Police union not hip on precincts, calls Jolene Loetscher campaign ads 'misleading'

Mayoral candidate Jolene Loetscher won't find an ally in the Sioux Falls police union when it comes to establishing police precincts in the city.

The Sioux Falls chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the more than 200 law enforcement officers employed by the city of Sioux Falls, spoke out against the idea of turning community centers throughout the city into police precincts, a proposal made last month by Loetscher as a way to combat crime and address future space needs that could arise as the police department grows.

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"We must be clear in our statement that the current proposal of 'Precinct-Based Policing' is something that is not supported by our membership within the Sioux Falls Police Department," the group said in a news release issued Tuesday.

The statement also characterizes an advertisement used by the Loetscher campaign as "misleading." The ad shows footage of the Sioux Falls Law Enforcement Center while stating the precinct policing proposal is supported by law enforcement. The Fraternal Order of Police said the union nor its members - department officers and sergeants - were consulted before Loetscher went public with her proposal in March.

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In a statement emailed to the Argus Leader Tuesday, Loetscher said her precincts proposal was "only a starting point" for conversations about balancing the growth of the city's boundaries, population and police department, and she maintained she discussed precinct-based policing with Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns.

"Chief Burns and others were clear that we'll need separate report-to-work locations to keep up with growth," she said. "There's no question we'll need to work closely with the Fraternal Order of Police membership about how any new ideas could be implemented. My campaign has been focused on taking the long-view and making sure that when the next mayor partners with law enforcement to keep Sioux Falls safe, we’re looking at innovative solutions with all the key players at the table."

But Paul TenHaken, who Loetscher will face in the May 1 runoff, said he's been told by members of the department, including Burns and Assistant Chief Galen Smidt that the law enforcement community doesn't have an appetite for police precincts.

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TenHaken said Tuesday the Fraternal Order of Police's statement validates his position that officers on the front lines don't want precincts.

"This kind of confirms what I've been trying to make a point of all along," he said. "While I've talked a lot of issues with the police department, this hasn’t been a focus of theirs. Implying that this had the support of law enforcement was just not accurate."

In a statement issued Tuesday, Burns said he wouldn't be weighing in on the debate or clarifying what's been said to Loetscher or TenHaken during their campaigns.

“I have greatly appreciated their interest and the opportunity to discuss these important issues with them. However, it would be inappropriate for me to endorse any candidate’s position or to comment on my discussions with them,” Burns said.

Read the full Fraternal Order of Police statement here: