|
|
| NSA Announces 2011 Award Recipients |
| By National Sheriffs’ Association |
| Published: 05/16/2011 |
|
NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2011 AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Alexandria, VA – The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is pleased to announce that the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, LA; Rockledge Police Department, FL; and Morris Hill Neighborhood Association, Boise, ID have been selected as the recipients of the 2011 Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence. The Awards of Excellence will be presented at the Second General Session on Monday, June 20th at NSA’s Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The award is sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence Program was established by the NSA in 2004 to recognize and honor those law enforcement agencies, watch groups, organizations, and programs that make exceptional contributions to promote neighborhood watch and public safety in their communities. This year’s recipients have shown dedication to the core elements of the watch program while building those efforts to make positive impacts in their community. While the efforts of each recipient are different, their commitment and activities strengthen public safety for all. The Rapides Parish Sheriffs’ Office, Louisiana has over 130,000 residents and is responsible for more than 1300 square miles. Though rural, the office faces many of the same problems normally associated with urban areas. Over the last three years the office has worked to coordinate their efforts in the community through regular “Town Hall” meetings scheduled throughout the parish. When a community called Kolin-Ruby experienced a rash of burglaries, the office responded to the residents quickly by not only setting up a neighborhood watch, but by leveraging their coordination with the Louisiana State Police and the U.S. Marshals’ Service. As a result of the coordinated efforts of the Rapides Parish Sheriffs’ Office and the neighborhood watch, the burglars were arrested and convicted. Since then, the office lead by Sheriff Wagner, has realized the power of involving the community in not only crime reporting, but crime prevention and maintaining an open line of communication. Rockledge Police Department, Florida aims to prevent crime to citizens and businesses through partnering with each other. In this 12.2 square mile community, the department has maintained 122 active neighborhood watch groups that cover 350 streets, 143 business watch programs, and has partnered with the public sanitation workers to create a program called City Watch. In the last 18 months the department’s programs have helped to increase calls of suspicious incidents by 20 percent. Building collaborative partnerships within the community has helped to apprehend a bank robber, suppress counterfeit bills, assist a citizen attacked by a pit bull, and much more. Further, the Police department has recognized more than 80 youth and seniors for their positive contributions in the community. The Morris Hill Neighborhood Association is comprised of over 1,000 households and 300 businesses in one area of Boise, Idaho. Morris Hill is not a Homeowner’s Association nor do they require membership dues. Their mission is to build a sense of neighborhood community, promote a safe and healthy neighborhood environment, and maintain and protect the uniqueness of their neighborhood. Throughout the year the group actively participates in their community by distributing crime prevention educational materials, organizing an Annual Crime Prevention Walk-A-Thon, creating Welcome Wagon Gift Bags for the over 50% of the neighborhood that is rental property, participating in the citizen’s patrol program, coordinating an e-mail list serve, and participating in ongoing training on a multitude of topics. Working closely with the Boise Police Department the group’s efforts have been recognized many times. By having a constant and positive presence in the neighborhood, Morris Hill has not only achieved the goal of creating a strong community, but has helped to decrease crime in the community by 30 percent. National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is the largest association of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation, and a total membership of more than 20,000. NSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of criminal justice and public safety. Throughout its seventieth year history, NSA has served as an information clearinghouse for sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, other law enforcement professionals, state governments and the federal government. NSA also provides management training for sheriffs and their command personnel at the National Sheriffs’ Institute and through other innovative programs, workshops, and seminars. The National Sheriffs' Association, located in Alexandria, Virginia, also oversees the highly successful Triad Program and Neighborhood Watch. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think