Community Policing
The Community Policing Division within the Fox Crossing Police Department is dedicated to building trust and establishing positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This approach to policing recognizes the importance of keeping the community informed and addressing public safety concerns. The primary purpose of a Community Policing Division is to create a partnership between police officers and community members, working together to enhance the overall well-being and safety of the neighborhood. The Village of Fox Crossing Police Department has one sworn officer assigned to the position of Community Liaison Officer.
Key purposes and responsibilities of a Community Liaison Officer include:
- Building Trust and Positive Relationships: The CLO focuses on establishing and maintaining trust between law enforcement and community members. Building positive relationships helps to bridge gaps, break down stereotypes, and improve overall communication.
- Community Engagement: Actively engaging with the community is a central aspect of community policing. Officers in this division participate in community events, attend meetings, maintain social media platforms, and collaborate with residents to better understand their needs and concerns.
- Problem-Solving: Community policing emphasizes a problem-solving approach. Officers work with community members to identify and address specific issues, such as crime hotspots, quality of life concerns, and safety issues.
- Preventive Measures: Rather than solely responding to incidents, the Community Policing Division focuses on implementing preventive measures. This includes education, outreach, and community programs designed to address root causes of issues and reduce the likelihood of criminal activities.
- Neighborhood Watch Programs: The division often plays a key role in establishing and supporting neighborhood watch programs. These programs encourage residents to be vigilant, report suspicious activities, and work collaboratively to enhance neighborhood safety.
- Youth Engagement and Education: Engaging with youth in the community is a priority. Officers may participate in school programs and educational outreach to build positive relationships with young people and discourage involvement in criminal activities.
- Accessibility and Visibility: Community policing emphasizes the visibility and accessibility of officers within the community. This might include attending community meetings, and maintaining an open line of communication with residents.
In summary, the Community Policing Division plays a pivotal role in transforming law enforcement from a reactive force to a proactive partner in community well-being. By actively involving residents in the policing process, this division strives to create safer, more vibrant neighborhoods where both law enforcement and community members work collaboratively towards shared goals.
CrimeStoppers is a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies, the business community, the news media, and the public, to provide law enforcement with information they need to solve crimes.
Special Olympics Wisconsin provides sports training and competition for nearly 10,000 athletes with cognitive disabilities in 18 different sports year-round. The police department annually participates in fund raising events such as Polar Plunge, the Law Enforcement Torch Run, & Cops on a Rooftop.
Neighborhood Watch has been active in the Village of Fox Crossing for the past 20 years. We presently have several neighborhoods participating. These groups meet throughout the year in a variety of ways. In addition to neighborhood meetings, the police department sends regular email alerts to the participants.
The Community Liaison Officer serves on the board for the Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association. This allows for the Village of Fox Crossing to have a voice on the state level and help to initiate new and innovative crime prevention techniques and bring those back to our community.
The WI SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT resource is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important concerns, offering a Threat Reporting System, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management, Critical Incident Response and General School Safety Guidance. Students, parents, school staff, or any community members can submit a school safety concern or threat via the website, mobile phone app, or toll-free number. Resource center staff work around-the-clock to respond to tips and to deploy a response locally by communicating directly with school administrators, law enforcement, and counselors.
The mission of the Kiwanis n’ Cops n’ Kids program is promoting children’s literacy and community trust in law enforcement. Their goal is getting free books into the hands and homes of local kids, while also building connection and trust in the community.
Project ChildSafe is the largest and most comprehensive firearm safety education program in the US. It is the official firearm safety program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, with the goal to provide a real firearm safety solution for every community. Fox Crossing PD has partnered with Project Childsafe to provide FREE gunlocks and educational materials to the public.
A shining example of a local community engagement event is our annual National Night Out, where the department invites the entire community to come out to one of our local parks for a free night of demonstrations, attractions, vehicle displays, food trucks and many more fun opportunities to meet and get to know each other!
