NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT SECTION

The section consists of officers who are assigned as problem solving “Neighborhood Team Leaders, a youth

program coordinator and volunteers.

Personnel, including volunteers are responsible for problem identification, analysis and assessment methods

used to improve quality of life issues for Mansfield Residents. Team Leaders are also responsible for public

relations, neighborhood/business watch development, and anti-crime activities with a geographically defined

zone. Officers within special certifications are detailed to D.A.R.E. and S.R.O. programs during school sessions.

The Section worked with the shifts to identify "ongoing" problem areas in an effort to reduce crime. An analysis

of the top 10 locations with calls for service are identified to help solve problems and reduce crime. All locations

are closely monitored an a more in depth analysis completed to determine a corrective action response to the

problems. Thefts will continue to be an issue at many businesses as most corrective action is the responsibility

of the businesses themselves by developing better crime prevention techniques and policies

Reserve/Auxiliary Unit—

The Auxiliary/Reserve Unit currently has 5 Reserve Officers and 6 Auxiliary Officers. Training was completed

on Ethics, Officer Safety, Search/Seizure and Narcotics Bulletins as well as Yearly Re-certifications for Taser

and O.C. Pepper Spray. The Unit assisted with several special events including the NASCAR Truck Race, Super

Bike Weekend, Cruise-in, FOP's "Shop with a Cop" and the Downtown Buckeye Bash. The members also

participated in Toy Time and a few parades. The Unit assisted the Explorers at the old OSR prison by parking

cars. Members put in  942  hours completing administrative, training, and cruiser hours. They towed 15

vehicles, wrote 101 Parking Tickets completed 13 General Offense reports, and completed over 10 House

Checks. Overall statistics for the Unit were down as many of our members had work related commitments

that kept them from participating as much as they would have liked.

APA/CP Collaborative—

Officers continued to work together with Adult Parole Authority and other surrounding law enforcement

agencies in the Community Policing Parole Probation Partnership (CPPP) in an effort to reduce crime by closely

monitoring probationers and parolees. The collaborative resulted in 229 Bar Sweeps, 1728 Home visits, 10

seized weapons, 9 drug offenses, 117 curfew violations, 34 drug tests violations, 73 alcohol violations, 16

Felony Arrests, 26 Misdemeanor Arrests, and 22 joint operations completed. There were also 53 ride-a-longs completed.

Neighborhood Watch—

There are currently 63 Neighborhood Watch groups in the city with approximately 45 of them meeting

regularly. There were 2885 new Neighborhood Watch members signed up (an increase of 18% from 2007). 

There were 3 new N/W groups started in 2008 with approximately 4 other inactive groups re-starting their

regular meetings. The Division once again participated in National Night Out and 4 Neighborhood Watch

groups had neighborhood gatherings and walks to promote safe neighborhoods. These outings included

handouts on crime prevention, special guest speakers, McGruff the Crime Dog, and food and beverages.

Chaplain Program—

The Mansfield Safety Forces Chaplain Corps is entering its eighth year of ministry since our restructuring in

 2002. 

We currently have four in the corps including Chaplain Rich Rader who serves as Chaplain Coordinator along

with Chaplain John Jorden, Chaplain Mark Dittmer, Chaplain Link Briggs, and Chaplain Donald Barrows.

The Chaplain Corps responded to more than a dozen calls, as well as volunteering close to 500 hours of

personal contact time with the divisions such as roll calls, riding with personnel from MPD and MFD, as well as

general visits to the divisions. Chaplain Rader provides ongoing Chaplain training to make police and fire

chaplains throughout Richland County as effective as possible.

With the ongoing work of our departments we look forward to the growth of our opportunities to serve the

personnel and families from the Divisions of Police and Fire, as well as the citizens of the city of  Mansfield.