Briefing Room

Community Policing Gateway

Operations Support

The Crime Prevention Unit of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department is part of the Community Policing Initiative. The unit is comprised of three detectives, who have been trained, and are certified, in the areas of residential and business security and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design ). Each detective is assigned to a community policing component and it's corresponding district within the city .

One of the main functions of the crime prevention unit is to provide security services to the city's residents and business owners. A security survey is conducted, at the request of the property owner, providing information regarding the physical security of the premise being evaluated. Areas of concern are natural surveillance, target hardening, natural access and egress, and territorial definition. In order to complete a security survey, a detective must first meet with a property owner or manager and discuss the problems they are experiencing . This is very important, as their perception of the problems in the area may not coincide with what the detective believes the problems to be, based on the analysis of reported activity in the area, as well as activity at the specific address. A detective must also take into consideration the owner's ability to make the changes that may be advised. A recommendation that cannot be followed through , is of no help to the property owner. After talking with the owner/ manager, a detective generally makes at least two trips to the targeted area. The property needs to be seen during both at night and day. In some cases, several trips are needed in order to get a complete view of the problem.

A variety of methods to improve areas of concern may be suggested to the property owner. These recommendations may, or may not, include traditional crime prevention techniques. They may include the upgrading or installing of security devices, the implementation of policing tactics, or internal procedural changes All security surveys are, by law, confidential, and may be discussed solely with the property owner or manager.

Crime prevention detectives are trained in the area of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). The theory behind CPTED is that it is more effective to consider security in a property's planning stages, than it is to attempt to compensate for poor design after a property is already built.

CPTED applications can be applied in problem neighborhoods, shopping malls, parking facilities, streets and buildings. We can look at an area of concern and find physical, practical reasons as to why one area is a greater problem than another. Once a cause is determined, steps can be taken to correct the problem. These corrections, many times, do not involve policing, but may mean getting the cooperation of city code enforcement, utilities, engineering or landscaping. Sometimes we need to contact private companies or social service agencies to eliminate a problem. CPTED involves looking at an area of concern from all possible angles, not just a traditional policing point of view.

Participation in the Development Review Committee is a primary responsibility of the Crime Prevention Unit. It is in this capacity that we utilize our CPTED training most effectively. The Development Review Committee oversees the planning of any new construction within the city of Fort Lauderdale. Crime prevention detectives review construction plans and make recommendations regarding the physical security of any new building or complex that is being considered for construction within the city.

The amount of plans presented each month number from four to twenty, and the complexity of each plan can vary as greatly, ranging from a convenience store to an entertainment complex. Formal meetings with architects, developers and city personnel take place twice a month , with many informal meetings occurring either before or after official presentations.

Unlike traditional police activities, crime prevention cannot be quantified. The effectiveness of crime prevention can best be based on the impact the unit has upon the people with whom they interact. Effective communication with all segments of the population within the city of Fort Lauderdale is the best way to help people avoid becoming victims of crime. It is through this positive, non-reactionary intercourse with the citizens of Fort Lauderdale that the crime prevention unit hopes to foster a non-adversarial relationship with the people it is charged to serve.

Briefing Room

Operations Support