OUR PROTECTORS
National Police Week May 10-16, 2020
In memory of many • In honor of all
Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 2
Teamwork tactics
CIRTT allows Jasper County Sheriff’s Office to collab with police from Pella, Grinnell for regional support Christopher Braunschweig cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com
Sometimes the right tool for the job doesn’t fit on a police officer’s belt. Sure, there may be no conceivable way to fit an entire specialized task force onto the utility belts of Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office personnel, but having a Central Iowa Regional Tactical Team (CIRTT) in place is as useful as any other tool at their disposable — perhaps even more so. This year, the local sheriff ’s office teamed up with two, out-of-county police departments to form the CIRTT. Selected officers from the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office, Grinnell Police Department and Pella Police Department have joined the team to assist their respected regions. CIRTT is bound by a 28E Agreement between the three respective parties. Jasper County Sheriff John
Halferty said the team began its formal training in January. Even though the department had an established tactical team, it had always struggled with numbers. The regional partnership solves that problem. Members from the sheriff ’s office tactical team have helped train (and are continuing to training) the new officers assigned to the CIRTT. Even though training is still underway, Halferty said the regional task force could be deployed now depending on the situation or circumstance. And, in some capacity, it already has. In January, CIRTT’s Jasper County staffing responded to a standoff in Colfax, along with other area law enforcement. A man with a firearm barricaded himself inside a house. Unable to negotiate with the man, the authorities used less-lethal, chemical munitions to force a surrender. The man eventually did and was apprehended. No gunshots were fired.
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News Jasper County Sheriff’s Office personnel speak amongst themselves after the Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony in May. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office has developed a Central Iowa Regional Tactical Team alongside law enforcement agencies in Pella and Grinnell.
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Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 3
“That was prior to the implementation or the beginning of the actual CIRTT team,” Halferty said, noting the new taskforce has not yet responded to any incidents. Developing a CIRTT was important to the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office. Although situations in which the department would need a tactical team are not common, Halferty said there is a higher likelihood of a serious injury or death if a trained team is not organized to confront more dangerous scenarios. “Between the three agencies, we would all struggle to staff a full team simply by the size of our agencies and who is available,” Halferty said. “It’s sort of a national trend. If you can form a regional team or combine with other jurisdictions, you can have adequate staffing and numbers.” With that, too, comes a higher level of experience. Together, the law enforcement agencies involved in the CIRTT can provide the best resources possible. Since these three departments are smaller in size, the officers assigned to the regional taskforce are still working their day-to-day routines. “We don’t have the ability to staff a full-time tactical team, so all of these members are doing their regular duties — whether they’re a detective or a patrol officer or deputy,” Halferty said. “When there is a need for the tactical team, there would be a callout. All that are available to respond would be deployed.” CIRTT would be beneficial for specialty or highrisk scenarios. Halferty said the most common would be execution of search warrants, particularly those requiring a higher level of force; for instance, a person with a violent background or had threatened someone or law enforcement with weapons. Hostage or barricade situations would also de-
mand the CIRTT. The team could also be deployed at large gatherings in need of additional security, such as events featuring high-profile political candidates during an election year. This scenario would likely be based upon federal authorities’ needs or requests. “One of the reasons we wanted Pella and Grinnell is we’ve had a longstanding relationship with working them,” Halferty said. “There was already that re-
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lationship there and we just felt it was a good fit.” Halferty frequently uses the aforementioned toolbelt analogy to describe CIRTT. “It’s nice to have another tool on our belt and some confidence we have a team that can respond to any of these areas,” he said. Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com
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Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 4
Law Enforcement Employee of the Year:
Van Zee work behind the scenes stands out Pam Pratt
pampratt@newtondailynews.com
Long before the popular crime scene investigator shows emerged on television, Brad Van Zee was paving the way for a new position at the Newton Police Department. Van Zee was hired in 1992 as the evidence technician. He had previously been employed at the Newton Parks Department but a back injury prevented him from doing the labor required of the position. At the same time, the NPD was looking for a nonsworn position in the department to help process crime scenes, work in the property room and help in the photography darkroom. “Several years before when I was in the Newton High School yearbook class I learned how to operate a 35 mm camera and how to process film in the darkroom. I had also worked at the Vernon company in their shipping and receiving room so I was familiar with how a property room would function, so I was blessed to be given the opportunity to fill that position,” Van Zee said. In his 28 years with the department, he has molded the position into what it is today and has become an expert in the field of crime scene investigation and evidence collection. It is because of his excellent work ethic and attention to detail that his fellow officers and community have recognized him as the 2020 Law Enforcement Employee of the Year. “I am very honored to be the recipient of this award. There are so many people in the Newton Police Department from the officers, supervisors and the ladies in the front office that deserve to be nominated that I am humbled to have been selected,” Van Zee said.
