Los Alamos Chief of Police Dino Sgambellone discusses the Department’s annual report for 2018. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Los Alamos Chief of Police Dino Sgambellone has released the 2018 Annual Report for the Department.
This year’s report again features statistics and activity information for the four bureaus within the Department: Support Bureau commanded by Deputy Chief Jason Wardlow Herrera, Staff Services supervised by Cmdr. Preston Ballew, Operations supervised by Cmdr. Oliver Morris and Emergency Services led by Beverly Simpson.
The 32-page report provides information on the services provided by each section in the Department and gives some insight into how all those services fit together. It includes comments received from members of the public on the Department’s achievements and compliments issued to staff for actions and activity in the community.
Information is provided in the report on specialized assignments in the Department such as the Bomb Team, the Tactical Team, the Bike Team, the Hostage Negotiations Team and the Crash Team.
There is extensive information in the report about the makeup and activity of the four patrol teams. Each team is comprised of five sworn officers including a sergeant. Statistics on the Investigations Section and the cases worked by the sergeant and three detectives are included as well as information on white collar crime, shoplifting, theft, drug-related crimes and burglaries.
The report includes dozens of photos of everything from Safety Town to scenes from a joint exercise with Los Alamos Fire Department last summer and scenes from the Department’s participation in the annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Chief Sgambellone’s introduction to the report notes the Department’s ongoing commitment to public safety.
“In 2018, the Department earned National Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies with 100 percent compliance to all applicable standards. Our ability to earn this prestigious designation was a product of out exceptional employees and our partnerships within the community,” Sgambellone said.
He said these efforts and partnerships also contributed to another year of low Part 1 Crime.
“During the 12 months of 2018, officers responded to a total of 135 overall Part 1 Offense complaints which represets a 7 percent increase as compared to 126 offenses in 2017. Violent crime stayed flat at 25 offenses. Property crime increased 9 percent from 101 in 2017 to 110 in 2018,” Chief Sgambellone said.
He noted that employees remained highly visible and engaged in the community.
“Our community-based model, with such programs as Safety Town, our Victim’s Assistance Program and our School Resource Officers, enabled the Department to maintain a high level of trust and accountability,” Chief Sgambellone said. “We look forward to continued collaborative efforts in sustaining our community as one of the safest in the nation”.
The report may be viewed online at 2018 Los Alamos Police Department Annual Report