Community Policing Initiatives in High Springs are not limited to the “Citation for a Cookie” program. Other programs currently implemented include:
Coffee with the Chief – is aimed at providing residents with an opportunity to personally meet Chief Anterio in a friendly, casual and informal setting such as a local restaurant, coffee shop or park. At “Coffee with the Chief” residents will be able to discuss community matters of interest and get to know Chief Anterio better.
Citizen Satisfaction and Safety Survey – it is Chief Anterio’s mission for the officers of the High Springs Police Department to provide all citizens with the highest level of service possible. In order to accomplish this goal and to evaluate the courtesy, professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness of the agency, Chief Anterio is seeking input from the community on the job they are doing. Surveys are available at City Hall, Police Headquarters, numerous local businesses and churches, as well as on the police department’s website located at www.highspringspd.com.
High Springs Police Department Website – the department’s website has been updated in an effort to provide more information to the people that visit the site. Visitors are now able to navigate the site which includes helpful information such as crime prevention tips, crime reports, crime stoppers information, crime victim bill of rights, fraud/scam alerts, career information, letters/postings of officer praise, Records Unit, sexual offenders information, Internal Affairs Unit; to include how to commend an officer or file a complaint, HSPD in the community, traffic safety campaigns, and the department’s new mission and vision statement and core values.
Shop with a Cop – started last year where police officers went on a mini shopping spree with needy area children.
Click It or Ticket – the High Springs Police Department teamed up with other local law enforcement agencies across the nation stepping up seatbelt enforcement. Click It or Ticket is not about citations; It’s About Saving Lives! In 2013, 9,580 unbuckled vehicle occupants were killed in crashes in the United States. National seatbelt use rate is 87 Percent. 13 Percent (27.5 Million People) still need to be reminded that seatbelts save lives.
Community Policing Initiatives currently being developed and implemented in the near future include:
Police Explorer Program – is a career-oriented program that gives young adults the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working with local law enforcement agencies. In conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America the program is generally available to qualified young adults who graduated 8th grade and are ages 14 through 21, and maintain a 2.5 (C+) grade point average. The City and its Police Department has partnered with the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe who has agreed to fund the program.
Police Chaplain Program – police chaplains respond to the unique needs and challenges of police work with religious guidance, reassuring and trustworthy presence, resources and counseling services. The police chaplains offer support to law enforcement officers, administrators, support staff, victims and their families. The Police Chaplin program will be totally funded by private sources.
Future Community Policing Initiatives include:
Citizen’s Police Academy – is a program designed to acquaint individuals who are not sworn police officer with the activities of their local police department. One common feature is the option to participate in a ride-along with a police officer for a shift to see what a day as a police officer is like.
Neighborhood Crime Watch – is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood. In other words, neighborhood watch is a crime prevention scheme under which members of a given community agree together to keep an eye on one another’s properties and reporting suspicious incidents to the police. The aim of neighborhood watch includes educating residents of a community on security and safety and achieving safe and secure neighborhoods. However, when a criminal activity is suspected, members are encouraged to report to authorities, and not to intervene.
Tip a Cop – officers wait tables for donations (tips) at an area restaurant. Donations (tips) are donated to local charities.