A few weeks later, State Farm Insurance offered a bicycle rodeo at a local grocery store parking lot where fifty kids participated.
 The next year when the township began planning bicycle registrations the planners contacted State Farm about combining the two events. A planning meeting was called with the township officer, representative from the Sheriffs Department,  state police, Neighborhood Watch President, State Farm, the promotions director from a local radio station and other local business leaders.

The group agreed to work together to offer a bicycle registration and rodeo at the park next to the township hall.  The location was perfect, with a covered picnic area to prepare the food, a large lawn area for the registration and inspections, and a large paved area for the rodeo.  Several months were spent planning the event.  About 20 businesses were contacted and responded with donations of money, services or labor.

By the time the West End Bicycle Rodeo rolled around, 400 hot dogs, 300 bags of chips, 25 dozen cookies, 150 coupons for free ice cream cones, 24 cases of canned pop, 10 bags of ice, a bicycle, 70 safety helmets, balloons and a helium tank, Frisbees, stickers, candy and $447 cash had been donated.

The money was used to pay for correspondence, the food license, a bicycle and about 30 more helmets.

Now all we needed were the kids.  We sent home flyers with all kindergarten through 6th grade students on the last day of school and advertised in the newspaper.  Having a radio station as a major sponsor was also a tremendous help.  The radio talked about the rodeo for several weeks leading up to the event and broadcast live from the park on the evening of the event.  We also had the use of a 50-foot inflatable gorilla that was loaned to us by a neighboring business to help draw people to the park.

That year more than 200 kids participated in the rodeo, over 150 bikes were registered and close to 400 hot dogs were consumed.  As the children went through the line to register for the rodeo, they were asked if they owned a safety helmet.  If they said no, we sent them inside where they were given one.  At the end of the rodeo, the two bikes were given away.  The four-hour event was considered by all to be a huge success.

This past spring the same group got together with some additions, including another police agency and new business partners.  The end result was more than 250 children and their parents filling the park on a beautiful early summer afternoon.  More than 500 hot dogs were eaten this year.  We gave away more than 100 helmets, 4 bicycles, a “boom box” and a number of smaller prizes.
 The Sheriffs Department donated one employee for two hours a month for three months leading up to the event.  Our sheriff and undersheriff helped out this past year as well as two deputies that also worked the event.

This is obviously something no single agency could have achieved alone.  By working with other agencies and businesses each is a part of one of the most popular children’s events in the west end of the county.  It did not cost law enforcement agencies any money, only a few hours of time.

When we started this, our mindset was to provide a service to an area of the county that is often overlooked. This event has shown us that by working together, and not worrying about who gets the credit, great things can be accomplished.

Kalamazoo County Neighborhood Prosecuting
Attorney Program
Karen Hayter, Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor
The Kalamazoo County Neighborhood Prosecuting Attorney Program (KCNPAP) was created to focus crime prevention efforts in a specific geographic area and create a long term proactive partnership between the Prosecutor’s Office, law enforcement,  community, and both public and private organizations.  The KCNPAP uses the authority of the Prosecutor’s Office to solve problems, improve public safety and enhance the quality of life in the community.  It uses a grass roots approach to law enforcement involving both traditional and non-traditional initiatives to prevent crime.

Community policing has been practiced in several law enforcement agencies in Kalamazoo County for a number of years.  A void existed, however, in the partnership the police had formed with the community; no attorney had been a partner in crime prevention.  It was determined that an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney would be assigned to a neighborhood to work with the Neighborhood Liaison Officers (NLOs) and neighborhood leaders on crime prevention programs.

Edison is the largest geographic neighborhood in Kalamazoo. In 1997, Edison had the highest number of all crime in the city, the largest number of Part I crimes, the highest number of calls for service, the second largest number of violations of the controlled substance act, nearly an identical number of owner and renter-occupied units, and had the largest population of all identified city neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood Assistant Prosecuting Attorney (NAPA) participated in the following partnership initiatives to develop problem-solving strategies.

 Block Watch Meetings – The Neighborhood Prosecuting Attorney Program (NPAP) facilitated the meetings, conducted specific presentations, provided handouts, arranged for guest speakers, and participated in Block Watch activities like National Night Out.  Combined attendance at the last two National Night Outs has been close to 200.

 Edison Neighborhood Association – The NAPA worked daily with staff to plan, organize and implement numerous activities including the children’s bike parade and picnic, Work for Wheels and Wear, Holiday Baskets and Youth Gym. Other projects included:

• Graffiti – Over 120 volunteers were mobilized to clean more than 35 sites.
• Litter – Litter and other trash in the streets and alleys was picked up weekly by juvenile and adult offenders referred by the courts for community service.
• VOICE – 15 articles were written and published in the neighborhood newsletter.  Topics included curfew and truancy laws, the dispute resolution services, landlord tenant issues and adult regulated – used businesses.  The VOICE reaches over 4,000 households monthly.

