Agenda - Council - 03/14/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The~ are also able to make positive contacts with citizens and develop a better understanding of the totality of their role in law enforcement.' This patrol officer/investigator role is enhanced by rotation each year of a different officer into full-time investigation. By doing so the patrol officer learns more of the intricacies of the criminal justice system and better serves his or her role upon return to patrol. Ramsey's plan for community policing is, for the most part, a reincarnation of policing as it was prior to the advent of subU=ban sprawl in the late 40's and early 50's. Prior to that tim~ officers, whether they were beat cops in a metropolis, small tow~! officers or rural cons'tables and sheriffs, were very knowledgeable of the people in their particular locale and the people knew them. There was a high level of trust between citizens and tthe officers and a mutual, albeit grudging, respect for each othe~ in some instances. This close and knowledgeable contact was, largely, lost when police officers were forced into squad cars in ord~ir to cover larger and larger areas and serve growing popUlations. Most community policing Programs today are simply a retUrn to citizen/officer contact. ~, The plan for Ramsey is to assign to each participating officer an ~rea of the city for which that officer will have primary fol~°w-up responsibility. That is, the officer will not necessarily patrol and/or respond to calls only in that assigned ? areal.' He or she will function as city wide or, as need requires, zone officers, answering calls and patrolling. However, any incidents other than minor service calls or routine, non-pattern typ~ of traffic violations, will be referred to the officer in whose assigned community area the incidents occur. By doing so tha~ officer will be aware of activities occurring in the neighborhood and, with the passage of time from inception of the prog!ram, will have an insight that a non-community oriented officer would not have. ~ For instance, a patrol officer takes a report of a domestic, wit~ut attendant assault, and completes a report. The initiating officer would direct clerical staff to forward a copy of that rep°~t to the officer in whose area the domestic occurred. That officer would then, after review, make contact with the persons involved. It may be that the participants are already known to the officer due to previous contacts. In any event the officer would assi!st, not by attempting to be a social worker but, rather, by gut~ng those involved towards agencies that may be able to address the ~roblems that are causing the domestics. Because the officer may !~have already established a relationship of trust or at the least have some insight due to previous personal contact the par~ies may be more inclined to seek assistance. If this effort is successful then the pattern of domestic calls and potential for violence at that home has been halted thereby not only contributing to a better community but allowing for more efficient use ~of police resources. There must also be considered the impact pon children living in a home that is in constant turmoil. I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I