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(03/23/10 1:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A complainant told Bloomington Police Department that he was robbed when he tried to purchase cocaine at Night Moves on Sunday.According to the BPD report, the alleged victim, 33, initially told officers that “he was in a rest room when approached by two black males who punched him in the face and stole his wallet.”When officers arrived at the scene, the suspects weren’t there.The victim was taken to Bloomington Hospital, where he was subjected to further questioning. At this time, he altered his story to include information about an attempted drug purchase.According to the report, the man went to the bathroom to purchase cocaine from the two men. The victim claimed he was assaulted after the suspects asked how much money he had. The suspect said the men stole his wallet, which contained $200.The victim suffered a two-inch laceration above his left eye, which was completely swollen shut, a bloody nose and a contusion on the right side of his head.
(03/22/10 2:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Contrary to popular belief, portable on-site breathalyzer tests are not admissible in a court of law. For this reason, IU Police Department officers rely on three field sobriety tests to initiate probable cause to make an arrest and secure a conviction for Operating While Intoxicated. “In order for any scientific evidence to come into trial, it must be proved accurate,” said Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Bob Miller. “Handheld breathalyzers aren’t accurate. They show a ballpark estimate to help support probable cause.” Although admissible in the court system, Miller warned that field sobriety tests are only as good as the person utilizing them. Though there is nothing completely uniform from case to case, there are generally two charges filed for OWI charges. The first charge is operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. The second charge involves operating under a certain blood alcohol content. “An individual operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content between 0.08 and 0.15 may face a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by no more than 60 days in jail,” Miller said. Those operating a vehicle above 0.15 may face a preliminary charge of a Class A misdemeanor. First time offenders will be on supervised probation for one year, attend an alcohol class, commit to 30 to 100 hours of community service and pay a $600 fine which doesn’t include lawyer fees, Miller said. If a driver has a prior OWI conviction in the last five years, he may be charged with a Class D felony. If three or more OWI charges occur in 10 years, the driver may be charged as a habitual traffic violator and may face a lifetime suspension of their driver’s license. The most common field sobriety tests administered by IUPD are the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk and turn and the one leg stand. During horizontal gaze nystagmus, an officer will move an object, often the tip of a pen back and forth at eye level across a subject’s face.“We look for a smooth pursuit,” IUPD Lt. Craig Munroe said. “Alcohol creates a jerky motion in the eyes, the more jerking, the higher the blood alcohol content.” A second field sobriety test involves the walk and turn. In this assessment, officers may give instructions to walk in a straight line heel to toe. Then the subject is ordered to turn on one leg and walk back to the starting point. Officers will usually be able to tell if someone is intoxicated because of their inability to follow simple directions, Munroe said. This includes walking before the officer tells you to. During the one-leg stand, a subject must lift one foot six inches above the ground, while keeping it parallel to the pavement. The driver will count out loud to 30. During the process, the officer is also looking at his watch, so any major deviation in counting speed will suggest intoxication. Although inadmissible, the handheld, portable breathalyzers are used following the field sobriety tests to give officers the ballpark estimate of a driver’s blood alcohol content. Once IUPD officers have enough probability that a driver in their jurisdiction is intoxicated, the violator will be arrested and taken to the IUPD station, where they will wait an additional 20 minutes for further testing to be done. In a room on the lower floor of the station, officers conduct the sobriety tests again, this time on camera. A large and more accurate certified breathalyzer machine is also in the room and used to determine a subject’s blood alcohol content. Unlike the hand-held breathalyzers, the results from this machine are admissible in court. Those arrested for OWI have the right to refuse to take a blood test or a breathalyzer test. “Under a policy we instituted with Bloomington Hospital, if someone is taken into custody and refuses to agree to take a test, it won’t be administered,” Miller said. Although a warrant can be issued by a judge for the retrieval of a subject’s blood, it will not be taken if a person forcibly resists. “We do not engage in forcibly drawing blood; there is a risk if the person is resisting,” Miller said. In the case that a person refuses a chemical or breathalyzer test at the station, they will be charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and their license will be suspended for one year.
