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 COMMUNITY POLICE UNIT

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

D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

G.R.E.A.T. PROGRAM

G.R.E.A.T. / BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SUMMER  PROGRAM

D.A.R.E. / COMMUNITY WORKS SUMMER   PROGRAM

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM

YOUTH CRIME WATCH PROGRAM

AUTO THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM

COMMUNITY POLICE UNIT CONTACT INFORMATION

CRIME WATCH PROGRAM

OPERATION IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM

ELDERLY AFFAIRS

DRIVER’S EDUCATION

POLICE STATION TOURS

SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS

MOBILE COMMAND POST

COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROJECTS & EVENTS

 

 

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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