Neighborhood Organizations
The Office of Community Services is responsible for providing neighborhood organizations with training, outreach and project planning, as well as other services which may be required for their continued success. In addition, the Office of Community Services provides updates on programs being developed and planned from other parts of the state and across the country. This office also collaborates with other government agencies in an attempt to assist neighborhood organizations with their ongoing projects and goals.
Neighborhood Watch - Citizen Patrols
Citizens involved in the Neighborhood Watch Program take to the streets. Participants of this program walk in groups of three or more people, extending the "eyes and ears" of the block watch. The goal of this component of the Neighborhood Block Watch is to establish a positive "presence" in the neighborhood, thereby reducing the opportunity for criminal activity. The participants of the program are trained to observe the activities and report any suspicious activity to the police department. We do not advocate that the participants of the Citizen Patrols act as police officers.
Business Watch
Business Watch primarily establishes links among small businesses, and between them and the police. Basically, Business Watch is businesses (sometimes with community groups), taking systematic steps to reduce opportunities for crimes in and around business locations. It includes training business personnel to be eyes and ears for the police.
Neighborhood Reclamation Programs
Establishes partnerships with neighborhood groups in an attempt to reduce the fear levels of residents. Some of the projects that have been undertaken thus far include boarding up abandoned property which is sometimes used for criminal activity, increasing lighting on streets in an attempt to reduce criminal activity, distributing surveys in the neighborhoods to find out what issues are concerns to the residents, neighborhood clean-ups, landscape designs, researching traffic patterns, neighborhood block watches, graffiti removal, and security surveys.
Security Surveys
On request, a home or business is inspected for deficiencies in security. Approximately one week after the initial inspection, a report is given to the business or home owner. This report outlines ways in which the owner can increase safety and security and, thereby, reducing the risk of burglaries.
Community Group Presentations
Personnel from the Office of Community Services are available to speak on a variety of topics including crime prevention, drug education and awareness, and gang resistance. These presentations are adapted for children, adults and seniors.
Child Passenger Safety Program
Teaching families how to safely transport their children is the goal of the Bridgeport Police Department &The Safe Kids Buckle Up program. Using car seats, booster seats and seat belts the right way on every ride saves lives.
Senior Crime Prevention
This program is specifically designed for the senior population of the community. The goal of the program is to inform seniors of the types of crimes they are most likely to encounter and to learn how best to protect themselves from crime.
Senior Safe Shopping Program
This program transports Seniors to and from grocery stores so that they can purchase food and other much need supplies.
School Resource Officer Program (SRO)
Bridgeport and B.O.E. Police Officers monitor all three city high schools in partnership with community volunteers in a designated safety zone providing a safe route for the children to and from school
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