MILAN, NM – Milan Police Chief Carl Ustupski has overseen a significant transformation in the village's police department. For the first time in four years, the Milan Police Department (MPD) is fully staffed, and they have even added a new position to strengthen their efforts in proactively combating crime.
Chief Ustupski emphasized MPD's focus on proactive policing, ensuring officers are not merely closing cases without suspects but continually exploring all possible leads. 'We’re trying to get everyone, myself included, to think like a criminal. By understanding what a criminal might do, we can stay a step ahead,” he said. He motivates his team by reminding them to treat each case as if it involved their own property or that of a loved one.
Staffed to the Brim
Discussing the current state of the department, Chief Ustupski shared that MPD is fully staffed for the first time in four years.
“We've been fully staffed for two months now, but it’s been a stressful journey to get here,' he noted. Achieving this milestone came with challenges, including maintaining adequate staffing levels and managing officers' workload to avoid burnout. Through significant efforts in securing funding, fostering a community-focused work environment, and creating opportunities for officers to learn and grow, the department has reached full staffing.
Ustupski stressed that fully staffing MPD was his priority, but he was not willing to rush the hiring process. “We were patient because we wanted a certain type of officer here in terms of ethics and standards. We did not lower our standards just to fill positions. We now have a string of really good applicants.”
Not only is MPD fully staffed, but they have had so much interest from officers wanting to join the department that they created a new position for an experienced investigator. Ustupski thanked Village Manager Candi Williams and the Board of Trustees for their support, saying they worked together, “we crunched some numbers and were able to add another position. The funding was primarily achieved through creative budgeting and grant funding.”
With MPD now fully staffed, Ustupski feels more confident when sending officers out on patrol. “A major concern of mine has always been guys working alone at night. Being fully staffed helps alleviate this issue, ensuring officers' safety and allowing for better response times.”
Focus on Professional Development
Chief Ustupski elaborated on the department's emphasis on professional development. Recently, MPD has focused on training officers in various specialized roles, such as field training officers and firstline supervisors. The goal is to ensure the team is wellequipped to handle a variety of situations, both routine and extraordinary. Ustupski pairs his staff so their skills complement each other, allowing them to learn from one another.
When asked about the necessity of having detectives on each shift, Chief Ustupski explained that while Milan is not large enough to justify full-time detectives, integrating detective duties with regular patrol responsibilities allows the department to handle more complex cases effectively. This approach leverages specialized training and motivates officers by offering them the opportunity to gain detective experience.
Strengthening the Arsenal
Since his appointment as chief, Ustupski has made a point to modernize and improve MPD’s capabilities to protect the village.
He praised the Village of Milan Trustees for their support in securing necessary equipment and resources, often through creative budgeting and grant funding. For example, the department recently obtained 27 body cameras at half the cost, significantly enhancing their operational capabilities without straining the budget. The department has also installed cameras in high-traffic areas to protect citizens and monitor areas needing more support.
The department's proactive approach extends to community engagement. Ustupski encourages officers to interact with residents, emphasizing the importance of visibility and relationship-building within the community. 'If you can't find anything to be proactive about, walk around and meet the citizens,' he advised.
Reflecting on the department's achievements, Chief Ustupski attributed their success to the strong support from village officials and the close-knit, family- like atmosphere within the department. “We have a good group here. We consider ourselves a secondary family, and that camaraderie helps us maintain a positive and effective work environment,” he said.