(03/10/10 2:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Armed with m4 Carbine assault rifles, the 21 member Critical Incident Response Team protects Bloomington with special weapons and tactics.When fully equipped, more than 40 pounds are added to the body weight of each of the team members. Although the team is comprised of 15 law enforcement officers and six paramedics, BPD is the team’s primary administrative authority.Sgt. Mick Williams has been on the critical response team for 12 years.“We control day-to-day operational procedures, schedule training and specify operational procedures,” Williams said.CIRT is always on call, but its services aren’t used often.“It varies,” said BPD’s Capt. Tony Pope, adding that sometimes they’re needed only a handful of times.The last operation CIRT was involved in was Jesse Jackson’s visit in January. Williams said CIRT was responsible for his transport and security, along with minimizing possible threats.“Although we don’t do security details a lot, it is one of our missions,” he said.When CIRT started 25 years ago, it had five members. The team has very few job openings because of its members’ devotion.“I hope to be in there for a few more years,” Williams said, “until my body can’t take it anymore.”CIRT members train for about six to eight hours a month in addition to their full time officer shifts, Williams said.Among other positions, Bloomington’s CIRT’s comprised of the marksman observer and entry team. Although the word sniper is strictly a military term, the marksman observer has similar responsibilities, Williams said.“This individual is capable of giving information to other team members through observation, and, if necessary, to take precision shots at a distance,” he said.The entry team is responsible for what its name implies — moving into a structure and gaining control. It’s comprised of a breacher whose primarily responsible for facilitating forced entry into structures via windows or doors.Storm Mountain, Inc., a SWAT training center near the Maryland border in Elk Garden, W. Va., trains 1,500 to 2,500 law enforcement officials per year. Most police departments have an operating procedure that sets the standard for what training’s required, said Rod Ryan, vice president of operations.“Every department is different,” Ryan said. “Large departments such as D.C., Baltimore and Los Angeles may have thousands of pages of standard operating procedure.”Firearms training is a must at Storm Mountain. Other specialty areas involve safety maneuvering through structures, hostage situations and reconnaissance.“We throw a lot of stuff at these guys to make sure they think properly,” Ryan said.CIRT is only utilized several times a year, but the team’s vital to Bloomington’s safety and security.“We are very fortunate to have CIRT,” Pope said. “They are a highly trained group we rely on.”
(03/09/10 2:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An 11-year-old girl reported being inappropriately touched by a male suspect with his hands and mouth for four years, according to a Bloomington Police Department report written by Detective Richard Crussen.The victim and her mother went to BPD on Thursday to file a report.Crussen brought Adan Soto-Cervantes, 39, to the department on Friday.“He admitted to touching the girl and confirmed what the girl had reported,” the report stated.Soto-Cervantes is facing two preliminary counts of Class-A felony child molestation and two preliminary counts of Class-C felony child molestation.
(03/09/10 1:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A 21-year-old female reported that she was a victim of a robbery at about 2 a.m. Sunday to Bloomington Police. She said she was accosted by a man in an alley behind The Upstairs Pub.According to the report, the female was walking westbound in an alley in the 400 block of East Kirkwood Avenue. As she passed a man who was walking in the opposite direction, he grabbed her hair and demanded she hand over her wallet. After insisting she had nothing in her wallet, the suspect “shoved her face down in the alley,” according to the report.The victim reported the incident at noon Sunday. She described the suspect as “a black male with a deep voice, 25 years old, six feet tall and 180 pounds.”BPD’s Sgt. Jeff Canada urges crime victims to report incidents as soon as possible to increase the chances of an offender’s arrest.The incident is still under investigation.
