Omaha Police Department Crime Prevention Policy PDF

## ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTION – CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ### POLICY It will be the policy of the Omaha Police Department (OPD) to actively engage in ongoing efforts to improve its relations with the community it serves. The Neighborhood Services Unit and precinct-based Crime Preventi...

## ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTION – CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ### POLICY It will be the policy of the Omaha Police Department (OPD) to actively engage in ongoing efforts to improve its relations with the community it serves. The Neighborhood Services Unit and precinct-based Crime Prevention Specialists will act as a focal point for police efforts to create and maintain a climate of cooperation and trust, to gather information about citizens' concerns, and to respond effectively to them. ### PROCEDURE: 1. **Crime Prevention** A. The crime prevention function provides for the development of problem-oriented or community policing strategies to include at a minimum: 1. Focusing on programs by crime type and geographic area on the basis of crime data; 2. Focusing on programs to address community; and 3. Conducting a documented evaluation of crime prevention programs at least once every two (2) years. B. **Organizing Community Groups** 1. The Crime Prevention Specialists shall assist OPD in organizing community groups with an interest in crime prevention, to include: a. Establishing liaison with existing community organizations or establishing community groups where they are needed; b. Assisting in the development of community involvement policies for OPD; c. Publicizing agency objectives and community problems and successes; d. Communicating crime trends and problems between citizens, businesses, and the agency; and e. Supporting OPD practices bearing on police-community interaction. 2. **Community Involvement** A. **Community Input** 1. The Crime Prevention Specialists will maintain a collaborative community involvement process that accomplishes the following: a. Identifies current community concerns. b. Identifies potential problems that have bearing on law enforcement activities within the community. c. Develops recommended actions addressing concerns and problems. 2. Ensure that a survey of citizen attitudes and opinions be conducted at a minimum of every two (2) years with respect to: a. Overall agency performance; b. Overall competency of agency employees; c. Citizens’ perception of officers’ attitudes and behavior toward citizens; d. Community concern over safety and security as a whole; and e. Recommendations and suggestions for improvements. 3. Convey information transmitted from citizens’ organizations and surveys through the chain of command to the agency. 3. **Programs Evaluation** A. It will be the responsibility of the Neighborhood Services Unit Commander to submit to the Chief of Police, through the chain of command, on a quarterly basis, a report of findings. B. At the discretion of the Chief, copies of the report will be furnished to Bureau Commanders. The report will include at a minimum the following: 1. A description of current concerns voiced by the community and by community groups; 2. A description of potential problems that have a bearing on law enforcement activities concerning community relations; 3. A statement of recommended actions that address previously identified concerns and problems; and 4. A statement of progress made toward addressing previously identified concerns and problems. ### REFERENCES: 1. **Previous OPD Orders** A. Previous OPD General Orders include the following: #20-00 and 49-20. 2. **Accreditation Standards** A. CALEA Accreditation standards 1.3.12, 12.1.4, 12.2.1, 12.2.2, 15.1.1, 45.1.1, 45.2.1, 45.2.2, 45.2.4, 45.2.5, and 84.1.6 are relevant to this policy.