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The Pawtucket
Police Department has a Community
Policing plan which the police
engage the community to solve
problems that affect the environment
where crime, disorder, violence and
drug abuse thrive. |
Our Community Policing policies and programs
are based on collaboration between police
and citizens in non-threatening and
supportive interactions. These interactions
include efforts by police to listen to
citizens, take seriously the citizens'
definitions of problems, and solve the
problems that have been identified. Program
goals include improved citizen esteem toward
the police, improved police attitudes toward
citizens, more effective police service as
defined by the police, and more effective
service as defined by citizens. Focus is
on problem identification, analysis, and
utilization of systematic problem solving
techniques, together with a strong community
partnership, as a means to achieve more
effective long term solutions to persistent
crime problems.
Our objective is to obtain a favorable
attitude between the police and citizens
with encouraging a willingness to work
together cooperatively, with improving
neighborhood stability and race relations.
Educating and assisting community business
leaders in crime prevention by implementing
an action plan to meet community needs. Are
some expectations for implementing our
Community Policing programs.
The department's Community Police Unit has
established an effective partnership with
the community. This was accomplished by
conferring with community leaders in the
areas of business, professional groups,
social service agencies, religious and civic
organizations, and non-law enforcement city
agencies. These organizations in joint
cooperation with the Community Police Unit
have repeatedly demonstrated their
willingness to donate time and resources in
support of our Community Policing programs.
The interaction and assistance that these
groups afford aided the Community Police
Unit in developing specialized programs that
addressed current and future needs within
the community.
The Community Police Unit continues to
develop programs that will maintain
effective partnerships within the
community. To address future needs within
the community the Community Police Unit has
developed specialized programs to enhance
school safety and develop closer
relationship between the police and the
community.
Click on a link below for information
regarding these programs
BICYCLE PATROLS
As
part of the department’s community policing
objectives uniformed bicycle patrol officers
are assigned to patrol the two weed and seed
districts within the City. Thirty-five
officers are assigned to the Bike Squad and
each officer has been issued uniforms and a
police mountain bike.
Bike patrol brings a high profile presence
to specific areas to deal with quality of
life issues. These issues generally include
public drinking, youths loitering, street
level drug dealing, housing code violations
etc. as detailed by neighborhood and
business associations. Bike patrol officers
regularly attend neighborhood crime watch
meetings, assist in neighborhood clean ups,
block parties etc. in the Weed and Seed
areas.
From late spring to early fall bike patrol
officers patrol the Woodlawn and Pleasant
View sections of the city. They also
patrol the Barton and Dexter Streets area to
deter and detect any potential prostitution
activities. Bike patrol officers also make
contacts with area businesses and entered
businesses and speak with the clerk/owner to
exchange information or concerns.
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D.A.R.E. PROGRAM
There is one D.A.R.E. Officer assigned to
the Community Police Unit. The Drug Abuse
Resistance Education Program is taught by a specially trained officer to all
fifth grade students at public and private
schools throughout the city. The drug
education program involves thirteen
(13)
week of instruction for one hour per week to
approximately forty-seven
(47)
individual classes. During the year about
1200 student successfully graduated from the
program.
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G.R.E.A.T. PROGRAM
The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a school-base, law
enforcement officer-instructed classroom
curriculum. The program’s primary objective
is prevention and is intended as a means
against delinquency, youth violence, and
gang membership. The G.R.E.A.T. lessons
focus on providing life skills to students
to help them avoid delinquent behavior and
violence to solve problems.
This program is being introduced at all
three middle schools within the city.
An additional officer attended an approved
training program in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. As a result, the Community
Police Unit now has three officers certified
to deliver a thirteen (13) week curriculum
to students during the school year. The
G.R.E.A.T. middle school curriculum is
designed for middle school entry-level
students at 6th or 7th
grade which consist of thirteen 45-60 minute
lessons designed to be taught in sequential
order. The G.R.E.A.T elementary curriculum
a (6) week course is also being taught to 3rd
grade students at the city’s ten elementary
schools. The curriculum is a skills-based
curriculum designed to produce knowledge and
attitudinal and behavioral changes through
the use of facilitative teaching, positive
behavior rehearsal, cooperative and
interactive learning techniques, and
extended teacher activities.