(03/08/10 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU is advertising a newly created position that would centralize the public safety and emergency management structures at IU’s multiple campuses. The new position, director of public safety, will serve as the liaison between current IU campus police chiefs and Mark Bruhn, associate vice president for assurance and public safety.As IU President Michael McRobbie took office, he was concerned about how police departments would respond to emergency situations, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said.After being named president, McRobbie questioned John Applegate, vice president for policy and planning, about the organization of the University-wide police and public safety response structure.It was Applegate’s recommendation to McRobbie to centralize the campus police departments after a detailed study was conducted.“By creating a single department with the same standards on every campus, officers at each campus will operate under the same procedure and policy,” MacIntyre said. One noticeable change will be the uniforms of the officers. Currently, the uniforms of police officers and decals on the police cruisers differ from campus to campus. Mainly, however, the goal of this uniformity is to allow the director of public safety to report to Bruhn instead of multiple police chiefs.“If you have seven different departments, they are reporting to seven different people,” Applegate said. “Organizationally, this makes things very difficult.” The sharing of resources and the ease of mobility will be another advantage to the new system, especially in emergency situations.“We’ve had emergency situations before,” MacIntyre said. “IU-Northwest was evacuated last spring because of flooding.” Applegate admits that the majority of the goals anticipated with this change could be completed without altering the current public safety system in place. “In a theoretical sense, some of this could be done without having someone in place whose job it is to make this happen,” Applegate said. “The fact is, these collaborative activities don’t happen on their own and things are often left on the backburner.” Although there will be a sharing of University police resources, IUPD Lt. Craig Munroe does not foresee officers transferring to other campuses against their will.“Although we have done it temporarily, I wouldn’t see it forcing anyone to move,” Munroe said. The goal of centralizing the departments is not to hinder any of the officers but to allow them to benefit by working together.“The idea is to be able to take advantage of the fact we will have a single, larger police force than we do in individual pieces,” Applegate said. “We are one University, and as one, we are about having the safest environment for IU’s entirety.”
(03/03/10 3:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A BPD Detective and an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agent arrested Daniel Lee Beckum on Monday for his involvement in an armed robbery and confinement incident last September. Warrants have been issued for four additional suspects.At 3:36 a.m. Sept. 12, BPD received a phone call in which the caller informed officers of an armed robbery in the 1200 block of South Lincoln Street. They were informed that the caller and two other people had been in a residence when they heard a knock at the door.Upon opening the door, four males entered, two of whom had handguns. According to the complainant, they were confined against their will for three hours as the four men stole various items from the residence and loaded it into a car outside.At 3 a.m., one of the residents returned home while the robbery was still in progress.According to the report, “he entered the residence and was beat in the head with the butt of a handgun.”The resident, who suffered lacerations to the head, was then tied with duct tape.He told BPD officers that the subjects “stole his money and marijuana.” The case was assigned to BPD Detective Jarred Burns.Through further investigations in February, Burns was able to acquire the name of a suspect, John Christian Wallace — who goes by the alias “John C” — through a confidential informant. In the interview, Wallace admitted he was involved in the robbery and had been recruited by Steven Snyder — whose alias is “Sas.”When located, Snyder initially denied any involvement in the robbery but later retracted his statement.BPD also discovered three more participants in the robbery: Daniel Beckum, Theodore Tolliver and Parris Hammond, or “P,” bringing the total to five suspects.According to Snyder, it was he, Wallace, Tolliver and Hammond who entered the house the night of the robbery.According to the BPD report, one of the suspects told officers “they decided to rob that specific house because they believed it had cash and weed and would make a good robbery.”Snyder and Wallace were the two suspects who entered the residence with handguns.A warrant was served to Snyder on Monday, who is currently in prison for an unrelated charge. A BPD detective and an ATF agent arrested Beckum near his girlfriend’s residence at the 2500 block of South Rockport Road Monday. He was taken into custody without incident.There are warrants outstanding for the arrest of the three remaining suspects: Wallace, Tolliver and Hammond.The five suspects are facing preliminary charges of burglary resulting in bodily injury, a Class A Felony; armed robbery, a Class B Felony; and criminal confinement, a Class B Felony. Snyder is facing an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious and violent felon, a Class B Felony.According to Monroe County Court files, Wallace, 25, was convicted in September 2009 for resisting law enforcement, a Class D Felony. He is still on probation until March 10 of this year. Tolliver, 23, was convicted in May 2005 for attempted theft. Hammond, 22, was convicted of three counts of burglary in August 2006 and sentenced to ten years. He only served two years in jail and was released in October 2008.Anyone with any information should call 812-339-4477 and contact Detective Jarred Burns.