NLOs – The NAPA and the NLOs worked closely together to develop a number of projects designed to increase citizen participation and input in criminal justice related issues.

• HOTSPOT Sheets – 40 reports were received by this communication device.  Complaints ranged from junk autos to drug houses.  37 complaints were resolved; 3 are still under investigation by appropriate authorities
• Neighborhood Impact Statements – The NAPA designed this document.  35 statements have been completed and forwarded to the court on various criminal cases
• Crime-Plagued Businesses – Two local businesses were targeted for assistance with crime prevention efforts.  One business had the highest number of calls for service in the neighborhood.  Suggestions for improvement were provided, but management failed to follow through.  The business was then sold.  New management cooperated significantly and calls for service have plummeted. 

For the first time in Michigan, a prosecuting attorney is directly involved in crime prevention issues at the street level.  A significant number of prosecutor offices and police agencies across the state are showing interest in developing similar programs.  The number of residents participating in activities has increased dramatically.  City ordinances have been changed to be more responsive to resident concerns.  New programs and procedures are in place and have played a major role in increasing citizen satisfaction with quality of life issues. The neighborhood is developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the first time.  Part I crime decreased 11% since the inception of the program (compared to a 3.9% decrease in the City.)  The program received the Michigan Chiefs of Police Association 1999 Award of Excellence.

The Honorable Brian MacKenzie, Novi’s 52nd District Court Judge set the tone as keynote speaker by highlighting the need for partnerships between police, prosecutors, judicial and community stakeholders. Using the 52nd District’s Fast Track Program, as an example, Judge MacKenzie stressed the need for continued communication to break down barriers and build trust.
 The second day was spent on tabletop exercises using the S.A.R.A. problem solving model with information drawn from local experiences.  Participant comfort levels were challenged.  Many, who were not used to working in partnerships with others in their community, found themselves at the problem solving table with those of an opposing view.  The day’s activities helped everyone see how important the diversity in perspective is to addressing the problem, not just the symptom.
 The last day provided a series of break-out group options featuring three of Michigan’s best practices in the domestic violence/community policing area –Lansing’s CARE program, the Washtenaw County’s SAFE House program and Oakland County’s Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence.

Three National Best Practices were also offered.  They included The Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) program from Colorado Springs, Colorado; San Diego, California’s Domestic Violence Unit from San Diego Police Department; and Appleton, Wisconsin’s Domestic Violence Unit from Appleton Police Department.
 

Training to Reduce Domestic Violence
The Michigan RCPI has been awarded $250,000 to deliver 30 workshops across the state.  The grant will provide funds to bring the problem solving training to 15 of our RCPI’s partner communities.  Participants will be recruited in teams of domestic violence stakeholders.  Domestic violence exercises will be used to enhance partnerships within those teams, increase networking and communication lines, and address problems specific to those communities.  Partner communities will work with their team leaders (Jane P. White or Jerry Boles) to schedule these workshops beginning in January 2000.

An additional 16 workshops will be delivered on eight topic areas.  They include: Domestic Violence Crime Scene, Full Faith and Credit, Safety Planning and Risk Assessment, and Recognition of Primary Aggressor training.  The RCPI will forward more information on these workshops as it becomes available.
 
 

