Police Department Issues Annual Report
(Le Mars) — On Tuesday, during the Le Mars city council meeting, Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte submitted the police department’s annual report. Vande Vegte informed the city council the overall activity is at a ten-year high at 25,277 total calls. Vande Vegte says this represents an increase of 270 percent since 2009.
Vande Vegte says the police officers
responded to 18,554 calls for service, which was an increase of more than 1,500 calls from 2018. The police department handled 1,151 criminal complaints in 2019. 3,809 citations and warnings were written in 2019, of which Vande Vegte informed the city council 70 percent of all traffic stops result in a warning. There were 910 parking tickets issued in 2019. The police chief says officers made 688 arrests last year with 632 of those
arrests were for adults and 56 arrests were for juveniles. A new category created by Chief Vande Vegte is listed as Community Police Contacts or community outreach. Police officers had 2,122 community contacts in 2019.
Vande Vegte says about ten percent of officers time is spent engaged in community outreach. Vande Vegte says of the total 1151 incidents that were investigated and require a report submitted to state and federal agencies, there was a slight increase in drugs and alcohol at 14 percent, assaults which was at eight percent, motor vehicle thefts, other thefts and burglaries numbered at 22 percent. There was a decrease in sexual assaults, criminal mischief and general thefts.
Justice Nomination Commission To Interview 15 Candidates For Supreme Court Vacancy
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three applicants to fill an Iowa Supreme Court vacancy have close political ties to Gov. Kim Reynolds who, thanks to Republican changes to the judicial nominating process last year, now has a heavier influence over the panel that chooses finalists. Among the 15
applicants to be interviewed Friday by the State Judicial Nominating Commission is Sam Langholz, the governor’s senior legal counsel. If he’s a finalist Reynolds could decide whether her own lawyer becomes the next justice. Democratic Sen. Rob Hogg says it’s a test to see if the commission has turned partisan or continues Iowa’s merit-based selection of judges.
Zearing Man Accused Of Killing His Wife Found Not Competent To Stand Trial
NEVADA, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of fatally stabbing his wife in Story County has been found not competent for trial. Further evaluation and psychiatric treatment have been requested for 71-year-old Gary Pillman. He’s already pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder. Court records say Pillman’s attorney requested the initial evaluation. Investigators have
said Pillman killed his wife after an argument in which she told him she was leaving him. The body of 62-year-old Betty Pillman was found Nov. 13 outside the Pillmans’ home in Zearing.
Felons Will Need To Pay Restitution Costs Before Granted Restored Voting Rights
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Felons would be required to repay restitution to victims before they could get their voting right restored under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate. Earlier Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds for the first time indicated support for the measure. Iowa is the only state that automatically takes felon voting rights away. Felons must apply to the governor who requires that they have at least a payment plan for court
ordered financial obligations. Senate Republicans insisted on complete restitution repayment before they would consider a constitutional amendment automatically restoring voting rights upon the completion of a felony sentence.
