It’s no secret that MMM started a program of setting up DTSF public security cameras, which I support, sometimes. This public camera system sitting on light poles and other infrastructure downtown has helped to solve many crimes downtown, piecing together video evidence and tracking the suspects. BRAVO! A great use of technology. Where it gets creepy is when the PD use it to intimidate, harrass, or squelch free speech. Let’s just say that the SFPD are using the camera system on DTSF cell towers to target and chase violators, several blocks after the violation occurred. There is much more I could say, but I best button up for now. I just want every tourist, transient, local or whatever breed you are, if you are DTSF and participating in ANY kind of illegal activity on our public property, you are likely being recorded and watched.
“The video released this past Friday has been very helpful and eye-opening, shedding light on where Tyler was headed the morning of September 4th. If anyone knows where Tyler went that morning, please reach out and speak up. This season has been absolutely dreadful and confusing for our family. We all want answers. I know the SFPD has more footage from Combined Building Specialties that shows Tyler walking toward the interstate, and I am hoping that footage will also be released to the public. If anyone knows where Tyler went, SPEAK UP. This is incredibly difficult to express because my vulnerability is being mocked and used as an opportunity to create baseless theories. It’s putting my family’s safety at risk and perpetuating a false narrative that only endangers my family even more. Enough is enough.” – Mona Lisa Perez
As we know, police departments across the country and state have been successful posting evidence online to social media and getting the public to help them solve a crime. I remember a story from a small town in Eastern SD (I forget the name) but after posting a crime on their FB page it was solved in a matter of hours. GIVING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION WILL HELP YOUR INVESTIGATION! THIS IS CRIME PREVENTION 101. They don’t get it. While I hate closed government on ALL LEVELS, the PD should always be transparent in their investigations. Their lack of transparency only cost$ taxpayers because of extended investigations that go nowhere. Unfortunately we will probably have to wait for a new mayor and council to get transparency from the PD. The first thing I would do is fire the chief, the information officer (he would be FIRST!) and all the detectives and replace them with national searches that actually know how to investigate crimes and be transparent with the public. I have felt for a long time that the chief has a ‘warm bodies’ attitude towards hiring and the COS’s son is in charge of that. I often advise people if you can solve the crime on your own, you are probably better off.
I didn’t watch the police briefing on Tuesday over a long holiday weekend. Since the SFPD public info officer doesn’t usually tell us what is going on, I really don’t watch them anymore. If I wanted to listen to someone telling me nothing I would tune into the Greg Belfrage show. A concerned citizen told me yesterday they tuned in because of an incident in their neighborhood around 1 AM Sunday. If you look at the police log all that is listed was a weapons violation and a case report. The citizen tells me it was much deeper than that. Apparently some juveniles were drinking and shooting guns at a party. Did we not learn anything from the kids who wrecked their car on 18th street last year? I guess not. This would have been a great opportunity to alert the public about teenage drinking parties where guns are involved and ask the public for their help stopping these kind of incidents. I understand you can’t name the juveniles involved but you can certainly chastise and CHARGE the adults that are assisting in providing these kids a place to raise hell. Why wouldn’t you say something? I will say it again; OPEN GOVERNMENT = PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. I guess the SFPD is doing such a whiz bang job these days they don’t even bother to tell us about who is committing crimes in our community because they have it handled. Sure. U Betcha!
I wasn’t making the suggestion, but a friend and I were discussing all the murders in Sioux Falls over the past year and he suggested it.
I actually defended the police on one aspect, they have no idea domestic disputes are occurring in private residences unless someone reports it, so prevention of domestic violence is a tough one to tackle and actually takes the work of many non-profits in our community.
But I can’t defend the police when these murders occur in open spaces like a public park.
I think Thum has done a good job of trying to clean up a department that has morale issues, BUT he needs to UP the patrols of the officers. Several of these murders were preventable because they occurred in public spaces.
Just look at the Dunham Park incident. Nobody called the incident in while the physical fight was occurring in the middle of the afternoon in a park surrounded by apartments? C’mon!
I’ve said since the city’s covid lockdown SOME city employees haven’t really changed their habits of laziness. I have often said that ALL city employees need to have there workflows annually inspected, and if they are NOT up to par, lay them off. It would be harder to fire them do to how a Union works, but you could lay people off due to budgetary reasons. In other words cutting payroll so the mayor would have NO choice but to lay people off. Now while the mayor has the power to hire and fire whoever he wants to without interference from the council, the council does set the budget and they could slash payroll and leave it up to the mayor to cut the fat.
And the mayor’s lack of effective employee leadership is contributing to the problem. When your a city employee busting your butt filling potholes and you see the mayor that makes 5x what you do doing jumping jacks at an elementary school in the middle of the morning, it makes you not want to fill those potholes very fast. And cute little challenge coins don’t mean nothin’.
I have often said city employees are an INVESTMENT and we should make sure that INVESTMENT is working for us. So whether that is a parks worker or a patrol officer we need to give them all the tools to be successful and effective.
I warned some city councilors several months ago that with the increase of transients in Sioux Falls, things like this would occur;
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A 32-year-old Sioux Falls man has now been indicted on murder charges after a man he allegedly assaulted passed away from his injuries.
Robin Swallow was indicted by the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office on Wednesday for murder in the first degree and one alternative count of murder in the second degree.
The incident occurred on September 22 near 12th Street and Cleveland Avenue in Sioux Falls.
A group of people were drinking in an area of trees when an altercation occurred.
A 64-year-old man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and Swallow was arrested for aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery and a parole violation.
The victim has been identified as Michael Raymond Colvin of Sioux Falls. Police said Colvin was hospitalized for several weeks and ultimately passed away. After an autopsy, Colvin’s death was ruled a homicide.
The troubling part is what if an innocent bystander happened upon this? Would they have been safe? The ‘transient’ problem we have in Sioux Falls isn’t just about addicts wandering our streets aimlessly it’s about a city government and police department that have stood their ground in NOT helping to MANAGE the issue, and also NOT filling us in. Why does the SFPD have a public information officer if that officer doesn’t tell us anything?!
It’s time the City Council had a serious working session to discuss a long term strategy on how to MANAGE the issue before more people end up dead.
l3wis 