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Gem Lake News Page 2 of 8
<br />
<br /> Public Safety Report to the Cem Lake City Council (continued from page 1)
<br />
<br />In addition to the completion of a new public safety
<br />building, the Police Department benefitted from the
<br />renovation of their evidence room, which was heavily
<br />water damaged. The newly renovated room is newer
<br />and cleaner, with more efficiently organized storage
<br />space.
<br />
<br />Chief Hager gave a brief overview of Gem Lake
<br />incidents in 2024. Highlighting the following:
<br />
<br />There were 440 Gem Lake case numbers in 2024,
<br />compared to 402 the year before. (A 10% increase.)
<br />There were a total of 17,839 case numbers in White
<br />Bear Lake and other contract cities in 2024. This
<br />compares to 15,972 in 2023, an 11% increase. A case
<br />number could encompass everything from a suspicious
<br />activity report to a robbery.
<br />
<br />There were 9 arrests in Gem Lake in 2024, compared to
<br />8 the year before. Department wide, there were 301
<br />arrests in 2024, compared to 180 the year before, a 40%
<br />increase.
<br />
<br />When it comes to traffic stops, there was a 30%
<br />increase in 2024 over 2023. There was a total of 3,506
<br />stops in the entire area covered by the department in
<br />2024, compared to 2,477 in 2023. Gem Lake made up
<br />84 of these traffic stops in 2024, a staggering 281%
<br />increase over 2023, when there were 22 traffic stops.
<br />This increase may be a direct result of citizen complaints
<br />about speeding on Gem Lake streets and subsequent
<br />requests for more patrolling.
<br />
<br />There were 305 theft reports department wide in 2024,
<br />compared to 289 in 2023, a 5% increase. Gem Lake
<br />theft reports increased from 4 in 2023 to 5 in 2024, a
<br />20% increase.
<br />
<br />Thankfully, domestic incidents reports decreased
<br />department wide in 2024, over 2023. There were 151
<br />reports in 2024 in the department’s coverage area,
<br />compared to 206 in 2023, a decrease of 27%. Gem
<br />Lake’s domestic incidents decreased 50% from 2 in
<br />2023 to 1 in 2024.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Greg Peterson, Fire Chief for the City of White Bear
<br />Lake, gave a report on fire services. He began by
<br />describing the service area the department covers, which
<br />encompasses 35 square miles. This includes the City of
<br />White Bear, as well as four contract cities, including Gem
<br />Lake, White Bear Township, Dellwood, and Birchwood.
<br />The department serves a population of 38,000.
<br />
<br />In addition to Peterson, the department is staffed by 3
<br />full-time captains, 15 firefighter/paramedics, 1 full-time
<br />firefighter/EMT, 12 part-time staff and an Assistant Chief
<br />of Operations and Training, Bryan Eickleberg.
<br />
<br />Overall call volume declined slightly in 2024 as compared
<br />to the year before. There were 4,784 calls in 2024,
<br />versus 4,955 the year before. About 72% of these calls
<br />were medical related or ambulance calls, while the other
<br />28% were fire and rescue type calls. About 64% of
<br />patients are over 60. Peterson pointed out that
<br />Minnesota’s 65 and over age group is expected to double
<br />between 2024 and 2075. In terms of fire related calls, he
<br />pointed out that there were 67 fire related deaths in
<br />Minnesota in 2024, with 63% of these victims being over
<br />61 years old. Peterson added that adults over 65 are 2.3-
<br />3 times the risk of dying in a fire.
<br />
<br />
<br />To raise awareness of fire safety and medical issues, as
<br />well as providing for community outreach, the Fire
<br />Department attended or sponsored 56 community events
<br />in 2024, from the annual Polar Plunge, Memorial Day
<br />Parade, Truck Visits, and Fridays with Firefighters. Other
<br />events included Fire Safety with Santa, the TRIAD Picnic
<br />and the Annual Open House.
<br />
<br />Like the White Bear Police Department, the Fire
<br />Department engaged in extensive and on-going training
<br />last year, including an emphasis on in-house Advanced
<br />Cardiac Life Support, pediatric emergencies and
<br />interactive training with Ramsey County S.W.A.T.
<br />
<br />The Gem Lake City Council made a point of thanking
<br />both departments for their highly professional service.
<br />
<br />4,231 4,919 5,283 4,955 4,784
<br />0
<br />1,000
<br />2,000
<br />3,000
<br />4,000
<br />5,000
<br />6,000
<br />2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
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