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Community
Policing Unit
The Community Policing Unit is a part of the Administration
Division and encompasses The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
Program, Crime Prevention, and School Resource Officer Program.
The Unit is staffed by two full-time sworn Police Officers who are
trained as D.A.R.E. Instructors, Crime Prevention Practitioner,
and School Resource Officers.
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The
D.A.R.E. Program is designed to help students recognize
and resist the many subtle pressures that influence them to experiment
with tobacco, alcohol, and/or other harmful drugs. In addition,
program strategies are planned to focus on feelings relating to
self-esteem, interpersonal and communication skills, decision-making,
and positive alternatives to drug abuse. The Elementary School curriculum
is taught in all fifth grade classes and the Middle School curriculum
is taught to seventh grade Students. The officers also visit the
kindergarten through fourth grade classes several times each school
year.
The
Crime Prevention Division conducts residential and business
security surveys, as well as giving talks to community groups about
personal safety.
The main program for crime prevention is "National Night Out".
This event is held nationally the first Tuesday of August. The event
is designed to assist in developing ways to prevent crimes and foster
a better relationship between the police and the community. The
"National Night Out" event held last year drew over two
thousand people.
The
School Resource Officers are responsible for the initial
investigation of incidents that occur at Cedar Grove High School,
Memorial Middle School, North End School, South End School, and
Saint Catherine of Siena School. Their other responsibilities include
being present at the two public elementary schools at the beginning
and end of each school day to provide safe access for students and
to address any questions or concerns of parents. The Officers also
provide counseling for students as well as teach classes in Driver's
Education and other police related topics.
The Community Policing Unit maintains a
1988 GMC pickup truck as its primary unit. This truck
was confiscated from a burglary in the township in the early 1990's
and has been a workhorse for the police department ever since. The
unit also deploys two twenty-one-speed Trek mountain bikes, which
officers use during the summer months to visit recreation programs
and community pool/park programs.
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