Policy Text
CRIME PREVENTION
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/01/05 STANDARD NO. 056 REVISED: 07/06/18
REPLACES: N/A Rev. 06/20/12
OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria for the Crime Prevention function.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to proactively
maintain a mission of crime prevention and assistance in achieving HPD goals
relating to crime prevention programs.
SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. The Crime Prevention function is hereby established under the control of the Uniform
Patrol Division (UPD) captain who shall be responsible for the development of a
comprehensive Crime Prevention Program.
B. The Crime Prevention Program is aimed at providing safety and security for the public,
their businesses, households, and possessions by concentrating on activities
appropriate for the prevention of crime in their homes, at businesses, and on the street.
Those activities will include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Citizen awareness.
2. Inspections of premises and recommendations concerning physical security.
3. Dissemination of information concerning crime prevention techniques.
4. Active solicitation of persons/groups interested in crime prevention.
5. Coordination of activities of people/groups involved in the program.
II. CRIME PREVENTION FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. If granted the opportunity by the City, the UPD captain will actively provide crime
prevention input into the development and/or revision of zoning policies, building codes,
fire codes, and residential and commercial building permits.
B. The HPD and, specifically, Crime Prevention personnel shall assist in the organizing of
Crime Prevention groups in residential and business areas and maintain liaison with
these and other interested community groups.
C. The Crime Prevention function shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Prioritize by specific target and upon citizen request, those Crime Prevention
Programs that are shown to have an impact on crimes experienced by
Crime Prevention – SOP# 056
community citizens. Information used to determine what programs are effective
shall be based on:
a. Information received by Crime Prevention personnel.
b. Citizen contact.
c. Research.
d. Other law enforcement agencies.
e. Interpretation of crime data submitted from the HPD Crime Analyst.
f. Targeting programs by crime type and geographic area on the basis of an
analysis of local crime data.
g. Targeting programs to address community perceptions or misperceptions
of crime.
2. Conduct regular meetings regarding crime prevention and pertinent information
with community groups and/or neighborhood associations.
3. Conduct Crime Prevention seminars, lectures and other activities so designated
or assigned by the Chief of Police.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of Crime Prevention Programs.
D. Crime Prevention personnel shall provide, to those concerned citizens, programs that
meet their community concerns based on the type of crime reported within the
respective community. Those programs should be prioritized based on immediate need,
to include:
1. Business and home security surveys.
2. Personal safety programs.
3. Alarm system survey.
4. Crime against the elderly.
5. Fraud seminars.
6. Retail theft seminars.
7. Armed robbery prevention.
8. Residential/commercial burglaries.
9. Sexual assault programs.
10. Auto theft seminars.
Crime Prevention – SOP# 056
E. Relationship between Crime Prevention personnel and other organizational components:
1. Crime Prevention personnel shall maintain liaison with the Crime Analyst for
updated information on specific criminal activity and specific areas so that
proactive measures can be established.
2. When a need arises for the assistance of an officer assigned to another division
to conduct a program or presentation in the community, the Uniform Patrol
captain will notify, by phone or memorandum, the affected division commander of
the need for assistance. The notification may include:
a. Explanation of need.
b. Number of officers requested.
c. Attire to be worn.
d. Any information concerning program, location or time.
3. All crime prevention activities shall be duty related and the requested officer(s)
will participate during regular duty hours, if possible. If circumstances dictate
otherwise, arrangements shall be made by the Uniform Patrol captain, the
officer(s) of the affected division and the division commander.
4. Each request to assist Crime Prevention personnel will be honored, provided
sufficient staffing is available.