(03/02/10 1:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sarah Kifle is facing preliminary charges of public intoxication and criminal mischief after entering the lobby of the Bloomington Police Department and demanding a ride home from officers.According to the BPD report, “Sgt. Shane Rasche was dispatched to the lobby in response to a woman tearing things off the wall.”Kifle, 23, entered BPD’s headquarters on Third Street at 4:13 a.m. Friday.Because no one was present in the lobby at the time, Kifle attempted to contact dispatch via the call box.After Rasche asked the woman what she was doing, she demanded a ride. Rasche noticed three poster boards ripped off the wall and a shredded call box instruction sheet on the floor of the lobby area.Kifle appeared very intoxicated, Rasche said. Kifle asked Rasche, who was in full uniform, if he was an officer.Surveillance cameras also filmed Kifle rocking a bubble gum machine back and forth in the lobby area.Officers eventually gave Kifle a ride. Instead of taking her to her residence, she was taken to Monroe County Jail.
(03/01/10 12:47am)
Sgt. Scott Oldham is the evening shift supervisor and 20-year veteran
of the Bloomington Police Department. His shift began at 9:30 p.m. for
roll call at BPD headquarters on Third Street. Then, he climbed in his
unmarked Ford Crown Victoria and started the night.
(02/26/10 3:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At 4:14 a.m. Wednesday, a drunk motorist smashed his Honda into the rear of a stationary, marked Bloomington Police Department patrol car.Neal A. Lehman, 24, was traveling eastbound on Second Street when he crashed into Officer Haley’s car. Haley was stopped at a red light on Patterson Drive. According to the BPD report, when asked if he was drinking, Lehman admitted to having only three drinks. Officers administered dexterity tests that Lehman did not pass. Lehman was brought to the police station where he was administered a breathalyzer test. According to the report, “Lehman blew a 0.15 BAC” and was subsequently arrested.The police cruiser sustained damage to the rear bumper, but no one was injured. The arresting officer was Zachary Weisheit.Lehman is facing a preliminary charge of OWI, operating while intoxicated, and was cited for driving too fast in adverse weather conditions.
(02/25/10 1:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington’s frigid and unpredictable winter climate is driving some of Bloomington’s homeless into campus buildings.“Every now and then we will run across somebody sleeping in an academic building,” said IU Police Department Lt. Craig Munroe. Munroe said the library and the Union are two places people go because the buildings are open 24 hours.The first time a homeless person is discovered in an academic building they are advised of trespass, which is a warning, but are not kicked out. If a second incident occurs, the person is arrested and will face preliminary charges of trespass, a misdemeanor. “We don’t keep them in the cold,” Munroe said. “We have our dispatchers call up shelters to find a location for them to stay.”Although she said she believes it is an unfortunate situation, IU Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson explained that academic buildings are not shelters.“Our campus buildings are for campus services,” Hanson said. “I believe IUPD handles these occurrences in a very humane way.” Many of the academic buildings are locked at various hours of the night, but Hanson said there are graduate students who have keys to access them at all times.There are multiple reasons why some homeless might not stay in local shelters, such as a failed sobriety test or not being a Bloomington resident, said Bobbie Summers, director of local homeless shelter Martha’s House. She also said many of the homeless might not be aware of shelters.She said even if Martha’s House is overcrowded, staff will distribute bus tickets for individuals to seek another shelter.“I have only had a couple of nights where I had to turn people away,” Summers said. “I have not known any of the shelters in town to be at capacity.”
