Each DPD Division is divided into many reporting areas. A reporting area is the smallest geographical area in which crime statistics are maintained. Major streets or natural boundaries generally bound reporting areas. Crime Watch group’s represent several reporting areas and more than one crime watch group represents some reporting areas.
Each DPD Division is divided into several beats. A beat is a geographical area consisting of a group of reporting areas. The size of the beat generally is determined by the rate of crime in the reporting areas. Several beats make up a sector, which is supervised by a sergeant
Each division offers the following services and information to all registered crime watch groups.
Community Relations Unit
Your specific DPD Division crime watch officer will be your primary DPD point of contact regarding crime watch issues. Refer to the Information/Personnel Sheet for your Division for the appropriate person and telephone number. The crime watch officer will provide or arrange for the following:
- Monthly crime reports mailed to you for your reporting area(s)
- Formal crime prevention program presentations to your group with advanced scheduling Neighborhood-specific crime data as needed for area meetings
- Quarterly crime watch chairpersons meetings on a variety of topics. The focus of these meetings is based on suggestions from crime watch chairpersons and current DPD activities
- Free home, apartment, and business security and insurance reduction surveys. See security information in Section VII
- Brochures on various crime prevention topics
- Mobile unit visibility in active crime areas and at community functions
- Substation tours for your group with advanced scheduling
- Crime watch meeting room facilities with advanced scheduling
- Inclusion on the Link newsletter mailing list. A sample of the Community Policing Support Unit monthly crime watch newsletter is included in this section
- National Night Out presentations and activities for your group with adequate advanced scheduling
Neighborhood Policing Office (NPO)
Each chairperson should know that they have access to an NPO officer should there be any non-emergency neighborhood concerns related to crime, safety, code enforcement, and other city-related issues. The NPO program is designed to increase communication between police and citizens and to provide a point of contact that will coordinate with other city departments as needed.
