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 December 12, 2023 at 6:00PM. MEMBERS PRESENT: Allan Bolante, Ray Kotarski and Matt Simpson ALSO PRESENT: Chief Joseph Grimes, Major Andy Watts, Captain Jeff Klayer, Attorney Jayson Marksberry and Secretary Kellie Cummins ABSENT: Tim Cooper and Major Bryan Fultz _______________________________ Dr. Jim Bohrer from Hope Church gave the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll Call was conducted and a quorum was formed. Allan Bolante requested a motion to approve the agenda. Matt Simpson made a motion to approve the agenda as posted. Ray Kotarski seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Allan Bolante requested a motion to approve the November 14, 2023 Police Commission Meeting Minutes as presented. Ray Kotarski made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Matt Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Matt Simpson Sam Lowe  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 asked if there were any questions regarding the Expense Report. There were no questions from the Commissioners. Chief pointed out that there will be funds remaining from the 100 Line Item, Salaries & Benefits, due to personnel vacancies. Chief Grimes said that the department has received the new bodycams and in-car cameras and training have been conducted. Utility is the company they are going with. Chief said the department entered a five-year contract. Funds from the LIT distribution funds will assist in paying for the updated camera system. Chief said all of the forty-six vehicles that were scheduled have had new cameras installed. Chief Grimes said that Hendricks County Sheriff Department and IMPD use the same company. Chief said everyone seems to like the new system. Chief updated the group on the lateral hiring process. Chief said that they received sixteen pre- applications and six did not meet the lateral requirements. Chief said three had standard disqualifiers and one withdrew. Chief Grimes said six candidates remain and oral interviews will be conducted on Monday, December 18th. Chief Grimes said that from the 2023 hiring list there are two candidates that conditional offers have been extended to, they have met all the requirements and will be sworn in next week. One candidate is a lateral from Kokomo PD and the other candidate does not have law enforcement experience and will be attending ILEA in January. OLD BUSINESS COMMISSION The Commissioners had nothing to report. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Matt Simpson Sam Lowe  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -3- NEW BUSINESS CHIEF OF POLICE Chief Grimes said that the agency has had a drone program for some time; we have had a policy and developed that around specialties within the department. Major Watts has been researching this and plans to present a policy early next year. Chief said he plans to develop a Drone Pilot Program for the shifts in the Enforcement Unit. Two per shift will be allocated. Chief Grimes said the drones are a non-budgeted item. They have filed a request through the Federal Government for use of forfeiture money. This was approved, the drones were ordered, and we have received them. Chief Grimes added once the policy is approved personnel will be selected to pilot the drones. Chief said that Investigations would be running a recruitment for Civilian positions. The recruitment is for an Intelligence Analyst. Advertisement for the position will begin December 15th, Pre-applications will be due January 31st, full applications will be due February 14th, and Oral interviews February 28th, Conditional Offer March 12th, Start date April 1st. Chief said in addition, there would be a Forensic Analyst position opening. Kim Shupert has been covering several areas and will be transitioning over to the Victim Advocate/Investigations Administrative Assistant position. Chief Grimes said that the plan is to advertise the Forensic Analyst position on January 2nd, Pre-applications due February 19th, Full applications March 4th, Oral interviews March 18th, Conditional Offer April 9th, tentative start date April 29th. Chief Grimes said on November 8th BPD Narcotics and BPD ERT along with other agencies assisted the DEA in a large scale Warrant Service. BPD Narcotics and ERT hit a stash house in Marion County and recovered 3 ounces of Fentanyl, one pound of marijuana. As a result of seven warrants being served; 11 guns, 16 pounds of meth, 870 grams of cocaine, 430 grams of crack cocaine, 450 grams of Fentanyl, 25,000 Fentanyl pills, several pounds of marijuana and approximately $35,000 in cash were seized from all the locations. There have been eight arrests and it is still an active investigation. Chief Grimes said on November 6th BPD Narcotics Officers concluded a month long investigation on a dealer in Avon. The dealer was providing marijuana and marijuana products to students at Avon High School. Officer conducted a search warrant on the residence and Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Matt Simpson Sam Lowe  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -4- seized 2 ounces of marijuana, 75 THC Vapes, 77 THC Edibles were seized. An arrest was made. On November 16th, BPD Narcotics conducted a traffic stop in Plainfield. The stop was on a suspicious driver. A Search found 1.5 ounces of Fentanyl pills, 9 grams of marijuana and a handgun. An arrest was made. Chief said another seizure that BNU is involved in is still under investigation, they have seized 25 pounds of Fentanyl pills and $40,000 cash. Chief Grimes expressed his appreciation for all of the hard work the BNU group has been putting in. Chief Grimes discussed the Field Training Program. Chief said that Joe Tesmer, Andy Northern and Eddie Rodriguez were recently sworn in as Reserve Officers. They have been outfitted and have begun phase one of the FTO program. The school corporation have requested FTO for one of their new hires as well. NEW BUSINESS COMMISSION Allan Bolante read a letter from Chief Grimes requesting the probation release of Officer Tyler see to First Class Officer. Ray Kotarski made a motion to approve the request. Matt Simpson seconded the request. Motion carried 3-0. The Commissioners presented department awards to the following personnel: Operations Officer of the Year 2023 – Officer Alex Nelson Support Services Officer of the Year 2023 – Sergeant Joseph Fults Civilian of the Year 2023 – Kellie Cummins Reserve Officer of the Year 2023 – Sergeant Kim Kiritschenko Top Gun 2023 – Officer Daniel Brinson Allan Bolante requested the approval of Policy 06.22.01 Transport, Process and Remand of Arrested Persons. Allan Bolante requested the approval of Policy 02.15.02 Job Description 1st Class Civilian Intelligence Analyst. Matt Simpson made a motion to approve the updates and changes. Ray Kotarski seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Matt Simpson Sam Lowe  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -5- REPORTS The reports were provided to the Commissioners. There were no questions or comments. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE Allan Bolante read a thank you letter from the Brownsburg Community School Corp. Police Chief, Ginnie Wing. Chief Wing thanked the Brownsburg Police Department personnel for their assistance earlier in the month when the school received a bomb threat. Chief Wing is very appreciative of the team effort. ATTORNEY Attorney Marksberry presented the mandated statewide policy on use of force/deadly force. Attorney Marksberry said this would be presented for a vote next month. The Law Enforcement Training Board is seeking to implement the policies by January 24, 2024. Attorney Marksberry stated this would overlay with the department’s current policy. FLOOR No comments. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:52PM. Board of Police Commissioners Attorney Ray Kotarski 31 N. Green Street Jayson Marksberry Allan Bolante Brownsburg, IN 46112 Tim Cooper www.brownsburgpolice.org Matt Simpson Sam Lowe  BROWNSBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Joseph A. Grimes Office: (317) 852-1109 Chief of Police Fax: (317) 858-2023 -6- THESE MINUTES SO APPROVED THIS 9TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024. ___________________________ Allan Bolante, Commissioner ___________________________ Tim Cooper, Commissioner ___________________________ Ray Kotarski, Commissioner ___________________________ Matt Simpson, Commissioner ___________________________ Sam Lowe, 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 Matt Simpson Sam Lowe