(02/22/10 4:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Police Department’s fleet of sleek Dodge Chargers is recognizable for its looks and unconventional body style when compared to other police cars.The department replaced the former and more typical appearing police packaged Ford Crown Victoria models in 2007. “We were told Ford was going to discontinue their police packaged Crown Victoria model so we switched to Dodge,” IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said. Besides a change in overall appearance, the car brings the police force other benefits. “The car is a little quicker,” Lt. Craig Munroe said. “Crown Victorias seem to float at high speeds but the Chargers tend to hug the road better.” The Charger is also cheaper and more fuel efficient, and the police packaged model comes with some pre-wiring and a larger battery. Although the 3.5 liter, six-cylinder engine is smaller than the Ford models, the car is more than 300 pounds lighter. Once the vehicles are purchased, a separate company outfits the cars with electronics that fit the officers’ needs. Owens Communications Inc., located in Bloomington, has worked on various IUPD vehicles. Although much of the equipment in IUPD’s fleet is older, new equipment to outfit a police car can cost up to $15,000. The modifications include installing the partition inside the vehicle as well as the numerous outside lights. “We want to have 360 degree lighting on these vehicles,” Gerard said. “It is important for it to be noticeable when going through an intersection or making a stop.” Besides the light bar that is drilled to the roof, the car is fitted with grill lights and rear deck lighting. The current light bars are the same as the ones on the former IUPD marked Crown Victorias, and new light bars may cost up to $1,400.The cars are also outfitted with a printer and a video camera that records video through the cars’ windshield. Although officers might turn on the dashboard-mounted camera manually, every time the overhead lights are initiated, the camera begins recording. “It records evidence that may be used in court,” Munroe said. He explained it is easier to convict an individual for driving under the influence if it is recorded on camera.“I can explain to a jury that a person’s eyes were bloodshot and that he was leaning against his car during a sobriety test, but it is still my opinion,” Munroe said. “If there are doubts, the tape will be there.”If the recordings capture no useful events, they will be erased and reused.IUPD relies on government grants to purchase its video equipment.“The money from alcohol and drug arrests goes to the state, which they will in turn disperse back to the 92 counties, and some of that will get back to us,” Monroe said.Although there are performance advantages to the Dodge Charger, Government Sales Manager Sam Roberts of Town and Country Dodge said he believes it is the appearance that is the key difference between it and other police car models. “It has a youth-oriented appeal,” Roberts said. “It appeals to young male cops that like the aggressive look.”
(02/18/10 4:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two unidentified men assaulted an IU student in his dorm room Wednesday, police said. IU Police Department officers arrived at McNutt Quad at 2:48 a.m. in response to a call from a male complainant in McNutt-Bocobo. According to the IUPD report read by Lt. Craig Munroe of IUPD, “two male subjects yelled at the complainant from down the hallway of the third floor of McNutt-Bocobo.” The complainant told police he returned to his dorm room where the two suspects followed him. While in the room, the two subjects pushed the complainant against his closet door.After trying to fight back, the two subjects spun him around on a couch and continued to fight him.According to the report, “the complainant had small cuts below his eyes and red marks on his face.” He refused medical treatment.He described one suspect as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds and with red hair. He described the other as 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds and with brown hair.According to the report, the complainant “smelled alcohol on both of the suspects.”The two individuals have not been identified by police.
(02/17/10 2:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Part-time IU student Michael Thomas Land, 23, was found dead in his residence Monday.Bloomington Police Department officers responded to a call at 335 N. Hillsdale Dr. from Land’s roommates at 10:01 p.m., said Sgt. Steve Kellams.Police were waiting for the results of an autopsy, which was completed Tuesday. As of Tuesday evening, Bloomington officers said they had no reason to believe the death was caused by foul play.Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith said he learned about Land’s death Tuesday and had not been in contact with the family.“It’s a tragedy,” Goldsmith said. “I’m sorry that it happened.”Kellams said BPD would have been notified if something out of the ordinary caused Land’s death.“We have not been called yet,” Kellams said Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.Kellams said it could be as long as two weeks before autopsy results are available.