Regional Community Policing Institute Summary of 1998-1999 Community Mini-Grant Program Priscilla Holmes, Community Specialist On January 27, 1999, the Michigan Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) at Michigan State University announced a mini-grant program supported through a Cooperative Agreement awarded to the RCPI by the Office of Community Oriented Police Services, U.S. Department of Justice.  In those communities where the RCPI was working with local police to implement organizational change in the way police conduct “business”, up to $1,500 was available for neighborhood or community-based organizations.  The overall purpose of the mini-grant program was to increase a community’s ability to become a full working partner with its police department, thus enhancing the quality of life for residents in the community. Selection was via a competitive process.  Applicants were required to provide sufficient information to show how the proposed projects would enhance local problem solving, create partnerships, address quality of life issues and build capacity of community groups.  Of the 33 applicants, 9 neighborhood or community groups were awarded grants totaling $9,680.00.  The following report is a brief summary of each grant that was awarded. Gerrish Township ACT NOW decided early on that encouraging Neighborhood Watch groups to form was important.  Many residents only occupy their homes in summer and depend on year round residents and Gerrish Township Police Department to monitor their properties.  Grant funds were used to purchase printed material, postage, and Neighborhood Watch signs.  Seven new neighborhood groups were formed and a membership list of over 100 people was developed.  ACT NOW meets monthly and has sponsored a wide variety of educational programs. Old Towne Neighborhood in Traverse City was a new neighborhood group which organized in October 1998. Grant funds were used for postage and computer software and a printer to publish a monthly newsletter. Potter Walsh Neighborhood Organization in Lansing was an established neighborhood group, without an internal capacity to produce their newsletter and flyers. The group used their mini grant to purchase a copy machine so volunteers could reproduce the newsletter for distribution throughout the neighborhood. Moores Park Neighborhood Organization in Lansing used mini grant dollars to assist high school students in planning for their educational and vocational futures.  Grant funds purchased educational/office materials and covered expenses for volunteers.  Implementation of this project called Project Future was inspired by the mini-grant, but neighborhood volunteers are committed to continue beyond grant funding. Hosmer Neighborhood Association in Lansing used mini grant funds to assist with the purchase of a riding lawnmower to maintain a large stretch of railroad property that runs through the neighborhood. Local businesses and neighbors also contributed dollars and landscaping materials for green space.  Hosmer Neighborhood residents have labeled this former eyesore “Our Park”. Lansing Neighborhood Watch Advisory Board is a free standing non-profit organization that supports neighborhood watch activities throughout Lansing.  Mini grant funding was used to develop and purchase materials for a September seminar.  Topics at the seminar included “How to Get City Services to Work For You,” “How to Deal With Problem Properties,” and “Things To Do With Your Neighborhood Watch”.  68 people attended the September 30th event. Bay City ICANN II  Three Bay City ICANN II Sectors were awarded grants.  The ICANN groups had been loosely organized for some time and the availability of mini-grant funds triggered intense organizing in cooperation with the Bay City Police Department. Bay City ICANN II Sector 20   purchased tools and supplies for its summer youth program.  Volunteers taught woodworking and an arts and crafts class. Bay City ICANN II Sector 81 implemented a bicycle repair program for at-risk youth in cooperation with McKinley Alternative School.  Approximately 20 youth repaired “not claimed” bikes from Bay City Police Department. Rejuvenated bicycles were in turn donated to needy youth. Bay City ICANN II Sector 85 provided supplies and tools for the annual Paint-N-Pride neighborhood beautification project.  Four homes were painted on May 8, 1999 by volunteers.     Grand Traverse Band Tribal Police Program Development Mark Freye, Community Policing Director The Grand Traverse Band (GTB) Police Department is in the process of implementing a citizens police academy program for adult GTB members.  The ultimate goal of the citizens police academy is to establish and improve the relationship between the GTB Tribal Police and the citizens of the GTB community.  The program will give citizens the opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions about the police functions in their community.  The two-way communication between the officers and the citizens will be an effective and successful way to accomplish the goals and objectives of the police academy. The citizens police academy is a twelve-week program designed to give the participants a first-hand look at the police department’s operations and to allow them the opportunity to experience police work from the officer’s standpoint.  Participants will ride along with officers on the street, receive instruction in criminal and traffic law, and be instructed in basic police procedures as well as firearms and officer safety practices. The GTB police department is also interacting with other agencies within the tribal government by using the S.A.R.A problem-solving model.  Although this program is new to the department, there are plans to host classes for all tribal government agencies in order for them to utilize the problem-solving model.  Community members will also be encouraged to attend.       The 2000 Michigan Victim Assistance Academy presents a university-based 45-hour course of study on victimology, victim rights and victim services.  The Crime Victim Services Commission, Michigan Department of Community Health in conjunction with Michigan State University and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Association of Michigan are sponsoring the 3rd annual Michigan Victim Assistance Academy (MVAA) during the week of May 7-12, 2000. The intensive 45-hour Academy will be conducted on the campus of Michigan State University and will feature recognized speakers and instructors. Teams of participants are encouraged to apply from their community. Consider attending with your prosecutor, victim advocate and law enforcement representative. The cost of the Academy, university housing for the week and partial meals will be covered by the sponsors. Participants are responsible for the $30.00 application fee, travel costs and the remaining meals.  If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list please contact: Karen R. Sherman, Academy Director     Phone: (517) 432-3594 Email: karen.sherman@ssc.msu.edu     Visit our website at: www.cj.msu.edu/~outreach/mvaa

Community Policing Partnerships Newsletter is supported by Cooperative Agreement 97-ck-wx-0010 awarded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.