Submitted Photo Evidence technician Brad Van Zee has dedicated the past 28 years to the Newton Police Department. A relatively new position, Van Zee’s work ethic and attention to detail has helped shape the job into what it is today. Van Zee was selected as the 2020 Law Enforcement Employee of the Year.
This year’s selection committee was unanimous in its choice for employ-
ee of the year. Many of the comments centered around his long dedication to
the department. It was clear he has left his mark on the department through his years of service. “Often times we celebrate the enforcement officers doing heroic things in the field. While those officers should be celebrated, it’s people like Brad Van Zee that work behind the scenes that also have a tremendous impact,” committed member Jeff Holschuh said. Being one of the longest-tenured employees of the department and the city, Van Zee has left his mark through the years. In his nomination letter, Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess credited Van Zee’s work assisted in the arrest and conviction in major cases. “Brad has been an integral part of the police department team for nearly three decades and although much of his work has been behind the scenes, the impact he has had on the department and community is remarkable,” Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess said. As an evidence technician, the job requires Van Zee to collect evidence for high-level crimes like homicides, rapes and robberies. He is required to work crime scenes that not everyone would be able to cope with. Burdess points to Van Zee’s attention to detail in these situations that allows him to document multiple elements to help with the investigation. Van Zee has gained a plethora of knowledge over the years. While he never had any formal training, he gained his expertise through on-thejob learning and state conferences. “I was fortunate to attend numerous classes and conferences over the years to keep up to date on the specialized aspects of crime scene processing. I received instruction from some of the most accomplished criminalists in the state and throughout the country,” Van Zee said.
Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 5
He also had the opportunity to be an instructor himself. He taught courses sponsored by the Iowa Chapter of the International Association of Identification. Van Zee enjoyed being able to share the knowledge he had gained to students just starting in the field. He was able to share a wealth of experience and advice through instruction. “One piece of advice would be to always keep an open mind while analyzing a crime scene and don’t jump to conclusions. Sometimes things are not what they appear to be,” Van Zee said. “Thoroughly document the scene while you are there. There may be an item in the scene that was insignificant at the time but could be important later after more information is gathered. One photograph taken days earlier at the scene could be key later in the investigation.” As with most professions, technology has changed quite a bit in nearly three decades. One of the main instruments to change have been the cameras. When he started, Van Zee was using black and white film cameras. “You had to manually set the F-Stop and shutter speed on the camera in order to get the correct exposure then manually focus the lens. Now you can just press a button on your phone camera and it will automatically record a better image than we could before and that image can
Submitted Photo Evidence technician Brad Van Zee demonstrated how to brush an object for fingerprints. Van Zee was selected as this year’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He has worked for the Newton Police Department for 28 years.
be shared with anybody in the world within seconds,” Van Zee said. One of Van Zee’s most memorable moments came at a trying time for the NPD. In 2005, the City of Newton was dealing with a revenue shortfall in 2005 resulting in the elimination of 18 employees. Van Zee was one of the employees set to lose his job. His co-workers wouldn’t let that happen.
“My coworkers voted to voluntarily give up their raises for that year along with most of their
and will never be able to adequately express my gratitude,” Van Zee said. Van Zee retired from
ment, he has made a lasting impact through his years of service. He leaves with years of memories and a deep appreciation for the law enforcement profession. — Brad Van Zee, Newton Police Department “I have been very blessed to benefits in order to keep the department May 1 work with so many great my position open. Some after 28 years with the people over my years other staffing issues had NPD and 37 years total with the police departto be adjusted. I will nev- with the City of Newton. ment. So many different er forget all the sacrifices Though he is ending his personalities that kept they made for me then tenure with the depart- you laughing and made
“I have been very blessed to work with so many great people over my years ...”
going to work fun,” Van Zee said. “I am still amazed at the courage of police officers that willingly place themselves in very dangerous situations that can go south in an instant. They go in when for most of us our survival instincts would kick in and we would head in the opposite direction. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.” Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com
Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 6
Local school districts looking to add Student Resource Officers
jpierson@newtondailynews.com
Area school districts are looking to add a school resource officer to help patrol the hallways. PCM and Baxter are both considering making the addition, following in the footsteps of Newton, who currently has two SROs. The push from PCM came after climate survey results were report-
ed for the district. “We surveyed students in grades 3-12, parents and staff members within the school district in regards to 13 dimensions when it comes to school culture and climate. Across all participants, three areas came out as being more vulnerable,” superintendent Brad Jermeland said. “The first one is sense of physical security. The second area
that came out was social emotional security. That was low and actually a little lower than sense of physical security. I think that is tied to the last item, social media.” To help combat those issues, among others at the school, a SRO was proposed for the coming year. The officer would primarily be stationed at either the high school or middle school but would also visit the elementa-
the day, then they aren’t on their patrol. It varies from school year to school year,” Jermeland said. “This year, in Prairie City, we have called them at least 10 times.” Unfortunately, as plans were progressing, the pandemic hit and brought everything to a pause for PCM. Baxter, who is also working on adding a SRO, is continuing with the process and currently looking
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for grant funding for the position. Hopefully, when schedules get back on track, PCM can join back in. “We hope that, with the responsibilities and if we enact this the results of our survey would be higher for the safety and social emotional,” Jermeland said.
