2000 CAFR - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC SAFETY During 2000, the staffing level increased to 17 sworn officers in the Police Department. The Department responded to 7,984 incidents in 2000, compared to 7,919 for 1999. For the two years, this activity is broken down into the following categories: 2000 1999 Traffic Arrests 884 937 Motor Vehicle Accidents 387 369 Domestics /Animal Complaints/Neighborhood Complaints 6,584 6,489 Impounded Animals 129 124 The department structure changed slightly during 2000, with one long -time Patrol Officer being promoted to Sergeant. The Corporal's assignment, in addition to regular patrol duties, is to oversee the cadre of Public Safety Aid volunteers and their activities. The department's ten - member Volunteer Public Safety Aide Unit received training at the Anoka County Reserve Officer Academy. These volunteers are primarily being utilized to assist in organizing the Neighborhood Watch program, assist with youth activities at Ramsey Elementary, and other service functions that do not require a licensed police officer. A Ramsey patrol officer taught the 17 -week Drug Awareness and Resistence Education (D.A.R.E.) to 260 Ramsey Elementary students during the 1999 -2000 school year. The Police Department received two significant grants during 2000 that will support projects beginning in January 2001. An award of $26,000 from Anoka County Children and Families Council will support a school liason officer at Ramsey Elementary School, while a grant of $45,000 from the Minnesota Department of Health will fund an aggressive tobacco enforcement and education program in Ramsey. The 30 member Fire Department responded to 372 fire incidents of which 97 were personal injury accidents. This compares to 1999 totals of 362 and 101 respectively. Both the Police and Fire Departments are dispatched through the Anoka County Communications Center, which saves the community significant expense in operational costs. Police Department jailing is also handled by Anoka County, as is a portion of crime investigation. In recognition of the increasing population, demand for service, and the geographic size of the City, the City of Ramsey has constructed a second fire station at 15050 Armstrong Boulevard. A plan to reevaluate Ramsey's insurance rating may happen in 2001 with a goal of reducing premiums of both residential and industrial structures. ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, INTERNAL, AND BUDGETARY CONTROLS The City's accounting system is organized and operated on a fund basis. Each fund or account group is a distinct, self - balancing accounting entity. The various funds and account groups utilized by the City are described in Note 1 of the financial statements. All funds are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to governmental entities. Accounting and bookkeeping for all City activities are centralized under the Finance Department. The responsibility for financial records, maintaining internal controls, and preparing financial and budgetary reports is delegated to this department. ix