The G.R.E.A.T. violence prevention
curriculum is a life-skills competency
program designed to provide students with
the skills they need to avoid gang pressure
and youth violence. The curriculum can be
used in conjunction with other prevention
programs encouraging positive relationships
between the community, parents, schools and
law enforcement.
During the year approximately 1350 middle
and elementary school students graduated
from the G.R.E.A.T. program.
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D.A.R.E. /
COMMUNITY WORKS SUMMER PROGRAM
The
program is being conducted at the Pawtucket
Police Substation, 270 Armistices Boulevard.
Classroom instruction and community action
projects are being conducted each day from
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday thru Thursday.
Fourteen (14) youths from the City
between the ages of 13 to 16 have been
selected to participate in the program.
Breakfast and lunch is provided each day
(provided by Parks and Recreation) to
include all instruction materials and action
project equipment.
The D.A.R.E. officers are conducting
approximately 22 separate classroom sessions
taught over 6 weeks. Officers are teaching
the youths in areas which they are not
normally exposed to, giving them a broader
view of the police, crime and the community
which is affected. Topics which have been
taught to this date have been “Creating a
Community Vision”, “What is Crime”, “Victims
of Crime” and “Safe and Secure Communities”.
Future topics are “Where are we Safe and
Unsafe”, “Our Communities Resources”, “Your
Conflict Choices”, “Conflict, Communicating
and Working together.” “Bullying and Teens:
How to protect yourself”, “Gangs”, “Robbery
and Assault”, “Drug Abuse”, “Vandalism” and
shoplifting.
Another portion of the program consists of a
“Community Action Project”. The
“Community action project” is being
conducted at various sites throughout the
City. The site locations are determined by
the Parks and Recreation Department.
Transportation to and from the sites is
provided by the City of Pawtucket school
buses under the supervision of Mr. Gary
Gray. At the sites the youths are divided
into two groups supervised by Officers. There are times when
the groups work together. During some of
these projects the youths will be using
rakes, shovels and brooms.
To date the sites where Community Action
project have taking place are Slater Park
from Newport Avenue to the dog pound
including all of the baseball fields. Also,
along the bike path, pond, tennis courts,
carousel, Marconi Gardens ending at
Armistice Boulevard. Other sites are
Veteran’s Park, John Street playground and
Payne Park. At each of these sites the
youths cleaned up the area by picking up
trash, debris and recyclables. Youths will
be conducting a Community Action Project at
the Leon Mathieu Senior Center located on
Main Street, Curtis Elementary School and
the St. Joseph's soup kitchen.
Officers find that the
participants are dedicated, attentive in
class and willing to work hard and make a
difference in the community. They come from
many different communities within the City
of Pawtucket and cultural backgrounds. This
makes the Community Works a diverse program
that has help in break down cultural
barriers. The summer program has changed the
participant’s vision and outlook towards
each other and the City.
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SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM
This program is designed to prevent the
development of and reduce existing bullying
and victimization problems. The program
looks to create conditions that make it
possible for all children to get along and
function better in and out of school
settings. To achieve this objective the
program is designed to educate teachers and
staff members, parents and students in
raising awareness about bullying in order to
prevent and reduce bullying behaviors and
identify appropriate intervention measures.
A standardize bullying curriculum was taught
to all middle school students by teachers
from the advisory department. Upon
completion of theses classes a uniformed
police officer will address each class and
provide a professional presentation on
bullying. This will educate students to
learn that the damage caused by bullying is
serious and that there are healthy options
for preventing bullying. The presence of the
police officer communicates that bullying
can become a criminal matter.
