Working Together To
Keep Our Community Safe

An Idea for the Times
Community Policing is a collaborative effort between the police and
the community that identifies problems of crime and disorder and
involves all elements of the community in the search for solutions to
these problems. It is founded on close, mutually beneficial ties
between law enforcement and community members.

Community Policing offers a way for law enforcement to help
re-energize our communities. Developing strong, self- sufficient
communities is an essential step in creating an atmosphere in which
serious crime will not flourish.

Dedicated to the concept of

community partnerships and

innovative problem solving

Triad- S.A.L.T.
A three-way effort among; a sheriff, the police in the county and retired leadership in the area who agree to work together to reduce the criminal victimization of older citizens and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to the population. It provides an opportunity for the exchange of information between law enforcement and senior citizens. It focuses on reducing unwarranted fear of crime and improving the quality of life for seniors. A Triad is tailored to meet the needs of each day and is governed by a senior advisory council. S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Men Together.)

Why is Triad necessary?
Older Americans comprise the most rapidly growing segments of the population. One in every eight Americans is already age 65 or older (3.1 million in 1991). Increase life expectancy is leading to new issues and problems for the criminal justice system as most communities experience a dramatic increase in the number of older persons. Calls for service, crime, victims all are changing.

How did Triad get started?
The American Association of Retired Person (AARP), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the National Sheriff's Association (NSA) signed a cooperative agreement in 1988 to work together to reduce the criminal victimization and unwarranted fear of crime affecting older persons. The three organizations agreed that police chiefs, sheriffs, and older leaders, and those who work with seniors, working together, could devise better ways to reduce crime against the elderly and enhance law enforcement services to older citizens. This, they believe, is the community policing providing better service to a population which appreciates, respects and support law enforcement.

Who carries out Triad activities?
The senior advisory council, often called S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Lawmen Together) is the key component for the success of a Triad. The S.A.L.T. Council acts as an advocacy advisory group and provides a forum for the exchange of information between seniors and law enforcement. Council members are selected and invited by the chief of police, the sheriff and someone representing older citizens- an energetic, knowledgeable senior or someone from the Agency on Aging, AARP, RSVP, ministerial association, etc. Council members can be a valuable source of input. They can assist in determining the concerns of the community's older persons, assess the availability of existing programs for the elderly, and recommend additional strategies. The Council S.A.L.T. members may also take part in the crime prevention and victim's assistance portions of the Triad program and help identify potential volunteers to carry out Triad activities.

What can S.A.L.T. do?
Triad is a program involving law enforcement and older Americans. The focus is determined by both, assessing the needs of our community. Area with more serious crime problems may focus on crime prevention and victim assistance. Area where older persons are not often targets for crime may decide to concentrate on reassurance programs, training for law enforcement, and involving volunteers.

The S.A.L.T. Council plans activities and programs which will involve and benefit both law enforcement and seniors.

Once a month the Worcester County Sheriff's Community Policing Unit will meet with the S.A.L.T. Council and discuss topics like; Crime Prevention for the older persons, Scams, How to avoid being victimized, Neighborhood Watch, Home security, Personal safety tips, Fire Prevention, Elder abuse, reassurance programs, emergency preparedness, refrigerator cards with emergency information, and older persons volunteering.

Neighborhood
Watch

The Basics
Neighborhood Watch is a simple program dedicated to improving the quality of life in Worcester County's neighborhoods. It is citizens and police working in partnership. Basically, a Neighborhood Watch is a cohesive body of concerned citizens addressing issues that concern your neighborhood. It is about empowering you, the citizens of Worcester County, to help reduce your chances of being victimized by crime through education and teamwork.

Why Neighborhood Watch?
Whether you live in a high crime area or not, a comprehensive Neighborhood Watch program offers numerous benefits for your area. Such programs instill a greater sense of security, well-being, and reduce the fear of crime in your neighborhood. In a word, Neighborhood Watch helps instill a greater "sense of community", by putting the neighbor back into neighborhood. Here are some of the other benefits you can expect by participating in Worcester County's Neighborhood Watch program:

* Reducing the risk of being a crime victim

* Being better prepared to respond to suspicious activity

* Increase information on issues that impact your neighborhood

* Obtaining Neighborhood Watch signs

* Getting to know your neighbors

* Reducing the fear of crime and making your neighborhood
         more livable

How much work is involved?
This is a fair question and the answer depends on you. Some areas have major concerns, requiring some work; others just want to maintain their area and don't want to spend a great deal of time on it. Your only limitations are yourself. In order to be recognized as an "active" Neighborhood Watch group you must have at least one (1) meeting and one (1) activity, i.e. clean up day, block party, etc.. within a calendar year.

The role of the Neighborhood Watch Captain
The Neighborhood Watch captain serves as the coordinator and liaison of the group. It is up to the Neighborhood Watch captain to serve as a spokesperson, schedule group activities, and coordinate neighborhood activity and communication.

* Maintain a list of all members

* Set up communication network for your area such as a telephone calling tree

* Distribute information sent out by the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator

* Greet new neighbors, encourage them to join

* Provide a sign in sheets of Neighborhood Watch activities to the
         Neighborhood Watch Coordinator

The role of the Community members
Everyone in the Neighborhood Watch plays and important part in the success of the program! Members should learn their neighbors names and the kinds of cars they drive. They should keep a copy of the telephone calling tree readily accessible. In fact, the role of individual members runs the game up from attending meetings and being alert for suspicious activity to displaying Neighborhood Watch signs and learning to be a good witness to assist the police. Furthermore, individual members should also schedule a Residential Security Survey and make their homes safer and more crime resistant. But above all, being a member means getting involved. If you don't do it, who will? Neighborhood Watch is quite simply the most effective way to reduce or prevent crime and make your area a better place to live.

Neighborhood Programs
The Worcester County Sheriff's Office offers a wide variety of talks, presentations and seminars about crime prevention. Consider using these presentations for your neighborhood watch meeting. With the exception of the Home Security Survey, the following programs are designed for group presentation:

           * Personal Safety

           * Child Abuse

           * Child Safety

           * Cons and Frauds

           * Latch Key Kids

           * Abuse of the Elderly

           * Home Security Survey

To schedule any of these programs for your group, or if you just want to learn more about them, simply contact the Worcester County Sheriff's Office Community Policing Unit at (410) 632-1112. Be aware that the Community Policing Unit stays extremely busy assisting and coordinating the efforts of concerned citizens just like you. Not too surprisingly, considerable time is spent away from the desk and in Worcester County neighborhoods. If you call and I am not there, don't get discouraged! Leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Community and Police Working Together
Every neighborhood has its own personality that makes it unique. What works in one area, may not work in another. When starting a Neighborhood Watch be creative and include others on your team. Remember, there is strength in numbers. Criminal justice professionals readily admit that in the absence of citizen assistance, neither more manpower, nor improved technology, nor additional money will enable law enforcement to shoulder the monumental burden of combating crime in America. Teamwork between neighbors and law enforcement is what Neighborhood Watch is all about.