NYPD Community Programs

NYPD Community Affairs

   New York City has the largest police force in the world with over 35,000 officers. For all of these officers to properly serve the communities of New York, community oriented policing programs are essential. That is exactly what was created early in the departments history and still continues to evolve today.

   In the 1940s what is now known as Precinct Community Councils were formed for communities  and police in New York City. They are forums where community members serve as councilors and meet regularly with police precinct officials to discuss problems in their respective community.

    There are eighty six council members that represent each of the precincts of New York Police. The meetings are monthly and the public is welcomed and encouraged to attend. This is a great program by the NYPD that utilizes community oriented policing tactics to bring members of individual communities in contact with the police officers who serve them.

Link to NYPD Community Affairs page

NY Community Affairs

   Another program developed by the NYPD to use community policing is known as Civilian Observation Patrol or COP. COP is a new form of a neighborhood watch program. It involves volunteer citizens to act as eyes and ears and to patrol their neighborhoods and report to the police any suspicious or criminal activity. They can assist in emergencies and report and observe incidents, conditions and crimes. The best part of this program is the deterrence of criminals. With having a constant group of people acting along side of police, an even bigger force is present which keeps criminals at bay.

   Yet another program the NYPD offers in a ride along program. Citizens are able to do a two hour ride along with an officer on their tour of duty. I feel very strongly about this program due to the nature that not many people understand what officers must face and endure in this day and age. With constant hate of the police, many people do not understand that the police are not there to cause them harm or trouble. They are their to protect and serve and often times, to do this life and death decisions must be made in split seconds. By having citizens out and observing what officers do first hand, perhaps a better understanding and respect will be given.

Link to ride along program!

Ride along

Salem State University PD Community Policing

Salem State University Police Department

  


   SSUPD has twenty nine full time staff consisting of sworn officers, communications officers and administrative staff. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts grants police authority to officers, giving them the same authority and powers as local and state police in or upon the land and structures owned or occupied by the university.

   As mentioned in my previous post, this department also utilizes community policing tactics in their mission to provide a safe and productively learning environment for students at Salem State. The department offers all the same services that a local or state agency would offer, however some of the extra services offered to students are exceptional. SSUPD utilizes community policing tactics to teach students various courses and grow relations between the department of students and faculty at the university. SSUPD offers three programs that can benefit everyone! They are as follows:


-R.A.D or Rape Aggression Defense
-Operation I.D.
-Personal Safety


   R.A.D or Rape Aggression Defense system is a system designed to teach women realistic, self-defense tactics that can be used in a variety of situations. By teaching women various types of defense concepts and techniques to fight back against different assaults, creates a safer place for everyone. Salem State PD offers this program for all students and faculty free of charge as it is put on by certified RAD instructors from all over the country. The benefits of participating in such a program are endless but the main point is that once educated on self defense from attackers and how to utilize natural "fight or flight" tendencies, a victim could potentially change their perspective and reactions in certain situations they may encounter.

And the best part! You get to beat up the instructors!

Click here to see a RAD class in action!

RAD class

Another program offered by the SSUPD is known as operation ID. Officers are offering the opportunity to have your personal valuables engraved. This service is very useful and could be the difference of having to spend your hard earned money replacing stolen or lost property. Operation ID is fast growing at many colleges and universities around the country. By having your laptop, cell phone, TV, bicycle engraved with a personal number and logged into a computer, a lost or stolen item could potentially be returned to its rightful owner. Officers at Salem State as well as many local agencies and agencies across the country can enter in the number of a found or recovered item into a national database and retrieve the owners information. This great system allows for it to be quickly returned and in time hopefully put a stop to theft.

The link below is directly to the SSUPD Operation ID site

SSUPD

   Yet another program offered by SSUPD is Personal Safety classes. These classes teach you to notice things and to change certain bad habits to that affect your own safety. This includes leaving doors or windows unlocked, being a victim of a date rape drug put into your drink, walking in dark, unlit areas and more. By listening to different situations you could face, you can think about how to avoid negative circumstances. Talking with an SSU officer can defiantly help make you a safer person.



A new era of law enforcment: Community Policing

Growing relations and working together

   Community Policing is a relatively new form of policing used by local and state law enforcement agencies around the country. It was developed in the early 1970's after a decade of social unrest with communities and the police during the 1960's due to distrust, lack of communication and police brutality.


                             A video on Community Policing!


   Though the definition is ever-evolving the most current one used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) says:


"Community policing focuses on crime and social disorder through the delivery of police services that includes aspects of traditional law enforcement, as well as prevention, problem-solving, community engagement, and partnerships. The community policing model balances reactive responses to calls or service with proactive problem-solving centered on the causes of crime and disorder. Community policing requires police and citizens to join together as partners in the course of both identifying and effectively addressing these issues."


Though the actual definition is long, it can be broken down into three key parts.

1. Community Partnerships
2. Organizational Transformation
3. Problem Solving

                                      

"COPS" guide to community Policing!

  

   To Break down the three aspects I will start with community partnerships. The basis of community partnerships is collaborating and growing relationships and connections with individuals, organizations, small business, people in local schools, the elderly and everyone else in a certain community. This is done so by members of a community feeling they can go to the police more often when they have concerns. A sense of trust and friendship is sure to be gained when officers and community members know each other on a first name or face to face basic.

Getting to know community members

The second aspect, organizational transformation means to use all available means of service a department offers to their respective community. By having organization of policies and procedures that the public can benefit and utilize is key to a proactive working environment amongst both parties. Departments often will offer:

• Citizens academy
• Self defense courses
• Informational meetings on town by-laws
• Sporting events and gatherings

Danvers High School Resource Officer Steve Baldasarre

The final aspect of problem solving is one of the most important. Once there are relationships gained between police and community, problems that people feel need to be addressed are then reported to the police and thus dealt with in a beneficial way. Even when these problems are minute, by having a close working relationship with police, they can be examined and address. Often times, small crimes or problems will go unaddressed for people think it is bothersome to the police to have them deal with it.

Beverly Police Department Annual Toy Drive

   As a Special Police Officer in the town of Danvers, one way the department utilizes community policing is to engage the youth of the town in various activities with the police department. There are many family events throughout the summer that have a strong police presence to get the department together with the community. There are "touch a truck events" where police and fire have vehicles available for tours and learning.

 These bonds allow for kids to feel safe and comfortable when talking to police whether its at school, downtown or simply anywhere!

   My department is the Marine Patrol Unit. We do a lot of community policing. We often give tours of our patrol boats, do demonstrations of first aid, fire fighting, dewatering and other marine operations for the local boy scout troops and police explorer programs. 

   One community policing activity done by Danvers Marine Patrol is known as "Santa by Sea." It is put on every December a week before Christmas where we pull up to the town dock with Santa and his elves on the patrol boat. Local business's donate their time, food and hot chocolate. Families are able to take pictures with Santa. A large crowd is always drawn and gives my department's officers a chance to meet locals of the town and establish forever bonds.


 
Here is the link to fun Danvers Family Fest activities 2016!


                                           Danvers Family Festival Links