Mesa Police Department 2001 Annual Report

Message from Chief Jan Strauss

In more ways than one, the year 2001 will be remembered for a long time. Our country experienced one of it's most traumatic moments, followed by an amazing ignition of patriotism among its citizens.

Likewise, the Mesa Police Department had a record year. One major highlight of this year was our re-accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Our agency's performance is commendable because we performed flawlessly during the inspection. This accreditation places the Mesa Police Department among only a few highly professional departments in the nation who have committed themselves to the development and maintenance of high law enforcement standards. Our department members rallied around our Professional Standards Unit in helping us achieve this highly sought-after award.

Also, our Crime Lab was accredited this year by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors, making us the 18th agency in the nation to have both department-wide accreditation as well as Crime Lab Accreditation.

The department has achieved some outstanding goals in many areas, and a few will be highlighted:

• Elder Abuse Program recognition
• Purchase of the Center Against Family Violence
• Tremendous progress on the completion of the auditorium at our Training site
• Development of a CyberCrime Unit in Criminal Investigations
• Remodeling of our Special Investigations facility
• Conversion of supervision in the holding facility and the front desk from sworn to civilian
• Obtained grant funding resulting in the assignment of School Resource Officers to every senior and junior high school in Mesa
• Completed the Police Officer memorial at the Main Station dedicated to the memories of Steve Pollard and Hyrum Petersen.

I am very thankful to the wonderful employees of the Mesa Police Department who have committed themselves this past year to quality law enforcement. Our employees are our number one asset and they are constantly striving for continuous improvement. I am also very grateful for the support received by the Mesa Police Department from the City Manager and the City Council. Public Safety is now and has always been a priority with this city and they have consistently provided us with the personnel and resources necessary to accomplish our vital mission.