COMMUNITY POLICING

While traditional styles of policing have served most communties quite well for decades, there is considerable room for improving the delivery of services. Social problems continue to change and the limits of traditional policing may have already been extended to its maximum efficiency.

In the City of Scotts Valley we are fortunate in that our responses to policing issues have largely been pro-active. The police department has employed "Community Policing" long before the term was en vogue. Since our inception, we have maintained a closeness with the citizens of Scotts Valley. Even though we continue to place officers in police vehicles to maximize rapid response, it is our cooperation with the public that has often been responsible for solving more crime than officer initiated activities. The administrators have found that citizens are very receptive to alternate response methods by the police. We have found that police officers can be more effective and efficient in dealing with social problems and community concerns when we capitalize on prudent practices and combine them with innovative policing programs. As such, we continue to recognize the importance of partnerships, community input, and being responsive to community needs.

Community policing is a way of addressing community concerns and priorities. It is an interactive process involving police officers and the citizens that live and work in the city. Instead of merely reacting to incidents as they occur, the department places its emphasis on identifying and responding to community issues. Problem solving is a key strategy to community policing. It challenges us to think creatively and relies upon increased cooperation from government and private resources.

The department has incorporated community policing on each of our shifts. Officers are trained in community oriented policing techniques and are thus serving the city in this capacity 24 hours a day. Additionally, we have encouraged department wide support for this philosophy which is based on service to the community through partnerships.

Officers are expected to explore viable solutions and seek out available resources necessary for problem resolution. It is with great hope and enthusiasm that our philosophy on community oriented policing will be embraced by every employee of the Scotts Valley Police Department.

Officer Alex Romero and local Tucson Taqueria business owner Moses Bedolla