquor license and forward that to the OLCC. Our department does these annual reviews and makes the recommendations to the City Council.
Along with these reviews are the yearly upkeep and monitoring of problems and situations that develop throughout the year. If any situations begin to develop that look like they might develop into larger problems; our department meets and discusses this with the appropriate business to attempt to reduce problems before they get out of control.
MICOP
Sgt. Mason 606-4905
MICOP is a countywide community policing team. The MICOP team works on projects that concern the county as a whole, but it is also a resource to assist any one community that has a specific need which requires more manpower than that community is able to provide. The MICOP team has conducted such projects as reducing alcohol and tobacco use by our youth, as well security enhancement surveys for our local schools.
MONMOUTH-INDEPENDENCE TOGETHER
& 24 HOUR RELAY CHALLENGE
Ms. Risen 606-4902
Members of our department regularly participate with this task force. We are connected with the statewide "Oregon Together Project", which does research and training on risk and protective factors. They also have a funding source that directs federal money to local communities for use to benefit our own community. We have used this money to fund community project with the schools, churches, and other community groups. An annual “Relay Challenge” is conducted to support efforts to combat substance abuse.
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM - CHILD ABUSE
Sgt. Igou 606-4904
Officer Banuelos
The primary purpose of the Multi-Disciplinary Team is to provide an ongoing forum in which member agencies can coordinate all phases of child physical and sexual abuse case development from investigation through treatment.
Members of the team may include law enforcement, District Attorneys, Judges, Child Protective Service Workers, School Officials, Health Professionals and CASA Volunteers.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Sgt. Mason 606-4905
National Night Out is an annual even sponsored by the Independence and Monmouth police departments and the Independence Neighborhood Watch. This event (held in August) is designed to increase community awareness of crime and provides crime prevention techniques.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Sgt. Mason 606-4905
K. Stutzman 606-4911
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program which unites neighbors and empowers them to work together to deter crime. The Independence Neighborhood Watch Program is overseen by the police department, but staffed and organized mostly by volunteers. Neighborhood Watch supports other community programs such as C.E.R.T, National Night Out and Nite Court, and Block Homes.
NITE COURT
Sgt. Hatchell 606-4916
Nite Court is a youth recreation program started by the combined efforts of the cities of Independence and Monmouth, Oregon. The program is a coalition comprised by the Monmouth/Independence Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA, the Central School District, and the Independence and Monmouth Police Departments. Through positive role models, Nite Court offers the youth of community a positive outlet by providing activities such as: video games, air hockey, basketball, bingo, pool tables and other special programs as well as free refreshments. All equipment and special functions are obtained through local donations and operated by mostly volunteers. The efforts of Nite Court have helped reduce the rate of juvenile crimes in the last two years, as well as solved problems between the different youth groups.
PROJECT CHILDSAFE Sgt. Hatchell 606-4916
Project ChildSafe (PCS) is the nation's largest and most comprehensive firearm safety education program. Project ChildSafe is dedicated to educating firearm owners on proper handling and storage techniques. Designed to make homes with firearms safer and prevent needless accidents, Project childSafe is funded by a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, and managed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation..
The Independence Police Department Reserve Officer program is designed to augment the full-time officers of the Police Department as well as provide participating individuals the opportunity to work in law enforcement.
Independence Reserve Offices can advance to a position where they wear uniforms, operate police vehicles, and work directly under full time officers. Police Reserves are expected to assist with community policing projects, as well as special events like the 4th of July celebration.
SANCTION COURT
Officer Banuelos 606-4918
The Sanction Court operates under the auspices of the Juvenile Department and is an alternative to face-to-face contact with a Juvenile Probation Officer. Youths appear before a panel made up of a minimum of four people. The persons on the panel are as follows: Presider- a community member with an aura of authority; Juvenile Department representative- may be the manager and or a trained practicum; Peer - a student peer of the youth appearing will be a member of the panel; Officer-in-uniform- an active duty officer, cadet, a retired officer, or a reserve. The Presider reviews recommendations for sanctions with the youth and parent. Gets input from panel. Discusses the sanctions parents may impose. Makes a decision as to appropriate action.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
Officer Banuelos 606-4918 Officer LLoyd 838-1214
The job of the School Resource Officer is to do a combination of Law Enforcement, Counseling, and Teaching. Not only does the officer need to enforce the laws to the students and the public, but also needs to be available for the students when they might have a question that needs to be answered. We have recently added the “Parent Aid” program, which allows the youth to take a voluntary drug test with their parent’s permission. This test gives instant results and can help spot possible problems and facilitate open communication and problem solving.
SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM
Ms. Risen 606-4902
The department is working in conjunction with Central High School and their Career Development Program. Students are placed in local businesses to learn about different jobs and skills needed in those jobs. Students have been placed here for the last 5 years. They work directly with the Office Manager who teaches them skills from filing and alphabetizing to data entry.
Our department has been active for several years in project of surveying street lighting needs and working with our street light provider, Pacific Power and Light; to have the needed upgrades installed. It is well known in crime prevention circles that light is the cheapest crime prevention tool that can be employed. Good citizens feel safer on well-lit streets and criminals are uncomfortable in lighted areas. The street light improvement project is improving the livability of our community by reducing crime, reducing traffic accidents, and increasing the public’s sense of security.
The Tobacco Coalition is a countywide group of people who work together to reduce tobacco usage by youth. The Independence Police Department has one member on the coalition. This year, the Tobacco Coalition is financially supporting the efforts of the MICOP Team in youth tobacco reduction and retailer education.
When available, our department has applied for and receives grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation for traffic safety education and enforcement. Grant awards are usually in the amount of $5,000 and are for officer overtime. We employ these officers on overtime to target speed violators, intoxicated drivers, and seat belt violations. The award isn't for just issuing tickets; equal credit is given to education and warnings. The overall goal of the program is to increase awareness and voluntary compliance from motorists. Other programs administered also include a Speed Trailer, Pedestrian Sidewalk Compliance Operations, and a free Child Safety Seat Installation Clinic. To report traffic safety problems/issues, call Carl Nightengale, 838-1214, or email.
WESTERN DAYS - 4TH OF JULY ACTIVITIES
K. Stutzman 606-4911
A multi day festival around the 4th of July weekend. Our department's efforts begin around December with the planning committee. We discuss how the previous year's event went and look for continual improvements for the upcoming year. The main event on the 4th of July begins around 12:00 p.m. with the parade and doesn't end until after 12:00 a.m. after the fireworks are over.
An estimate of 15,000 people flock to the Independence area for the spectacular fireworks display at the Riverview Park. The large attendance along with the long hours stretch our departments' staff and resources, but usually has been highly successful.
The AED is an easy to use device that administers a potential life saving electrical shock. These devices were purchased through donations and fund raising efforts by the Polk 1 Fire Fighters Association, Monmouth Police Department, and the Independence Police Department. First responders carry them because they are on-scene quicker, knowing that a faster response time saves lives.
POLICE REPORT COPIES IPD Staff 838-1214
To obtain a copy of a police report you must first fill out a request form that is kept at our front counter. Police reports are generally public record, but there are some cases that we can not release due to investigations, pending court, or even safety of individuals listed on the report. After you have filled the request out, it will be approved by the Office Manager, Sergeant on duty or the Chief of Police. If approved, copies will be made at a cost of $2.00 per page.
INFORMATION SCANS
IDP Staff 838-1214
Our department can also provide the public with informational scans. The process is the same as for release of a police report above. To run a scan there is a fee of $5.00 per scan.
We can run scans for various information from how many traffic cites on a specific street in a specific time period to how many times our department has responded to a particular address. Again, some information can not be released due to investigations or safety purposes.
IMPOUNDED VEHICLES
IPD Staff 838-1214
Our department impounds vehicles for DUII, Driving While Suspended, Driving Without a Drivers License and for No Insurance. We also impound vehicles for being abandoned. The tow company will not release any of the vehicles until a release from the police department has been obtained by the owner.
In order for our department to release a vehicle all of the following must be shown:
1 - You must be the current owner of the vehicle. Your name needs to appear on the DMV for that particular car. If you have just bought the car, you will either need to show a bill of sale and title that has been signed off on the same day as the bill of sale. If you have had the vehicle for more than 30 days, you will be required to go to the DMV to begin the process of having the title changed over into your name. You will then need to bring back the receipt from DMV showing that you have done so.
2 - You will need to show proof of current insurance.
3 - You will need a licensed driver with you.
After all of the above have been met, the department will fill out a release form. There is a fee of $45.00 (cash) that will be charged at this time. You will then be able to go back to the tow company to retrieve your vehicle.
SEX OFFENDER INFORMATION
IDP Staff 838-1214
Our department maintains a notebook with the sex offenders who register with our department. You will only see the information that is legal for our department to release to the public. All will have a photo of the individual.