Finally training will be provided to educate
parents that bullying is a form of violence,
and it creates a climate of fear and
intimidation in schools that acts as a
barrier to learning. Parents should learn
how to teach their children to really care
about others and to treat everyone with
respect. They should learn how to
effectively respond if they find out their
child is either a victim or a bully.
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CRIME WATCH
PROGRAM
The
Community Police Units is responsible for
developing community based crime prevention
programs. One of these programs is
Neighborhood Crime Watch. The program is
designed to encourage neighbors to get to
know each other within their neighborhood.
With the assistance of the Community Police
Unit participants are taught to reduce risk
of being victimized at home, in their
vehicles and in public places. The program
also trains participants on the importance
of recognizing suspicious activity and how
to properly report them to the police.
During the year the Community Police Units
supports approximately fourteen
(14)
Neighborhood Crime Watches located
throughout the city. There also two
(2)
Neighborhood Associations
(Woodlawn
& Fairlawn)
which include neighborhood crime watch
members.
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ELDERLY
AFFAIRS
The Community Police Unit assigns two Elderly
Affairs Officer to address and follow up
elderly related issues. Pawtucket’s elderly
population per capita is the largest in the
State. The Elderly Affairs Officer works
with many public and private agencies and
provides many services to the senior
citizens of Pawtucket. The officer also
works closely with the Leon Matthew Senior
Center where the City’s Elderly Affairs
office is located. During the year this
officer handles an average of 75 to 100
calls concerning elderly issues. The
officer also oversees the Alzheimer’s Alert
and Check ‘Em programs.
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DRIVER’S EDUCATION
The Community Police Unit assigns a Driver
Education Officer who instructs a two hour
class as part of the 30 hour course. During
the year this officer conducts approximately
15 classes, to over 400 high school
students.
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POLICE STATION
TOURS
Officers in the Community Police Unit in
conjunction with the Mayor’s Office annually
conduct over 40 tours of the police facility
to schools and community organizations.
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SCHOOL
CROSSING GUARDS
The Community Police Unit assigns a Safety
Officer who oversees 29 permanent crossing
guards and 3 temporary crossing guards. The
crossing guards are assigned at intersection
throughout the city where they safely cross
all students attending public and private
schools
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MOBILE COMMAND
POST
The mobile command vehicle is utilized by
the community police unit to support our
planned community events. National Night
Out, neighborhood block parties, local and
State wide parades, local Arts Festival are
just a few of the events where the mobile
command vehicle was used. From May to
October the mobile command vehicle was
stationed at the two Weed & Seed districts
within the City. Assigned officers provided
crime prevention information and advice to
the citizens. The mobile command vehicle
was also used as a mobile police station to
support the bicycle officers patrolling the
city. The mobile command vehicle has proven
to be a valuable component in the
department’s community policing objectives.
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COMMUNITY
RELATIONS PROJECTS & EVENTS
The Community Police Unit is responsible for
developing, coordinating and implementing
community programs. CPU also assists
community organizations with providing
support at community events. Some of these
programs and events include the following:
Special Olympics Torch Run
Child Safety Car Seat Installation &
Inspections
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COMMUNITY POLICE UNIT
CONTACT INFORMATION
Presently there are seven officers assigned
to the Community Police Unit. Sgt
Denis Lefebvre is the Unit Supervisor,
Officers Thomas Hayes, Joel Saccocio and Uwe
Sommer are the G.R.E.A.T instructors.
Officer Everett LaMountain ais the D.A.R.E.
instructors. Officers Hermano Pereira
and Robert Cardente are the School Resource
Officers for Shea and Tolman High Schools.
Sgt Denis Lefebvre and Officer Paul Karalis
are the Elderly Affairs officers and Sgt
Denis Lefebvre oversees the city’s crossing
guards.
The Community Police Unit office is located
on the second floor of the Police
Sub-station located at 170 Armistice
Boulevard. The office telephone number is
401-729-5847 and the fax is 401-729-5845.
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