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Neighborhood Watch Program_Safe Community Task Force RecommendationMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Neighborhood Watch Program -Safe Community Task Force Recommendation DATE: November 14, 2011 Dubuque ,id All-AmmtcaClty 2007 On July 19, 2010 the Safe Community Task Force submitted the second set of recommendations to the Dubuque City Council. The Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital subcommittee recommended, "Develop a Neighborhood Watch Program," as part of the recommendations. Since then the Dubuque Police Department has been examining the implementation of such a program. The Dubuque Police Department was formerly associated with the official Neighborhood Watch program in the late 70's and early 80's before changes in department needs and decreased citizen involvement rendered the program inactive. Chief John Mauss (ret.) resurrected the program after he was appointed Chief of Police in 1985. The program experienced initial success but again citizen participation steadily decreases and the program was defunct by the early 90's. Beginning in 1995, the Dubuque Police Department started a Community Oriented Policing Unit. This unit took on many of the roles and assignments that were formerly channeled through the Neighborhood Watch Program. The COP officers serve as direct departmental contacts for neighborhood associations, landlords, civic groups /programs and other concerned citizens. The Department's use of Territory Accountability Design (TAD) has also created another conduit for citizen - police contact as well as specific department supervisor oversight and review of neighborhoods. Additionally, the Crime Prevention Unit, in close partnership with the COP Unit, has become increasingly active promoting safety and crime reduction to the groups previously mentioned, as well as area businesses, churches, schools, etc. In this sense, the Department has, to some degree, always maintained an unofficial neighborhood watch program through these venues. The concepts and principals that make the official Neighborhood Watch Program successful and beneficial are still apparent and strongly promoted through this collaborative effort and the ongoing programs supported and /or developed by the police department and citizens. Some of the City of Dubuque's other related initiatives since the mid- 1990's include the annual multidepartment led Crime -Free Multi- Housing training seminar (now held 3 times per year), having a Neighborhood Development Specialist position in the City Manager's Office and the support of several neighborhood associations, expanded Park & Recreation programming, the Washington Neighborhood revitalization strategy, the creation of the Multi- Cultural Family Center and dozens of other programs and resources, which have all played important roles in fostering neighborhood watch ideologies that are prevalent today. Beginning in January 2011, Dubuque Police Department personnel started exploring and attempting to gauge community interest in restarting the Neighborhood Watch Program. In spite of numerous attempts to solicit input, the community has shown little interest. The Dubuque Police Department recognizes the importance of citizen involvement in our ongoing crime prevention and response efforts and appreciates the Safe Community Task Force recommendation to increase engagement between law enforcement and citizens /neighborhoods through the re- implementation of the Neighborhood Watch Program. However, many of the principals and practices are already in place in Dubuque. There does not appear to be sufficient interest and commitment among Dubuque citizens to warrant the significant investment of time, money and personnel required to successfully re- implement the official Neighborhood Watch Program for the long term. Citizens, for the most part, seem to feel they already have a successful program in place and see no need to duplicate effort, but remain open to suggested improvements to their existing associations /programs. Chief of Police Mark Dalsing is not recommending re- implementation of the official Neighborhood Watch Program, however, he does recommend exploring, discussing, and possibly implementing enhancements to the current neighborhood associations, making an already successful program even better. What few Neighborhood Watch principles and concepts that haven't already been adopted /practiced by the associations, could be considered for implementation — to include the design and development of neighborhood- specific watch signs, decals and other materials and taking advantage of new web -based programs and social media. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. MCVM:jh Attachment IR/1144 ',,,,,A14,-, Michael C. Van Milligen 2 cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Mark M. Da!sing, Chief of Police Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist Safe Community Advisory Committee Safe Community Task Force NovusAGENDA - Home Novus Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: Michael Van Milligen City Manager FROM: Mark Dalsing Chief of Police DATE: November 10, 2011 SUBJECT: Neighborhood Watch Program INTRODUCTION Page 1 of 1 Logout Dubuque M- Amerlca c*y '1111' 2007 This item will detail the Dubuque Police Departments efforts to assess interest and commitment levels regarding the implementation of a neighborhood watch program. BACKGROUND On July 19, 2010 the Safe Community Task Force submitted the second set of recommendations to the Dubuque City Council. The Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital subcommittee recommended "Develop a Neighborhood Watch Program" as part of the recommendations. Since then the Dubuque Police Department has been examining the implementation of such a program. DISCUSSION See attached staff memo. RECOMMENDATION See attached staff memo. ACTION TO BE TAKEN Informational only. No Action requested. Prepared by: Mark Dalsing Novusolutions Copyright 2001 -2011 http: / /agenda.novus. cityofdubuque. org/ ItemDetails /ClientApprovalSheet. aspx ?ItemID =194 11/17/2011 Masterpiece on the Mississippi MEMORANDUM October 4, 2010 TO: Mark M. Dalsing Chief of Police FR: Lt. Scott Baxter Crime Prevention & Public Information Officer RE: Neighborhood Watch Program INTRODUCTION This memorandum will detail the Dubuque Police Department's efforts to assess interest and commitment levels regarding the implementation of a neighborhood watch program. BACKGROUND On July 19, 2010 the Safe Community Task Force submitted the second set of recommendations to the Dubuque City Council. The Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital subcommittee recommended, "Develop a Neighborhood Watch Program," as part of the recommendations. Since then the Dubuque Police Department has been examining the implementation of such a program. First we must recognize that National Neighborhood Watch is a registered, trademarked organization with explicit rules and regulations on operations and procedures. For the purposes of this memo, I will be referring to both the official National Neighborhood Watch as well as neighborhood watch in the generic sense of the term. DUBUQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT /NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH HISTORY The Dubuque Police Department was formerly associated with the official Neighborhood Watch program in the late 70's and early 80's before changes in department needs and decreased citizen involvement rendered the program inactive. Chief John Mauss (ret.) resurrected the program after he was appointed Chief of Police in 1985. The program experienced initial success but again citizen participation steadily decreases and the program was defunct by the early 90's. Corporal Terry Driscoll (ret.) was the Crime Prevention Officer during the department's last association with the formal Neighborhood Watch Program and was contacted regarding the success and eventual end of the program. Driscoll advised that the program was launched in target neighborhoods and eventually became active in as many as 30+ neighborhoods 1 throughout the City. Neighborhood burglaries were a driving force for many neighborhoods becoming active. Driscoll advised that part of the downfall of the program was keeping citizens interested and engaged. By the requirements of the program, regular meetings and reports to the Police Department were needed and again, these steadily decreased and eventually ceased all together. Other contributing factors to the program's demise included: "Block Captains" and other active citizens moved from the neighborhoods; citizens being unable to devote the necessary time to the program; decreases in the crime or other activity that prompted the creation of a watch area; and loss of citizen interest. Driscoll noted many neighborhoods went through the initial training to get the official signs posted in their neighborhoods and then active participation decreased almost immediately. Beginning in 1995, the Dubuque Police Department started a Community Oriented Policing Unit. This unit took on many of the roles and assignments that were formerly channeled through the Neighborhood Watch Program. The COP officers serve as direct departmental contacts for neighborhood associations, landlords, civic groups /programs and other concerned citizens. The Department's use of Territory Accountability Design (TAD) has also created another conduit for citizen - police contact as well as specific department supervisor oversight and review of neighborhoods. Additionally, the Crime Prevention Unit, in close partnership with the COP Unit, has become increasingly active promoting safety and crime reduction to the groups previously mentioned, as well as area businesses, churches, schools, etc. In this sense, the Department has, to some degree, always maintained an unofficial neighborhood watch program through these venues. The concepts and principals that make the official Neighborhood Watch Program successful and beneficial are still apparent and strongly promoted through this collaborative effort and the ongoing programs supported and /or developed by the police department and citizens. Some of the City of Dubuque's other contributions include the annual multidepartment led Crime -Free Multi- Housing training seminar (now held 3 times per year), having a Neighborhood Development Specialist, expanded Park & Recreation programming, the Washington Neighborhood revitalization, the Multi- Cultural Family Center and dozens of other programs and resources, which have all played important roles in fostering neighborhood watch ideologies that are prevalent today. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION — ASSESSING INTEREST, NEED & COMMITMENT The first step in the potential re- implementation of the program was to assess citizen interest. Beginning in January 2011, Dubuque Police Department personnel started exploring and attempting to gauge community interest. In February, I participated in a Mediacom Newsleader session and discussed the program during an interview that was broadcast to Mediacom subscribers. During the interview, we discussed the program's history (both locally and nationally), as well as the benefits, requirements and possibility of re- implementation locally. 2 Later in the spring (May 18th, 2011), I presented to the leaders of our area Neighborhood Associations during one of their group meetings at Comiskey Park. Representatives from all the associations were provided with informational materials including a presentation detailing the program. I asked that the attendees take the information from the presentation and handouts, and share it with members of their respective associations (and anyone else they deemed applicable) in an effort to determine a need, desire and commitment for reimplementation of the program - or a close, more personalized Dubuque- version of the program. The prospect of resurrecting the program was also addressed in several other presentations conducted throughout the community in the last several months when crime prevention and /or personal safety were the main focus. A few months later, a follow -up e-mail was sent to the attendees of the above mentioned Neighborhood Association group meeting. Basically, the e-mail reminded the attendees of the May meeting, of our ongoing effort to assess interest in the program, and what is required for the program to be successful. Having heard very little in terms of interest from the majority, I also suggested the possibility of modifying the current Neighborhood Associations into a Dubuque- specific model of Neighborhood Watch (also discussed during our initial meeting). Much like this initial interest assessment, it seems logical to start with the various associations if the program (or any variation) is to be attempted. Since they already embrace and practice some of the principles and recommendations of the official program, exploring the possibility of merging the Neighborhood Watch Program into the existing associations was again offered as a potential option. Whatever modifications deemed advantageous to the majority could be adopted and implemented into this Dubuque- specific approach. During the initial meeting, most attendees agreed that IF we were to re- implement the program, we should develop our own "Dubuque- specific" version — allowing the groups to cater a program that is most beneficial to their association /neighborhood and the issues /problems being experienced therein. I received one response from an individual who said he would take the information /suggestions back to his association for further discussion. Further publicity efforts were also made by posting information on the City's website and encouraging interested citizens to contact me with questions or more information. Again, this effort yielded virtually no response. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION The Dubuque Police Department recognizes the importance of citizen involvement in our ongoing crime prevention and response efforts. As part of our ongoing efforts to promote community- oriented policing & crime prevention, we appreciate the Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital subcommittee's recommendation to increase engagement between law enforcement and citizens /neighborhoods through the re- implementation of this program. And while we believe this program to be quite effective when properly implemented and maintained, and acknowledge its benefits 3 within community oriented policing and crime prevention programs, many of the principals and practices are already in place as illustrated above. Further concern exists as there does not appear to be sufficient interest and commitment among our citizens to warrant the significant investment of time, money, personnel, etc. required to successfully re- implement the official Neighborhood Watch Program for the long term. I think our citizens, for the most part, feel they already have a successful program in place and see no need to duplicate effort, but remain open to suggested improvements to their existing associations /programs. That being said, there may be value in exploring the enhancement of the existing neighborhood associations. With new web -based programs, social media (and other advancements in communication) — coupled with the already strong foundation established by these associations, it remains a viable option worthy of further exploration. What few Neighborhood Watch principles and concepts that haven't already been adopted /practiced by the associations, could be considered for implementation -- to include the design and development of neighborhood- specific watch signs, decals and other materials. In summary, it seems somewhat redundant to attempt re- implementation of the official Neighborhood Watch Program when we have virtually all components of said program already in place. By exploring, discussing, and possibly implementing enhancements to our current neighborhood associations, we might make an already successful program even better. Much of the required interest and commitment exists with the current neighborhood associations, programs, churches, civic groups, and so on. ACTION REQUESTED This is an informational memo only. No further action is requested. 4