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ry schools to help form relationships with students, parents and community members. The district worked with both police departments in Monroe and Prairie City, with Monroe taking the lead in employing the officer. The district was planning on dividing the costs with the city since the officer could work for the city when not at the schools. Also, instead of pulling an officer off of normal patrol when there is an issue as the school, an officer would already be in place to handle any incident. “Right now if we have a situation that is happening at the school and we have called Joe (Bartello, Prairie City Police Chief), we have called Nick (Chambers, Monroe Police Chief) or other officers during
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Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 7
Three years later Dustin Teays
dteays@newtondailynews.com
Jasper County Crime Stoppers first started in January of 2017 and since then it has given people a place to submit tips that could help Jasper County law enforcement solve crimes and continue to keep the community safe. Since the beginning, Jasper County Crime Stoppers has given out $2,215 in rewards and has received 277 total tips. In 2019, Jasper County Crime Stoppers received 44 tips which resulted in four rewards totaling $1,300. “Jasper County Crime Stoppers works very closely with law enforcement in Jasper County and they are very responsive to requests for assistance by all Jasper County law enforcement agencies,” Newton Police Department Sgt. Chris Wing said. The idea behind the nonprofit organization, which relies on donations, is that it gives the community the ability to give law enforcement tips about criminal activity. It might not go on to directly solve
a crime but it is still an important piece. “The way I look at it tips are like pieces of a crime puzzle. Some puzzles are easy and only require a few pieces. While some are like a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that takes a lot of time to figure out,” Wing said. The Jasper County Crime Stoppers also builds a relationship between law enforcement in the county and community members.
President of Jasper County Crime Stoppers David Peters said it is also nice to have community members come to the meetings to hear what is going on in their area and any ideas they might have. “The relationship between the police department has been cru-
cial,” Peters said. Jasper County Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that is made up of volunteers. It is always looking for more people who would like to be involved. The organization meets quarterly at the Newton Public Library but with the coronavirus pandemic, the next meeting date is unknown at this time. “Since we are a nonprofit all funding comes through donations, and those donations pay for the annual fee for P3tips and fund our rewards,” Wing said. For more information on submitting a tip or becoming involved with Jasper County Crime Stoppers you can check its Facebook page or visit jaspercrimestoppers. com. There are multiple ways for submitting tips. “It is an avenue for citizens throughout Jasper Country to report tips of criminal activity, which can be done anonymously by using P3Tips.com or calling 641-792-8362,” Wing said. Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com
Our Protectors • May 2020 – Page 8
Keeping law enforcement officers safe during the COVID-19 crisis The Centers for Disease Control has issued specific guidelines for law enforcement to help officers stay safe during the current COVID-19 public health crisis. Sadly, no segment of our population will escape this persistent virus, including our law enforcement community. Officers are already used to facing the unknown, but this invisible enemy poses an immediate threat, not only to an officer, but to the officer’s family and coworkers. As we navigate this public health crisis, the law enforcement community must be exceptionally vigilant in keeping our first responders and their families in top physical and mental health. Already law enforcement departments across the country are beginning to see its own officers infected with COVID-19, and sadly even succumbing to the virus in some areas. Officers should follow the same guidelines as the general public when coming into contact with others, whether responding to a call or even in-
teracting with coworkers. These guidelines include washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, maintaining a physical distance of at least six feet and avoid touching the face. If soap and water are not readily avail-
substitute. When possible, an officer should meet people outside of their homes and avoid unnecessary contact with other individuals. When possible, encourage the public to use non-emergency numbers
able and the officer is not responding to a case involving illegal drugs, alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is an acceptable
to submit a police report by phone, rather than sending officers to people’s homes. If an officer is responding to a call involving anyone who is suspect-
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ed of having COVID-19, a trained Emergency Medical Service person should transport that individual. Officers should also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when in contact with individuals who may have COVID-19. These may include protective masks, gloves, goggles and clothing. Officers need to stay mentally healthy as well. That means getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol consumption and staying connected with loved ones. Spend time playing video or board games with family, participate in video calls with loved ones who are far away, take walks with family members who live in the same home and make time to pursue hobbies. Most important, know that as a law enforcement officer, your role is vital to the safety of your community and to our nation. It is a commitment that is not made lightly and one that is greatly appreciated.
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