[ngg-nivoslider title=”” gallery=”13″ html_id=”police” center=”1″ controlnav=”true” controlnavthumbs=”true” caption=”description” disablecaptions=”0″ captionopacity=”0.5″]
Department hopes to reduce crime, and improve quality of life
By Terry Miller
On Saturday, July 13, Temple Sheriff’s Station’s Captain Christopher Nee and more than 100 envoys from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department took to the streets in the unincorporated areas of Monrovia, Arcadia, and Duarte to kick off the “The Public Trust Partnership Program.”
The Public Trust Partnership Program was designed to enhance public trust, reduce crime, and improve the quality of life in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County by addressing issues identified by the community. The program utilized the resources of the Countywide Services Division, Temple Sheriff’s Station, COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Bureau, Reserve Forces Bureau, and volunteers from the Community Law Enforcement Partnership Program, as well as other County, State and Federal agencies.
Members of the Sheriff’s Department gathered Saturday at Pamela Park, located in the unincorporated area of Duarte. Deputies and support staff went door to door for several hours asking residents what they felt about their particular neighborhood.
Braving the heat to meet the residents and solicit information regarding criminal activity as well as quality of life issues, deputies and volunteers spoke with over 800 people.
Deputies and volunteers utilized a printed survey as they went door to door to address concerns from each resident and diligently took notes.
Perhaps the most common concern in one neighborhood Saturday was “gang activity and drugs…” but the areas of concern do run the gamut.
Despite a few suspicious albeit skeptical looks, most residents were very accommodating according to coordinating Sgt. Britta Kjellstrand and Training Deputy William Harrington who were in charge of operations Saturday morning. Deputy Harrington said residents on one street were coming out of their homes to greet the volunteers and thanked them for their concern for their safety.
Residents seemed delighted that the department was making a determined effort to tackle a complex problem in urban areas of Los Angeles County not covered by other police agencies.
As the ‘cost-neutral program’ expands, it will multiply the field forces of all Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
The majority of residents were happy to fill out the Public Trust Partnership Program community survey at each residence in the program area. Survey responses will be used to identify the ongoing quality of life and crime issues deemed most important by the citizens served by Temple Station.
Once all the data is collected from Saturday’s survey, Nee and his emissaries will then “interact with the community to develop and implement strategies to combat those issues identified by residents.”
These determinations may include campaigns focused on burglary suppression, narcotics clampdowns, gang mitigation, graffiti/vandalism reduction, juvenile delinquency, neighborhood safety after dark issues ( many on Saturday said they simply do not go out after dark), abandoned vehicles, stray animal control, illegal vendor enforcement, loud parties, and enhanced traffic enforcement.
The fundamental principle of the “Public Trust Partnership Program” is to establish and nurture positive relationships with the people the Sheriff’s Department serves.
The Sheriff’s Department’s mission is “to persistently cultivate meaningful partnerships with diverse communities throughout Los Angeles County and to enhance public safety through a focused effort between law enforcement and the public.”
Capt. Christopher Nee said the survey results will be announced at a Town Hall meeting this Saturday, July 20 at 1PM in Pamela Park. The Sheriff’s dept. has invited all in the surrounding neighborhoods to hear the results and discuss those findings in a casual, non-theatening setting.
Capt. Nee was delighted that the volunteers and deputies went to over 800 houses during Saturday’s fact finding mission.
Nee said that it really is about “getting back to the basics…”
Captain Nee said once they’ve identified the root problems they’ll be able to better handle situations as they arise and it wouldn’t be possible without community input.
“We’re excited about it (the survey) and will have120 days work on the problems identified.” Nee said.
