Laserfiche WebLink
and child care is provided as needed, along with informative presentations on <br />preventing crime and keeping children safe. Each meeting is facilitated with the <br />assistance of Peninsula Crisis Resolution Center mediators who work with small break <br />out groups to identify and explore various community concerns. These issues are then <br />presented in an open forum for an interactive discussion with police leaders who work to <br />find resolution to important matters. <br /> <br />Coffee with Cops <br />Coffee with Cops offers a safe and welcoming space for community members and law <br />enforcement officers to meet informally at local coffee shops, markets, churches, <br />businesses, and other neighborhood locations. In these settings, law enforcement and <br />community members can discuss any concerns or issues, build personal connections, <br />establish trust and communication, and exchange resources. The Coffee with Cops <br />program is offered in English and Spanish. Coffee with Cops events are held each <br />month at revolving venues throughout the City. <br /> <br />Citizen Police Academy <br />The Citizen Police Academy program covers topics similar to those taught to police <br />recruits in a real academy. An application and a commitment to attend all classes is <br />required. There is no charge for the course, which is geared for adults. Both the English <br />and Spanish versions of this program have helped many community members to better <br />understand the role of police officers and the challenges they face each day. <br />Consequently, approximately 25 new volunteers have stepped forward during the past <br />three years to become members of the Department’s Volunteers in Policing Service, <br />thereby expanding our ability to communicate with a broad range of communities <br />throughout the City. <br /> <br />Volunteers in Policing Services (V.I.P.S.) <br />The purpose of the Volunteers in Policing Service (V.I.P.S.) program is to provide local <br />community members fulfilling opportunities to use their skills and experience to assist <br />the Police Department in providing a high level of service to the community and to <br />strengthen the relationship between the departments in the community. The total hours <br />donated by volunteers has grown from 873 hours in 2012 to 8,832 hours in 2015 and <br />from 4 volunteers to 30 volunteers, most of which are English-Spanish bilingual. <br />Volunteers assisted the Police Department with over 144 Community Events in 2015. <br /> <br />Neighborhood Watch and Brown Bag Lunch Programs <br />The Department’s Neighborhood Watch Program (Residential Neighborhoods) and <br />Brown Bag Lunch Program (Businesses) are designed to meet with groups of residents <br />or employees in order to discuss topics such as crime prevention, personal safety, <br />workplace safety and fraud prevention. <br /> <br />Youth Services Programs <br />The Department supports a number of youth services outreach programs, including: <br /> <br />7.A. - Page 14