CITY of BENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT of ACTIVITIES 2016
The Benton Police Department began 2016 to achieve ten goals. Those goals were substantially accomplished. In addition to these goals the following are reported:
- Communications Improvements- Remodel of the Communications Center and updated 911 software was completed. Operators answered 49324 calls for service in 2016, 45442 of these call were for the Benton Police Department.
- Statistics - Reporting of the NIBRS crime statistics showed violent crime in the City of Benton, UP 6.67% and property crime UP 20.31%%, when compared to 2015. The NIBRS reporting covers all the crime categories, and showed a total increase of crime in the City of Benton in 2016 UP 19.16%, compared to 2015 totals.
- Training - Benton Police officers received 14,436 training hours. Supervisors received a total of 1175 hours of supervision training. Communication training hours amounted to 738 hours.
- Records -The records division processed 38,051 reports (up 7.57% from 2015).
- Special Investigative Unit - In 2016, the unit, comprised of detectives from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the Benton Police Department, seized a street value of $5,969,536.15 in drugs from the streets of Saline County. They arrested 344 persons on a total of 581 drug related charges. The unit seized 62 weapons, along with 15 vehicles for forfeiture, and 1 methamphetamine laboratory.
2017 GOALS and OBJECTIVES
The Benton Police Department will seek to achieve 10 goals. These goals are as follows:
- Establish new body cam/ dash camera program utilizing the Utility program.
- Establish new IA software and complaint process program through the department.
- Implement text 911 software program.
- Explore and implement new digital ticketing system
- Remodel of upstairs to establish Police Admin Offices
- Establish Police Fire Substation at Hwy 5 and Alcoa
- Establish Police Annex building at the Old Sr. Adult Center
- Remodel of opened downstairs Police Department offices
- Evidence Room improvements and addition.
- Updates to Policy and Procedure manual.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kirk R. Lane
Chief of Police