by Ruth Dunn
Thisweek Newspapers

Days before the news would become public, Farmington Police Chief Dan Siebenaler called an emergency meeting of his entire staff. "I've only called two emergency meetings during the 17 years I've been here,î he said. "So they knew it was important.î

Even on short notice, everyone showed up. "It was important the whole staff heard the news directly from me before they heard it anywhere else,î says Siebenaler.

Siebenaler told them that one of their own, Patrol Officer Jermey Buss, was being charged with a felony and gross misdemeanor in connection with an alleged sexual relationship he had with a 16-year-old female Farmington High School student.

The news was devastating, says Siebenaler, who says the police department is a close group -- like family.
Police department employees hope that the officer's alleged actions don't reflect on the character or makeup of the department.

"The town knows who we are,î says Siebenaler. "We won't be judged by the actions of this individual.î

Since the news became public, police have received supportive and encouraging e-mails from residents.

The healing process will go on. Siebenaler encourages his staff to talk with him and each other about what happened. "We still have issues to address,î he says. "But this is a good group and we'll pull through.î

Buss is now on paid administrative leave. The loss of an officer puts additional strain on a police department that is already understaffed.

As the city's population has grown dramatically in recent years, Farmington has fallen behind in the ratio of officers per population, says Siebenaler. Generally, most cities of a similar size have a ratio of 1.34 to 1.24 officers per 1,000 residents. With only .84 officers per 1,000, Farmington has one of the lowest ratios in the state, he said.

There have been times when only one officer is on duty. "That's not safe for the community or for the officer,î said Farmington council member Kevan Soderberg at the Dec. 6 council meeting.

Council members have recognized the deficiency and are making public safety a priority in the city's budget for 2005. Three new patrol officer positions will be funded along with a second school resource officer requested by the school district. In addition, two officers will be promoted to patrol sergeant so there will now be supervision around the clock. These staff additions are one reason that city taxes will go up next year.

"It's important we bring staffing up,î said Siebenaler, "It's nice the council recognizes that.î He would like to hire three new officers every year for the next five years.

Even with a staff shortage, Siebenaler says the city has one of the lowest crime rates in Dakota County and one of the highest clearance rates. In 2003, the department's clearance rate was 67 percent, meaning they were able to solve two-thirds of the city's crime.

Calls for service are the department's No. 1 priority, especially those involving the health and well-being of residents, according to the chief. People who need help getting keys out of locked cars may have to wait for service so officers can respond to more serious calls.

Luckily a new police officer, Breanna Dirks, began this week. (She was runner-up when Buss was hired last summer and the two are friends from school.)

Dirks took the oath of office at the Dec. 6 council meeting. Her father, Robert Dirks, a recently retired police captain from Brooklyn Center, proudly pinned on her badge.

Dirks is not the first female police officer in Farmington -- another woman was on staff for about six months five years ago -- but she's the only female currently on staff.

The department is also in the midst of the hiring process for another officer who should be on board in early 2005 bringing the total number of police officers to 18.

Ruth Dunn is at farmington.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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