 Briefing Room |
 Community Support Division |
The Community Support Division continues to seek methods of bringing the Police Department and the public closer together. While attending civic association meetings, neighborhood crime walks and special events have been productive, we only reach those active citizens who participate in their neighborhood’s events. In an effort to reach more of the community we are initiating a new program called “Shop with COPS”. Instead of the citizens coming to us, we will be going to them. The details of the program are outlined below:
- The CSD will identify shopping locations that are frequented by people from the immediate surrounding neighborhoods and receive permission from a retailer in the center to establish a “Shop with COPS” kiosk in the store.
- The location will be in an open area so that our intentions are obvious to shoppers, with a sign or banner placed outside the store to announce the presence of the police office inside.
- The “Shop with COPS” kiosk will have name desk plates to identify the officers and additional signage to encourage shoppers to visit with the police.
- CSD personnel will be able to register bikes, take police reports and assist with general information, such as providing telephone numbers or addresses.
- CSD personnel will have telephones available to assist citizens with appropriate inquiries on the spot.
- While CSD personnel will be able to answer questions about important issues such as crime prevention and recruiting, their main responsibility will be to provide a willing ear to the citizens.
We anticipate that citizens will be more likely to stop and talk with police officers about general concerns than they would by approaching an officer on the street.
For future event information, stay tuned to our monthly newsletter at: http://www.flpd.org/newslter.html.
