Interim Beloit Police Chief David Zibolski released a letter announcing changes he has made in the past 120 days in the BPD.
An outside review of the Beloit Police Department was conducted and results came back questioning the “leadership and management.” The findings were so critical that Police Chief Norm Jacobs and Deputy Chief Tom Dunkin were promptly placed on paid administrative leave.
Zibolski was named Interim Police Chief while the city performed an internal investigation.
He says he has worked diligently over the past few months toward “enhancing leadership, strengthening community relations, and transitioning to modern-day policing.”
All members of the department voted on a new mission statement and set of core values that will serve as a “guiding light going forward.”
The Assessment and Recruitment Team (ART) has condensed the process between testing and an actual job offer. ART has engaged the community for ideas on better diversifying the department and mentoring potential candidates.
BPD has expanded its use of social media to inform citizens, gather information to solve crimes, and communicate accomplishments within the department. It is holding symposiums to improve relations with community leaders and residents.
Zibolski’s letter also says the department is devoting attention to topics generally overlooked locally, such as human trafficking and the future of newly paroled persons.
Shift commanders have been established to “ensure accountability and leadership on a 24/7 basis for the patrol force.” They are in charge of overall decision-making, including a review of arrests and resource allocation.
Enhanced training is educating officers on sensitive topics and best practices to handling them; the education entails sexual assault, domestic violence, and mental health.
The shift toward modern-day policing involves expanding position responsibilities, such as school resource officers working in conjunction with beat officers to prevent school incidents from boiling over into neighborhoods.
The department has established a case management and follow up system so it’s easier to track investigations and prioritize cases.
Policy changes have simplified the process of tracking citizen complaints. Shift overlap ensures 24/7 coverage on the streets. Officers now carry life-saving tourniquets and wear exterior vest carriers so that rifles will be more accessible. Also, property classified as evidence will be returned to owners in a more timely fashion.
Police Chief Norm Jacobs and Deputy Chief Tom Dunkin were placed on paid administrative leave back in June, pending the outcome of the internal investigation.
