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Applicable To:  All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief Richard J. Pennington

Signature:  Signed by RJP

Date Signed:  12/7/07

1.        PURPOSE  PAGEREF _Toc185846044 \h 1

2.        POLICY   PAGEREF _Toc185846045 \h 1

3.        RESPONSIBILITIES  PAGEREF _Toc185846046 \h 1

4.        ACTION  PAGEREF _Toc185846047 \h 2

4.1        The Community Services Unit director will: PAGEREF _Toc185846048 \h 2

4.2        The Crime Prevention Inspector II will: PAGEREF _Toc185846049 \h 3

4.3        Crime Prevention Inspectors will: PAGEREF _Toc185846050 \h 3

4.4        Neighborhood Watch Program (CALEA 5th ed. 45.1.2) PAGEREF _Toc185846051 \h 4

4.5        Business Watch Program (CALEA 5th 45.1.2) PAGEREF _Toc185846052 \h 5

4.6        Youth Program   PAGEREF _Toc185846053 \h 6

4.6.2      The Community Services Unit will: PAGEREF _Toc185846054 \h 6

4.7        Program Evaluation  PAGEREF _Toc185846055 \h 6

5.        DEFINITIONS  PAGEREF _Toc185846056 \h 7

6.        CANCELLATIONS  PAGEREF _Toc185846057 \h 8

7.        REFERENCES  PAGEREF _Toc185846058 \h 8

1.               PURPOSE

To establish procedures and responsibilities for the Community Services Unit.

2.               POLICY

The Atlanta Police Department is committed to mobilizing citizen involvement in crime prevention through the implementation of community crime prevention programs.  Security inspection, surveys, and crime analysis data will be used to target specific areas in the City for crime reduction through crime prevention programs and activities.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The Field Operations Division commander will monitor the implementation of this directive.  He or she will be responsible for the final evaluation of the findings of citizen opinion surveys conducted at least quarterly and will submit recommendations to the Chief of Police. 

3.2              The Community Services Unit is the coordinator and principal provider of community crime prevention programs and, with the patrol zones, will serve as the liaison with community groups, social organizations, business groups, civic organizations, public and private schools, and other organized groups. The Community Services Unit will endeavor to establish community groups where such groups do not exist through the security inspection, neighborhood watch, and other programs.  While all employees within the Department are responsible for achieving crime prevention objectives, the primary responsibility for crime prevention programs will rest with the Community Services Unit. (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.2)

3.3              The Community Services Unit director is responsible for the implementation of this directive; for daily supervision of the activities and operations of the employees assigned to the Unit; and for liaison between the Community Services Unit’s crime prevention programs and the patrol zones.  The director reports directly to the Support Services Division commander.

3.4              Crime Prevention Inspectors II will supervise Inspectors on special projects when directed and provide written reports of the details.  The CPI II will also oversee the operations of the Unit during the absence of the Director.

3.5              Crime Prevention Inspectors are responsible for Neighborhood and Business Watch programs, as well as crime prevention efforts within their assigned beats or zones.

3.6              The Tactical Crime Analysis Unit will be responsible for providing statistical crime data of areas with high incidents of criminal activities to the Community Services Unit.

3.7              The Central Records Unit will provide the Community Services Unit with a copy of all residential and commercial burglaries daily.

3.8              Zone commanders will actively involve Crime Prevention Inspectors in their community involvement and crime prevention efforts and will support the work of the Community Services Unit.

3.9              Police officers are responsible for promoting crime prevention measures and working with the community while actively soliciting citizen’s involvement in identifying crimes affecting the community’s quality of life.

3.10            All employees are responsible for promoting community involvement in crime prevention activities.  Any Department employee who participates in and/or conducts a community relations/crime prevention program will complete a memorandum outlining the program, their participation, and the objectives accomplished.  This will be forwarded through the chain of command to the CSS director. (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.3)

4.               ACTION

4.1              The Community Services Unit director will:

1.    Analyzed by crime type and geographic area and that crime prevention programs are appropriately targeted.  (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.1 a, b)

2     Formulated and implemented to address hot spots and problem crime areas; (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.2c)

3.    Informed of current crime trends and statistics, ongoing plans and efforts by the Department to deter crime, and all items relevant to crime prevention within their assigned areas;

4.    Forward Information concerning crime prevention tips, activities, and programs are forwarded to Public Affairs for dissemination to the public; (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.1b)

5.    Developed and maintained on requests for crime prevention services, Neighborhood and Business Watch programs, as well as CSS-related activities addressing community involvement with the Atlanta Police Department; (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.3)

6.    Monitor input from citizens and APD employees to identify the crime prevention training needs of CSS employees and APD employees generally.  Assist the Training Unit to provide appropriate training for CSS employees and police officers on an annual basis.

7.    Provide the Crime Prevention Inspectors with information on Department objectives, problems and successes for presentation at NPU’s and other public meetings.  (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.1 c)

8.    Assist the command staff in developing community involvement policies for the Department, including improving Department practices in police-community interaction.  (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.1 b)

4.2              The Crime Prevention Inspector II will:

1.    Act as the liaison between CSS and the Department of Public Works to ensure that crime watch signs are properly erected.  This requires reviewing submitted maps for accuracy and completeness and establishing a monitoring system for all neighborhood and commercial watch sign requests and removing signs from inactive watch areas.