(02/16/10 3:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A Tennessee man wanted on burglary charges was apprehended by Clay County Sheriff’s Department after stealing two cars this weekend.A female complainant notified the Bloomington Police Department that she saw someone backing her 1997 Hyundai Sonata out of her driveway. According to the report, the 34-year-old female had started her car at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and left it running when she went back inside her residence.At 2:15 a.m. Sunday, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department found the car wrecked on the side of the road. No one was at the scene.After crashing the Hyundai Sonata, the suspect walked a short distance and stole a Ford Explorer.At 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Clay County Sheriff’s Department called BPD to inform them they had the suspect, Jacob Ron Hammond, 18, in custody.Hammond confessed to the Bloomington car theft, police said.“He was apprehended by Clay County Sheriff’s Department in a high speed pursuit,” said BPD’s Lt. David Drake.He was eventually stopped and arrested after police utilized a spike strip.
(02/16/10 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This Sunday, a pizza delivery driver hit a man who was standing in the middle of the street and believed to be under the influence of alcohol, police said.At 3:15 a.m., Bloomington Police Department officer Joe Henry responded to a call in the 900 block of South Henderson Street. When he arrived, Henry saw a man lying in the road.According to the BPD police report, “30-year-old Alexander McCaufland was motionless, lying in a puddle of his blood.”The car was driven by 28-year-old Justin Banks.Banks said McCaufland was standing in the middle of the road when the collision occurred. Banks also said he saw a man appearing to give McCaufland CPR upon getting out of his 2002 Ford Escort. When they arrived, police discovered McCaufland had a pulse and was breathing, although he was unconscious. Officers noted several items laying in the street where the accident was believed to have taken place.According to the report, “a shoe, coat and a beer can were found in the roadway.”McCaufland was taken to Bloomington Hospital but later transported to Methodist Hospital because of several fractures to his head. His condition is stable.According to the police report, “the driver was given a breath test and did not test positive for alcohol.” He has not been cited for any offense.“There are indications McCaufland had been drinking alcohol,” said BPD’s Lt. David Drake. “Officers smelled alcohol on his breath.”
(02/16/10 1:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This Sunday, a pizza delivery driver hit a man who was standing in the middle of the street and believed to be under the influence of alcohol, Police said.At 3:15 a.m., Bloomington Police Department officer Joe Henry responded to a call in the 900 block of South Henderson Street. When he arrived, Henry saw a man lying in the road.According to the BPD police report, “30-year-old Alexander McCaufland was motionless, lying in a puddle of his blood.”The car was driven by 28-year-old Justin Banks.Banks said McCaufland was standing in the middle of the road when the collision occurred. Banks also said he saw a man appearing to give McCaufland CPR upon getting out of his 2002 Ford Escort. When they arrived, police discovered McCaufland had a pulse and was breathing, although he was unconscious. Officers noted several items laying in the street where the accident was believed to have taken place.According to the report, “a shoe, coat and a beer can were found in the roadway.”McCaufland was taken to Bloomington Hospital but later transported to Methodist Hospital because of several fractures to his head. His condition is stable.According to the police report, “the driver was given a breath test and did not test positive for alcohol.” He has not been cited for any offense.“There are indications McCaufland had been drinking alcohol,” said BPD’s Lt. David Drake. “Officers smelled alcohol on his breath.”
