05/05/2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• NARRATIVE (Attach additional sheets, if necessary) In 2003 the Lino Lakes Police Department worked with citizens throughout the community and established a Public Safety Citizen's Committee. The purpose of this committee is to provide formal structure to share information and offer an opportunity for officers and citizens to analyze topics of community concern, share information with the community related to the police department, provide feedback on potential police department initiatives, offer advice on pending policy considerations, and serve as communicators to policy makers on police issues and concerns. There are currently 11 members on this committee and the Lino Lakes Police Department is looking to hire a volunteer coordinator to assist the police department in the continued coordination of this committee. This committee is made up of members from local business owners, members who participated in the Public Safety Citizen academy, clergy, school board members and Neighborhood Watch captains. One of the first tasks completed by the Public Safety Citizen's Committee was to work with the police department in establishing a volunteer program. "Getting the Community Involved with their Police Department." Citizens employ their specialized skills to meet a particular community need, or by becoming public safety partners through their businesses or civic associations. Volunteers work because they want to and it creates civic spirit. Further, the volunteers are looking for something meaningful. It was found through a citizen survey that the community supports the Lino Lakes Police Department and their public safety efforts. With help from the citizen committee, we advertised that the police department was looking for citizens to employ their specialized skills to assist the police department in a variety of areas such as: Crime Prevention, Emergency Management, Police Records, Investigation, Property Room, Computers, Equipment, and/or Special Programs/Projects. Other tasks we would like to assign to the volunteer program include: • Assist in school -based programs such as DARE • Assist with after - school programs • Staff community policing sub - station • Assist with special events • Provide short-term care of juveniles in protective custody • Assist with fmgerprinting • Assist with Homeland Security Community Threat Assessment • Assist with Responding to Disasters or WMD events • Coordinate volunteer response to local disasters • Assist Red Cross with sheltering and congregate care • Assist with sheltering of domestic animals and pets in the event of a disaster • Assist with updating the Homeland Security and Emergency Management plan and resource manual The police department and citizen committee will strive to reach their projected goals in the recruitment of volunteers. As a result of some of this recruitment, volunteers have assisted the police department with inventory of the property room, inventory of police equipment, data entry, police reserve program and other administrative duties. Applications and job descriptions have been designed. We are now in the recruiting phase of the program and hope to recruit a minimum of two volunteers in each of the noted seven categories mentioned above. We do hope to increase the membership in the reserve program from 10 unit members to 21. In 2004, citizen committee members are asked to assist police officers in attaining the 2004 police department goals which are: Emergency Management, Traffic Issues throughout the city, and Volunteerism. The main focus of our volunteer initiative is to "get the word out" that the police department is looking for volunteers. Committee members have agreed to go out into the community and solicit volunteerism by attending meetings such as: monthly meetings at the VFW and American Legion., pastor's meetings at the local churches, girl scout/boy scout meetings, PTA/PTO meetings, Lino Lakes Senior meetings, Neighborhood Watch Group meetings, and many more. Other ways to "get the word out" is delivering the Volunteer brochure in new resident packets, church bulletins, city quarterly newsletter, 10 -8 Crime watch newsletter, mailing and other sources. The volunteers will be required to assist the department in enhancing our community policing philosophy through the activities identified above. They will be involved in activities or 2004 Citizen Corps Grant Application Page 5 of 10 February 9, 2004 r r'