2.    Monitor the Neighborhood Watch program to ensure that each inspector maintains files and rules are followed for active/inactive status in accordance with this SOP. Additionally, the inspector will maintain a database for all Neighborhood Watch programs.

3.    Provide current National Night Out information and coordinate a National Night Out Activity Calendar for the Unit.

4.3              Crime Prevention Inspectors will:

1.    Interact with beat officers and crime analysts, and serve as liaisons between the Department and the community to prevent crime; to facilitate the delivery of police services; and to help make the City of Atlanta safer. (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.1a)

2.    Encourage citizen participation in crime prevention by assisting neighborhoods and commercial establishments with organizing and maintaining active crime watch programs; coordinate and conduct crime watch meetings; meet with residential and commercial groups to discuss problems and offer solutions.

3.    Consult with beat officers and investigators on the types of crimes occurring in an area, patterns, trends, and possible solutions, such as citing for housing code violations, to better develop prevention measures for citizens and training for officers.

4.    Contact victims of burglaries within their assigned beats or areas to offer to conduct a security survey and to encourage them to join Operation Identification and mark their valuable property.  The burglary follow-up will be conducted within 10 working days of the burglary report. (This is separate from any follow-up conducted by CID). A log of each burglary report, including the status, will be maintained.  CPIs will also conduct security surveys upon referral, canvassing or request.

5.    Encourage citizens to join Operation Identification and enter the identification number into the Operation Identification Tracking System.

6.    Conduct crime prevention activities within their assigned beats or areas, assisted by the CPI II and CSS director, to include personal safety workshops, community events, youth and senior citizens presentations/programs, Neighborhood and Business Watch programs and community education. (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.1b)

7.    Prepare daily activity sheets, weekly and monthly reports, forms for meetings attended and projected events, projects meetings, etc., Citizens Reporting Form for Crime, and other Community Services Forms.  Convey information and concerns from citizens’ organizations to the CSS director.  (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.1 d)

8.    Maintain permanent files on Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch programs, senior citizen data sheets, special events, National Night Out, Crime Prevention Month, and crime prevention literature for reference and follow-up.

9.    All files, including Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch groups and senior citizen data sheets will be organized by beat, in alphabetical order and secured by the crime prevention Inspector.

10.  Attend Neighborhood Planning Unit meetings to address issues concerning crime in their neighborhood.

11.  Assist zone commanders with the Citizen Advisory Councils (See APD.SOP.4030 “Citizen Advisory Councils”).

4.4              Neighborhood Watch Program (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.2)

4.4.1           The purpose of the Neighborhood Watch Program is to organize and assist residential crime prevention groups, in order to reduce crime.

4.4.2           The Crime Prevention Inspector II will offer assistance in meetings and training of Neighborhood Watch groups.

4.4.3           Crime Prevention Inspectors are responsible for Neighborhood Watch Programs and crime prevention efforts within their assigned beats or zones to ensure they remain viable.

4.4.4           Crime Prevention Inspectors will encourage citizen participation and assist residential groups with organizing and maintaining active Neighborhood Watch Programs.

4.4.5           When establishing a new Neighborhood Watch or re-establishing a non-active watch, the Crime Prevention Inspector will prepare and distribute announcements for citizens to participate in and attend the Watch meetings.  When possible, the Crime Prevention Inspector will identify a block captain/neighborhood liaison to assist with organizing the neighborhood watch.

4.4.6           The Crime Prevention Inspector will attend the meeting, and when possible, the beat officer should attend.

4.4.7           Crime Prevention Inspectors will inform residents on how to accurately report suspicious persons, crimes, problems, and nuisances to police and other appropriate city agencies, along with steps they can take to protect their neighborhood.

4.4.8           Crime Prevention Inspectors will encourage Neighborhood Watch participants to make a commitment, on behalf of each other’s safety and well being, toward the enhancement of quality of life and reduction of crime in the neighborhood.  Citizens present at the meetings may be asked to actively involve other individuals and families in their neighborhood who are not participating in Neighborhood Watch programs.

4.4.9           The block captain /neighborhood liaison will maintain listings of all members of the Neighborhood Watch program to include names, phone numbers and addresses.  The list will be developed into a street directory.

4.4.10         Crime Prevention Inspectors will provide the following information:

1.    Crime statistics for the neighborhood;

2.    Advice on various locking devices for windows and doors and other security measures;

3.    How to request a personal safety seminar for children, women, and the elderly;

4.    How to arrange for a free home security survey;

5.    How to access other City services (sanitation, building inspectors, etc.) (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.3);

6.    How to join Operation Identification, by marking valuables with special identification numbers; and

7.    How to access detailed crime information for their neighborhood.

4.4.11         Crime Prevention Inspectors will maintain separate files for each Neighborhood Watch group.  Each file will include separate folders for: crime reports, surveys, correspondence, and information on special events, meetings, maps, and rosters.