(02/11/10 2:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During undercover operations, Bloomington Police Department Detective William Jeffers was able to make drug contacts. These same contacts were able to assist him in charging four men in the murder of Mario Wright, which occurred July 19, 2009.For this reason, Jeffers was named BPD’s Officer of the Year.Until a month ago, Jeffers worked as a detective with the Bloomington Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit.“The award has to do with Bill’s homicide investigation last summer,” BPD’s Capt. Joe Qualters said. “He capitalized on his connections with people he knew in the drug world from previous investigations.”The homicide involved an armed robbery thought to be drug-related. It occurred at Arlington Valley Mobile Park in Bloomington.Although three of the suspects have charges pending, a jury trial acquitted one of the suspects last week.“This acquittal does not negate his efforts in the investigation,” Qualters said.Jeffers, who graduated from the IU Police Department Police Academy, has been with BPD for about 13 years.In 2005 he received an award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Indiana.“He was awarded with a group of DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) agents and other law enforcement officials due to a joint effort of the conviction of 18 individuals in federal court and 16 individuals convicted in state courts,” said Tim Morrison, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.Jeffers initiated the case in 2003.“We had a series of heroin overdoses in Bloomington, and I was able to get a suspect to help us investigate where the heroin was coming from,” Jeffers said.Jeffers learned of a heroin drug ring that spanned from Chicago to Indianapolis and eventually made its way into Bloomington and Cincinnati.Jeffers said he contacted the DEA of Indianapolis when he realized the case was out of his jurisdiction.The Midwest takedown involved 35 search warrants that were served simultaneously in three cities. The drug bust received national coverage.Recently, BPD expanded its detective division to include general investigations, which Jeffers joined last month.“Bill has done a fabulous job for us,” Qualters said. “Sometimes, though, you need change, and he seized that opportunity.” Throughout each quarterly period, a BPD officer from each of the uniformed shifts – day, middle and night – and an afternoon detective officer is nominated for Officer of the Year. At the end of the year, one of these officers receives the award.The award is given to those who go above and beyond what their job calls for, Qualters said.“It is a merit award presented on the basis of exceptional performance worthy of recognition,” Qualters said.
(02/10/10 5:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For 17 IU students, they are both full-time students and part-time police officers who live where they work.As certified officers, one of their priorities is to foot patrol the grounds of residence hall daily.“We started the live-in program in 2002 and saw a 40 percent decrease in incidents in McNutt Quad that year,” IUPD Lt. Greg Butler said. These incidents include underage drinking, marijuana use and theft. Butler is in charge of the cadet officer program and assigns where officers live.Senior Kyle Moulden is the live-in officer at Foster Quad. He graduated the IU Police Academy in 2008. Originally from Bloomington, he said he hopes for a job in local law enforcement.Although living at Foster, Moulden only patrols on Friday and Saturday evenings. During the rest of the week, he is scheduled to work at other residence halls doing similar tasks.“Our job is to assist residence assistants, but most importantly to be visible by residents and IU students,” Moulden said. He said his accessibility is an essential part of his job. Although he’s a student, Moulden has the same authority as any police officer. He carries two sets of handcuffs, a baton and a handgun with two extra magazine clips.“I keep my gun in a locked safe which is bolted to the floor,” Moulden said.On a typical weekend, Moulden foot patrols the grounds of Foster looking for any suspicious activity, but more importantly, he is constantly visible. Although Foster is his primary focus, he said he may venture to McNutt Quad or even Briscoe Quad.“It is a lot easier for someone to approach an on-foot uniformed officer rather than one patrolling in cars,” Moulden said. Though he could, Moulden insists that he does not patrol dormitory hallways, but rather focuses on the grounds outside.“Usually the only time I am inside the dorms is when I am responding to a call of service or checking in with the RAs at the front desk,” Moulden said. These calls include a resident not complying with dorm staff or if a resident files a police report.Moulden recalled an incident where an individual threatened an RA with a knife.“Although 911 should be called first in an incident like that, I am right here and able to assist in any way I can,” Moulden said.Some might be hesitant to live several doors down from an IUPD officer, but freshman Andy Johns said he does not mind having Moulden live on his floor.“He has never bothered us,” Johns said. “We never really see him inside.” Most of the live-in officers reside where they lived as freshmen and the program is optional. However, all academy graduates must perform residence hall patrolling duties during the week.During the past decade, IUPD, in collaboration with Residential Programs and Services, gradually spread the program. Currently, every residence hall besides Collins Center has at least one live-in University police officer.“We try to place officers in dorms they are familiar with,” Butler said. Moulden has no quota to meet and said his job is not about arresting as many people as he can.“I’m a student, too. We don’t ticket people because we can,” Moulden said. “Our job is to look out for students’ safety and well-being.” Moulden added that he has wanted to become an officer ever since he can remember.“This is something I am proud to be a part of,” Moulden said. “As far as I am concerned, I have the best part-time job a college student can have.”
(02/10/10 3:20am)
On Monday, Bloomington Police Department officers discovered 45 hypodermic needles and traces of what is believed to be heroin in an IU student’s apartment.