Elmwood Police Committee Meeting

Village of Elmwood
Police Committee meeting
6 PM at Village hall

Agenda- Police Report Publications , then closed session 19.85 (1) (c) policy review

present - Bob Rupakus, head of committee, Bob Weix, and Doug Claflin- members

Public present- Pierce County Herald Editor Al Schmidt,&Writer Jason Schulte
Elmwood Argus Editor Paul Seeling, and resident Rick Talford
Mike Sand also attended, but was not an official member of the committee

Bob R.- 1st item is the publications of the police reports. “is it too much, or not enough information”
our past chiefs gave us a monthly report, outlining there work.

Al Schmidt -Then spoke to the committee, showing them copies of other Community Reports from Prescott,
Ellsworth, Spring Valley, Etc.

Chief Meyers- I report what occurs. each situation gets a case number. Like suspicous people, Peeping Toms,
Neighbors walking around at night, 2 people where arrested, due to the listings. I only
put addresses, if there was an arrest made. (note-can tell chief upset a bit) The Newspaper
can come in, and get all the information themselves to write it up.

Al Schmidt- We honor the no name use. we do get access to the reports and County Court Records.

“police reports are public record”

Chief Meyers-As a courtesy, I don’t use names and addresses in the report

Bob R.-I agree with the editor, my concern is that our report is becoming a gossip column. everyone knows
everyone, and where everyone lives. the amount of information is too much.

Chief Meyers- Depending on the incident, citizens cannot watch out for things, They don’t know about. I put the
peeping tom on the 200 block, instead of putting in the village.

Bob R.- I agree, it cuts down on frivelous complaints.

Bob W.- There is no problems that I see. I think the chief is being quite gentle.

Chief Meyers- You have to consider the majority of the stops are from out of town. Drivers state, They have

been driving this way for years in this town.

Bob R.- I thought the traffic stops are good.

Paul Seeling- I have brought information regarding the 3rd WNA award for the police chief, this was rec’d
by the officer for the open records and the safety support given to the community. He gives
his community the right to know.

Bob R.- We don’t say, you cannot review the records.

Paul S.- This is a way to ensure the people are made aware of there rights. He then gave examples of local
police reports, that are published through Him. We look at the thoroughness and the consistency

of the reports. The Elmwood reports have been received weekly, the Spring Valley reports are not

as often. Another example was the Woodville report. Paul stated this was pretty abbreviated,

and the people of Woodville, are not all that pleased with it. The report does not tell much.
The Elmwood Police Dept. has taken advantage of the extra space, left over for reporting, so they

have been adding ordinance reminders, and notices.

Bob R.- Yeah, like Snow Removal Ordinances.

Paul S.- Well, not alot of money comes from Elmwood, in advertising through the paper. It's hard to give
any space then.

Bob R.- What I don't care for is the % used in the report. Is this an editorial, or report. The report does not
shed a very good light on the town. or the Dept.

Chief- I was sharing the factual information. the % increasing from year to year.

Bob R.- I don't think that’s a good thing though.

Bob W.- He must document what he is doing though.

Chief- What I noticed, taking over here, is that a majority of cases, never rec’d official case numbers. I
am giving every case a number now. This way you can justify the Police Dept. and what is done.

Bob R.- We don't justify the Dept., on how many citations are written out.

Chief- I am showing how the Police Dept. is being used. An annual report is easier then. Another area is all
the Mutual Aid given. An example: Spring Lake accident was used. (where the Chief was the first

officer at the scene of a accident) some of the information I give, is just to make people aware.

I feel that is my call. January was an odd month, and I was running ragged.

Bob W.- I believe Elmwood had more problems during UFO days.(with a chuckle)

Doug C.- I have been receiving harassment over the dummy being used.(also with a slight chuckle)

Chief Meyers- Well, a Chief in Georgia liked the idea, and wants to get one himself. It slows people down.

(note: just seeing the squad car does slow vehicles down within town limits)

Bob R.- Well, for discussion purposes-- before it goes to the papers, I feel it should be reviewed by the
Committee first. “ I don’t want to see that stuff about Elmwood”

Bob W.- It is good record keeping, I think.

Bob R.- I see no benefit, from the village appearance being made out to be poor. I personally do not want it.
You do not know if there is a fight, or if it is a crime.

Chief Meyers- Alot of this is due to, "I am proactive."

Doug C.- I think you need to wait till next year, and use the stats against your own stats, not other officers.

Chief Meyers- There where cases that should have been documented, that where not though.There was

4 of them, at one time.

Bob W.- Well Adam was in Racine then., he was trained to do his job this way.

Bob R.- (to Adam) You remember that email thing that came up, it came up again. I want a review of the
information before publication, that's my vote.

Bob W.- I think it is fine the way it is.

Bob R.- (looking at Doug C.)- What is your vote, this is left up to you then

.

Doug C.- Well, I guess you could just leave out the % thing.

Bob W. -- There are problems with other Police Depts out there, look at Bloomer.

Paul S.- The Woodville Chief that had issues come up, and after 8 yrs of service was
released, after going through a review and keeping his job. He went through another review
and lost his job.

Chief Meyers- By not using the %, that is not letting the public know the changes.

Bob R.- Why do they need to know?

Chief Meyers- I was running ragged in Jan., and I recently went to the Meth seminar, most of which, the Meth is
coming from the cities. I guess it is your guys rule, but the media can come in, and get all the
information themselves. To do a report, just as easy.

Bob R.- I do not want to see the % used.

Chief Meyers- Giving the information, allows the public to put 2 and 2 together. (Peeping toms, and someone
walking around at late night.) A woman seen a face in her window, but did not report it.She did

not

Bob R.- Well,I have heard from people that they have had situations, but will not call the police dept. due
to the publicity given, by the reports. People do not want retalliation for reporting cases. Bad
information should not be listed. & leave out the % information. Your position is really public
relations, and this gives the wrong impression to the people.

Chief Meyers- Well 30 years ago, everyone knew everyone. Turnover here is rapid. I phrased it properly

by giving the public the information.

Mike S.- The % thing just looks bad for our town.

Bob W.- Neighbors here, wont even walk across the street to meet each other anymore.

Bob R.- Well, leave out the %

Doug C.- Yeah, I guess I agree, leave out the % information.

Bob R.- I’ll write this as “discussion over misc. information“. Adam, you are a smart guy, do not put %
in, You can change that much. Do not get into that crap. Leave the % info. out.

"This was a Dept. Documented Complaint."

Writer's Note

My opinion, Bob R. was directly Badgering the Chief, in his actions. He then went from

stating "This was discussion over Misc. Items, to telling the Board & Public, the meeting was

held for “ the chief discretionary errors” that where made in his publications.