4.4.12         In order for a Neighborhood Watch group to remain active and maintain the Neighborhood Watch sign, the watch group will conduct a minimum of three crime prevention meetings per year, and maintain contact, on a regular basis, with the Crime Prevention Inspector through its block captain.  Participation in Crime Prevention Month or National Night out, along with additional neighborhood participation criteria may be included, at the discretion of the Community Services Director.  Example:  percentage of houses surveyed or percentage participating in operation identification.

4.4.13         When conducting security surveys and personal safety workshops, Crime Prevention Inspectors will encourage citizens to participate in community crime prevention efforts, make referrals to other agencies as appropriate and follow up.

4.5              Business Watch Program (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.2)

4.5.1           The purpose of the Business Watch Program is to organize and assist crime prevention groups in commercial areas.

4.5.2           The Crime Prevention Inspector II will offer assistance in meetings and training of Business Watch groups.

4.5.3           Crime Prevention Inspectors are responsible for Business Watch Programs and crime prevention efforts within their assigned beats or zones.

4.5.4           Crime Prevention Inspectors will provide services and programs that will attempt to prevent crime through education, physical security, and the control of environmental conditions. Business burglaries will receive the highest priority for crime prevention efforts. Crime Prevention Inspectors will:

1.    Target the establishment of Business Watch programs in commercial areas where there is a high incidence of criminal activity;

2.    Organize meetings of business owners and managers interested in starting a Business Watch program;

3.    Maintain Business Watch programs to ensure they remain viable;

4.    Conduct personal safety programs for employees of businesses, civic, social and professional groups;

5.    Encourage businesses in joining Operation Identification; maintain and update information on their participation;

6.    Update information and maintain files needed for the Emergency Contact System, including providing the business owner with an updated Emergency Code Number (ECN) and sticker if necessary;

7.    Conduct security surveys of businesses which have reported a burglary or when requests are made.

4.6              Youth Program

4.6.1           The purpose of the Youth Program is to develop and implement initiatives to address safety issues involving youth.

4.6.2           The Community Services Unit will:

1.    Work closely with the Police Athletic League and other units in coordinating juvenile and youth programs.

2.    Provide speakers to schools, social and civic groups, and churches to discuss child safety, rape prevention, and other crime prevention topics.

4.7              Program Evaluation

4.7.1           The Community Services Unit commander will monitor community crime prevention programs to ensure that the needs of the community are continually met and if not being met, that the programs are modified or replaced.  Quarterly, he or she will prepare a report to the Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police, and SSD, FOD, and zone commanders on at least the following:

1.    A description of current concerns voiced by the community, including input from zone commanders and other employees

2.    A description of potential problems that have a bearing on law enforcement activities within the community, including current crime problems cited by FOD and CID commanders.

3.    A statement of recommended actions that address previously identified concerns and problems.

4.    A statement of progress made on previously identified concerns or problems. (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.2.2)

4.7.2           The Community Services Unit director will conduct an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch, and other crime prevention programs.  The report will include recommendations for improving the Department’s crime prevention effort.  Distribute copies to the Chief of Police, assistant chief, deputy chiefs, zone commanders, and the Planning and Research/Accreditation Unit.  (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.1 c)

4.7.3           The Community Services Unit commander will ensure that surveys of citizen opinions and attitudes are developed and distributed at least annually to gather information on:

1.    The Department’s overall performance;

2.    The overall competence of the Department’s employees;

3.    Officers’ attitudes and behavior toward citizens;

4.    The public’s concern over safety and security within the City;

5.    Citizen concern over safety and security within their home and neighborhood; and

6.    Citizens’ recommendations and suggestions for improvements in the services delivered by the Department (CALEA 5th ed. standard 45.1.1b & c; 45.2.4).

4.7.4           The Community Services Unit commander will distribute copies of the report on the citizen survey to the Chief of Police, Assistant Chief, division and zone commanders, and Planning and Research/Accreditation Unit. 

4.7.5           The Community Services Unit director will keep these reports on file for three years.

5.               DEFINITIONS

5.1              Business Watch: An organization of businesses in a geographic area developed for cooperative crime control measures.

5.2              Citizen Advisory Councils:  A mechanism for citizen involvement in the management of their municipal resources.

5.3              Emergency Contact System:  A system whereby each business is issued a decal with a code to be used to identify and contact the owner in case of an emergency.

5.4              Neighborhood Watch: An organization of neighbors for mutual protection against criminal activity.

5.5              NPU: Neighborhood Planning Unit.  A geographic area composed of one or more contiguous neighborhoods, which have been defined for the purpose of developing neighborhood plans.  There are currently 24 NPU’s covering the City of Atlanta.

5.6              Operation Identification: The program for engraving citizen’s valuables with their social security number or another number for easy identification in case of theft.

5.7              Security Surveys/Inspections:  A critical on-site analysis of a residence or business to identify security deficiencies and to make recommendations for improvement.

6.               CANCELLATIONS

APD.SOP.6140, “Community Services Section” that went into effect July 1, 2004.

7.               REFERENCES

APD.SOP.4030 “Citizen’s Advisory Council”

APD.SOP.6141 “Mobile Community Outreach Police Station (MCOPS)”