Board of Police Commissioners

BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 BROWNSBURG POLICE COMMISSION MINUTES These are the Minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Brownsburg Police Commission held at the Brownsburg Town Hall on April 11th, 2023 at 6:00PM. MEMBERS PRESENT: Allan Bolante, Ray Kotarski, Don Spencer and Matt Simpson ALSO PRESENT: Chief Joseph Grimes, Major Andy Watts, Major Bryan Fultz, Attorney Jayson Marksberry and Secretary Kellie Cummins ABSENT: Tim Cooper, Commissioner _______________________________ Major Bryan Fultz gave the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll Call was conducted and a quorum was formed. Commissioner Tim Cooper was absent. Allan Bolante requested a motion to approve the agenda for the meeting. Don Spencer made a motion to approve the agenda as posted. Matt Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Allan Bolante requested a motion to approve the minutes to the last meeting dated, March 14, 2023. Matt Simpson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Don Spencer seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Don Spencer Matt Simpson  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -2- OLD BUSINESS CHIEF OF POLICE Chief Grimes stated the current Expense Report was provided in the PC Packets and asked if there were any questions. There were no comments. Chief updated the Commissioners on the current recruitment process. There are thirteen candidates on the eligibility list. Chief said that of the thirteen, eight are experienced and five are not. Oral interviews are complete and BPD Detectives are conducting background investigations on the top five candidates. Chief Grimes said that he plans to present conditional offers, at the May PC meeting, to three candidates for the three vacancies that the department currently has. The rest of the candidates will stay on a hiring list for future need. Chief Grimes said that the department currently has 51 Full Time Sworn Officers and are allocated 54. Chief Grimes updated the Commissioners on Officers going through the FTO program. Chief said that Officer James Lynch and Officer Jacob Smith were hired in 2022; they were hired as replacements from retirees, not additional personnel. They did not have any LE experience. Both Officers completed ILEA and just completed our field-training program and are released to solo patrol on the PMA shift with Sgt. Sentany. Chief also announced that Officer Alex Nelson and Officer Jacob Ward were selected as new Field Training Officers. They both attended a Field Training Officers school and have been certified. They will be field training with the next group of officers hired. Commissioner Bolante asked how many Field Training Officers the department has. Chief Grimes said ten. Chief Grimes stated that concerning the 2024 Budget process, the department would have the 2024 Budget Justification sheets turned in to Howard Jackson, the Town Budget Analyst on April 28th. Chief said himself; Executive Staff and Purchasing Agent have been working on the numbers. Chief Grimes said that he is preparing the budget along the means of base salary to be in-line with other agencies in order to solicit recruitment and maintain retention of staff and personnel. Chief said that he would also be presenting numbers to expand staffing due to population of the town. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Don Spencer Matt Simpson  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -3- Chief Grimes updated the Commission on a recent Armed Robbery. Chief said Officers from BPD, Pittsboro PD and HCSD responded to an armed robbery in March. A Pittsboro Officer located the suspect’s vehicle, they exited and a foot pursuit occurred. Officers were able to make apprehension and identify the suspect. The victims were in their home at the time of the incident. The suspect was a former employee. The suspect was charged with level two armed robbery. OLD BUSINESS COMMISSION Ray Kotarski stated it was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and thanked the Dispatchers at the Hendricks County Communications Center for all of their hard work. Allan Bolante said that Jayson Marksberry informed him that he had received payment from a former officer that resigned and broke the training contract. NEW BUSINESS CHIEF OF POLICE Chief Grimes stated in March the Brownsburg Narcotic Unit Officers traveled to Dallas, Texas for the annual National Criminal Interdiction Conference. At the conference, Sgt. Ben Pyatt was recognized with two awards. Sgt. Pyatt received an award for the largest investigative seizure in the country in 2022, “Operation Cluster Trucker”. Chief said he also received the “Directors Award”, the highest award given by the NCEA, given by Director Sheriff Mike Lewis at his discretion to the officer who has the greatest impact to the fight against drugs. Chief Grimes congratulated Sgt. Pyatt and the BNU Officers. Chief said that on March 12, 2023 BNU Officers followed a suspected marijuana smuggler and money currier. BNU have been investigating this trafficking group for over a year. Indiana State Police and Illinois State Police Interdiction Unit assisted in a traffic stop. A probable cause search was conducted and the driver had a large sum of suspected drug money in the vehicle. BNU and DEA seized the suspected drug money. Chief Grimes added that BNU and ISP have seized $1.1 million dollars in suspected drug money from this trafficking group. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Don Spencer Matt Simpson  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -4- Chief Grimes said on March 25th Officers responded to shots fired. Upon arrival, Officers spoke with witnesses that saw a person fire off shots. They found a person hiding inside a vehicle that was armed with two firearms. Officers were able to deescalate the suspect and take them into custody. No one was injured. Chief added that both firearms were reported as stolen. The suspect taken into custody was an adult female and not a resident of Brownsburg. Chief discussed ballistic shields. EMA Director Dawn Mason filed for a grant and was able to aid in providing ballistic shields for Brownsburg as well as other agencies in the Hendricks County. Chief Grimes said this grant would provide officers with small ballistic shields to keep in their squad cars. They will receive training before they are issued. Chief Grimes stated that BPD Officers participated in Impaired Driving Enforcement during the month of March. Five Officers worked 32.5 hours and stopped 52 vehicles; 4 arrests; issued 8 citations and 51 warnings. Impaired driving patrols are in addition to regular road patrols and funding is provided through a Federal Grant by the Highway Safety Traffic Administration and is facilitated through ICJI. Chief added that our department is constantly seeking additional funding to pay for staff’s overtime in order to increase enforcement patrol beyond the daily duties. NEW BUSINESS COMMISSION Matt Simpson read a letter from Chief Grimes requesting the release from probation of Officer Oliver Hughes and Officer Sarena Clay. Both Officers were hire in 2022 and have successfully completed their probationary year. Allan Bolante requested a motion to approve the request. Don Spencer made a motion to approve and Matt Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Don Spencer Matt Simpson  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -5- DIVISION REPORTS & MONTHLY STATS All reports where submitted to the Commissioners. ATTORNEY Jayson Marksberry requested consent to move forward with providing the language needed to update the Town’s Fee Ordinance on providing copies of documents or videos. There is a high demand and it takes personnel time. Jayson Marksberry would discuss with the Town’s attorney. Allan Bolante asked each Police Commissioner for consent. All gave consent. FLOOR Cindy Holman stated she was a recent graduate of the Citizens Police Academy. Mrs. Holman thanked the Officers that conducted the academy and was thankful she had the opportunity to attend. ADJOURNMENT Allan Bolante requested a motion to adjourn the meeting. Matt Simpson made a motion to adjourn. Don Spencer seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:29PM. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Don Spencer Matt Simpson  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -6- THESE MINUTES SO APPROVED THIS MAY 9TH, 2023. ___________________________ Allan Bolante, President ___________________________ Tim Cooper, Vice President ___________________________ Ray Kotarski, Commissioner ___________________________ Don Spencer, Commissioner ___________________________ Matt Simpson, Commissioner ATTESTED: _____________________________ Kellie Cummins, Secretary Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Don Spencer Matt Simpson