Saint Paul Police Department
| Saint Paul Police Department | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | SPPD |
| Motto | Committed to Excellence, Ethics, Empathy & Education |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1854 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA |
 | |
| Map of Saint Paul Police Department's jurisdiction | |
| Size | 56.2 square miles (146 km2) |
| Population | 285,068 (2010) |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 367 Grove St. Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Police Officers | Authorized to 630 |
| Civilians | ~300 |
| Agency executive |
|
| Districts | List
|
| Website | |
| Saint Paul Police Department | |
The Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) is the main law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was first established in 1854, making it the oldest police organization in the state. The SPPD is the second largest law enforcement agency in Minnesota, after the Minneapolis Police Department. The department consists of over 600 sworn officers and 200 non-sworn officials.[1][2] The current Chief of Police is Thomas E. Smith, who was sworn in on June 15, 2010. He succeeded John M. Harrington, who had been the department's chief since 2004.
Command Structure
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief of Police |  |
| Commander |  |
| Sergeant |  |
| Police Officer/Detective |
Department Awards
The department has only issued medals / awards since 1971. The current medals are:[1]
- Medal of Valor Class A
- Medal of Merit Class B
- Medal of Commendation
- Life Saving Award
- Chief's Award For Valor
- Chief's Award For Merit
- Chief's Award
- Officer of the Year
- Detective of the Year
- Civilian Employee of the year
Department Size[2]
Like most major cities, the city of St. Paul saw a population decline beginning in the late 1960s. However, the police department has continued to grow.[2] The current police chief also has a hiring push underway to increase the size of the force to help continue to fight crime.[3]
| Year | City Population | Sworn Officers | Non-Sworn Law Enforcement Personnel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1849 | 910 | 4 | |
| 1858 | 7,000 | 11 | |
| 1863 | 10,401 | 10 | |
| 1871 | 20,030 | 19 | |
| 1888 | 133,156 | 160 | |
| 1900 | 163,065 | 195 | |
| 1920 | 234,698 | 357 | |
| 1930 | 271,606 | 358 | |
| 1940 | 287,736 | 345 | |
| 1950 | 311,329 | 368 | 26 |
| 1960 | 313,411 | 389 | 43 |
| 1970 | 309,980 | 463 | 69 |
| 1983 | 270,230 | 495 | |
| 1990 | 272,235 | 524 | 131 |
| 2000 | 287,151 | 547 | 211 |
| 2010 | 285,068 | 630 (Authorized size, current size around 560. See note below.) | 300 (Projected) |
NOTE: While the department is authorized to a force of 630 sworn full-time officers, 300 civilian personnel, and over 100 reserve police officers, budget reductions due to cuts in local government aid to cities (LGA) have resulted in lower effective staffing for the police department. As it stands now, several positions remain unfilled due to attrition and retirements. It is not known when the department will be up to its fully authorized strength.
Slain officers
| Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel O'Connell | 17 June 1882 | Unknown |
| Hans Hanson | 3 August 1888 | Gunshot |
| Thomas McCarrick | 21 May 1891 | Streetcar accident |
| Charles Mayer | 1 February 1902 | Gunshot |
| James W Finn | 3 June 1902 | Horse accident |
| Detective Frank Fraser | 15 August 1911 | Gunshot |
| Michael Sullivan | 26 June 1914 | Accidental electrocution |
| Sergeant Hans Aamold | 27 September 1914 | Gunshot |
| Detective Paul Gottfried | 3 August 1919 | Gunshot |
| William W McClintock | 4 April 1922 | Motorcycle accident |
| Officer George Albert Stegner | 12 October 1922 | Gunshot |
| Officer William F Wilson | 6 February 1923 | Car accident |
| Officer Edwin Earl Hackert | 6 February 1923 | Car accident |
| Officer Frank Milanoski | 15 August 1924 | Fist fight |
| Officer Albert J Cunnien | 3 July 1925 | Vehicular homicide |
| Officer Fred A Pietsch | 23 February 1926 | Gunshot |
| Officer John Schultz | 26 February 1926 | Gunshot |
| Officer Calbert H Leedom | 20 June 1926 | Motorcycle accident |
| Officer Axel J Soderberg | 21 March 1928 | Fall |
| Officer Mathew Weiss | 17 June 1933 | Car accident |
| Officer Lawrence F Tierney | 14 November 1934 | Gunshot |
| Officer Rich G Hinshaw | 1 October 1937 | Motorcycle accident |
| Detective Allan G Lee | 10 September 1949 | Gunshot |
| Officer Alfred V Sandquist | 18 June 1959 | Vehicular homicide |
| Officer James T Sackett, Senior | 22 May 1970 | Gunshot |
| Officer John Harold Larson | 10 August 1974 | Car accident |
| Officer John O'Brien | 16 April 1981 | Car accident |
| Officer Alfred Biagi | 26 November 1987 | Heart Attack |
| Officer Michael Markuson | 9 March 1989 | Heart Attack |
| Officer Ronald Ryan, Junior | 26 August 1994 | Gunshot |
| Officer Timothy James Jones | 26 August 1994 | Gunshot |
| Officer Gerald Vick | 6 May 2005 | Gunshot |
Misconduct
A lawsuit alleges that on 13 July 2010, SPPD officers took part in a drug raid on the home of an innocent family. The complaint claims the policemen handcuffed the family including the children, kept them from medical aid and forced them to sit next to the body of the family pet who had been shot.[5]
An arrest outside of a bar on 26 September 2010 is the subject of a lawsuit that claims excessive force.[6]
In September 2010, Minneapolis Officer John Eric Skoglund, who was assigned to duty in the public schools was charged with molesting at least two children years between 1994 and 2006.[7]
In March 2011, the elite Gang Strike Force was disestablished when a state audit could not account for 13 vehicles and over $18,000 in cash the unit had seized. The auditor's report indicated that Officer Ron Ryan had sold property his detail had retained.[8] Press reports indicated the unit used money taken from gang members to attend a 2009 professional conference held in Hawaii.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b http://www.stpaul.gov/index.asp?NID=461
- ^ a b c http://www.spphs.com/
- ^ http://www.sppdfederation.com/
- ^ Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association website accessed 10 August 2012
- ^ St. Paul Cops Shoot Dog in Wrong-Door Raid, Force Handcuffed Kids to Sit Near the Corpse, by Mike Riggs, Reason.com, 10 August 2012
- ^ Man's suit says St. Paul police brutalized him, by: Chris Havens, Star Tribune, 4 October 2010
- ^ Minneapolis cop charged with molesting two women, Star Tribune, 2 September 2010
- ^ Gang Strike Force shut down after audit finds $18,000, 13 cars missing, by Randy Furst, Star Tribune, 23 March 2011
- ^ Several officials criticize Gang Strike Force's publicly funded Hawaii trip, by Randy Furst, Star Tribune, 5 April 2009