NCJ Number
53586
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 24-26
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
MEASURES INITIATED BY THE CITY OF CORONADO, CALIF., TO REDUCE ITS CRIME RATE WITHOUT SPENDING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
DURING 1976, THE CITY EXPERIENCED AN ALARMING INCREASE IN SERIOUS CRIME; ROBBERIES WERE UP 125 PERCENT OVER 1975, ASSAULTS WERE UP 21 PERCENT, STRUCTURAL BURGLARIES WERE UP 45 PERCENT, VEHICLE BURGLARIES WERE UP 64 PERCENT, AND THE OVERALL CRIME RATE WAS UP 13 PERCENT. POLICE PATROL MILEAGE DROPPED 4 PERCENT, WHILE INVESTIGATIVE MILEAGE WAS DOWN 30 PERCENT, AND FELONY ARRESTS WERE DOWN 23 PERCENT. A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF A LOCAL UNIVERSITY RESULTED IN THE DESIGN OF A PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE CRIME RATE. THE PROGRAM EMPLOYS A TASK FORCE OPERATION THAT INCORPORATES MUCH FROM CORONADO'S ONGOING NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROJECT. THIS PROJECT ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES BUT AVOIDS POTENTIAL PITFALLS OF CITIZEN PATROLS WHERE WELL-MEANING CITIZENS CAN FOIL ARRESTS. NONPAID VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL WERE TRAINED INTO AN AUXILIARY FORCE, AND BOTH THE POLICE RESERVES AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPLORER SCOUTS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND WERE ORGANIZED INTO A SEMIINDEPENDENT TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE DETERRENT AND SURVEILLANCE PATROL FOR HIGH CRIME AREAS. OPERATING ON IRREGULARLY SCHEDULED HOURS DURING PEAK CRIME PERIODS, TWO-PERSON TEAMS CONDUCT FOOT PATROL ON BEACHES AND BICYCLE OR VEHICLE PATROL ON STREETS. THEY WEAR BEACH AND STREET ATTIRE OR UNIFORMS, CONTINGENT UPON THE OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGES TO BE GAINED. THE OPERATION OF THE TASK FORCE AND ITS IMPACT AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS ARE EVALUATED. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)