Introduction:
The
implementation of the Community Policing Program not
only helped gain control of the manifestation of street
crime and violence, but also identified and effectively
addressed the underlying causes of increasing youth
crime, truancy, and dropout rates. Therefore, in addition
to providing the citizens with professional and sensitive
law enforcement services that focus on immediate consequences
for criminal and adverse behavior at its earliest stage,
the City strategically examined both short-term and
long-term approaches to crime prevention.
This
proactive approach has led to the creation and implementation
of many unique crime prevention/community outreach programs
and various laws that focus towards finding permanent
solutions to the problems. A key element to the success
of the Norwalk Crime Prevention Programs lies in developing
multi-agency partnerships and in establishing mutual
trust and support between law enforcement, parents,
citizens, and governmental agencies. The
City of Norwalk has received nation wide recognition
as being in the forefront of developing and implementing
creative community based programs that serve as a model
to other communities in the nation, especially within
the County of Los Angeles. As a result of cooperative
partnerships with the community, law enforcement, probation,
courts and schools, the City of Norwalk in 1997, received
the National League of Cities award for Excellence in
Community Policing. In addition, Norwalk has been ranked
by the Federal Bureau of Investigations among the top
25 safest cities in the nation over the past four years.
This high ranking by the FBI was not by accident, but
as a result of creative community policing. The
City is committed to meet the needs and expectations
of the citizenry in the delivery of law enforcement
services and in addressing issues of juvenile violence
and the potential of increasing youth gang membership
and will continue to mobilize the community in developing
and implementing the following comprehensive Community
Policing Programs:
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Community Resource Liaison
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In
September of 1999, a Public Safety Community Resource
Liaison was assigned to the front desk of the Norwalk
Sheriff Station to enhance the level of service provided
to residents who come into the station for assistance.
The Community Resource Liaison is part of the cities
Community Policing efforts to enhance public contact
and input. The Community Resource Liaison duties include
assisting community members in English and Spanish with
prompt, sensitive and professional customer service
at the counter and over the phone; making appropriate
referrals within the station; handling non-law enforcement
service calls and providing appropriate services and
referrals; as well as assisting station personnel in
translating English/Spanish on the phone and in person. |
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Multi-Agency
Youth Task Force
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The
City of Norwalk brought the key components of the
various law enforcement, schools, probation, parole,
prosecution, Department of Children and Family Services,
courts, community based agencies together to work
as a team to effectively reach a common objective.
The Multi-Agency Youth Task Force serves as the hub
of communications and strategic planning for the multiple
agencies working together to actively address gang
and youth crime issues in the community and on school
campuses. The
task force exists to: serve the community, family,
and children; establish and maintain trusting working
relationships with the community and agencies; establish
and maintain cooperation and mutual support. The goals
of the task force are to: eradicate street gangs through
effective programming and proactive law enforcement
delivery; keep youth in school by reducing truancy;
strengthening the family unit through support services;
maintain safe school environments that are conducive
to positive learning. The networking that occurs at
the monthly task force meetings has been extremely
effective in identifying specific problems and prioritizing
efforts and resources to deal with those issues.
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Serious Nuisance Abatement
Partnership
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CRIMINAL
ABATEMENT PROGRAM: The
Norwalk Serious Nuisance Abatement Partnership (SNAP)
is made up of a Public Safety representative, Special
Assigned Sheriff Deputy, Station Fire Captain, Property
Maintenance Inspector, Building and Safety Inspector,
a Housing Authority representative, and a representative
from the Los Angeles County Environmental Health Services.
The mission of the partnership is to optimize the quality
of life for the Norwalk Community, by the eradication
of chronic blight and public nuisances. The Serious
Nuisance Abatement Partnership is committed to efficiently
eliminating conditions in the Community that present
a threat to the safety and welfare of the citizens of
Norwalk.
Goals:
•
To identify properties that are used by street gang
members, drug users/dealers, transients, and delinquents
to congregate and commit crime;
• To remove elements from properties that are attractive
to street gang members, drug users/dealers, transients,
and delinquents;
• To provide support and assistance to property
owners in eliminating criminal and nuisance conditions
from their property;
• To hold property owners responsible and accountable
for continued criminal nuisance activity and blight
upon their property.
The
group's primary focus is the elimination of serious,
chronic, nuisances in the City of Norwalk. The organization's
goals are achieved through collaborative efforts and
the utilization of various resources and authority available
to its partners.
Criteria
for SNAP Consideration &Involvement
•
Documented, chronic, gang, drug, gambling, and/or prostitution
activity at a specific geographic location in the City
of Norwalk, or
• Documented, chronic, real property related, municipal,
county, or state code violations.
• Upon request from a property owner for the organizations
assistance in eliminating criminal or nuisance conditions
from their property. |
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Safe Housing And Property Enhancement
Program
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The
City of Norwalk Safe Housing and Property Enhancement
Program (S.H.A.P.E.) is a coordinated effort between
the Department of Public Safety, the Norwalk Sheriff
Station and property owners. The objective of the S.H.A.P.E.
Program is to maintain the quality and integrity of
the business and residential community. In June 1993,
the City of Norwalk City Council adopted Ordinance No.
1416 as a tool to assist our local merchants and property
owners with people loitering and conducting illegal
activity on private properties. As a participant of
the S.H.A.P.E. Program, property owners who have posted
"No Trespassing" signs and have completed
the necessary forms, have given police authority to
arrest intruders for loitering, drug and gang activity.
The S.H.A.P.E. Program allows law enforcement to act
swiftly, without placing the building owner, tenants
or manager in jeopardy. |
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Neighborhood Police
Service Centers
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On
March 27, 1990, two thirty-two foot mobile Neighborhood
Police Service Center Trailers were dedicated to provide
sensitive and responsive services to the community.
They are the basic component of the City’s community
orientated policing program, as they are the foundation
in establishing and maintaining positive community/police
relations, trust and mutual support. The Neighborhood
Police Service Centers are deployed within specific
areas through out the community to:
•
Establish mutual support in addressing specific issues
of concern.
• Support the efforts of the community in addressing
and effectively dealing with street gangs, violence,
and crime issues in schools and in the neighborhood.
• Address quality of life issues and concerns.
• Monitor and address criminal activity of street
gangs and drug dealers.
• Interview and process Probation and Parole
cases.
• Process curfew/truancy violators.
• Gather street gang intelligence.
• Tour local schools providing anti-drug, gang,
and graffiti educational programs.
The
trailers were purchased through narcotic forfeiture
funds; they also serve as headquarters for special operation
and concentrated enforcement efforts.
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Special Community Probation
Program
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The
special Community Probation Program was developed to
establish effective communications and accessibility
between law enforcement, the courts, and the families
of at-risk youths. The two special assigned contracted
Probation Officers are members of the Multi-Agency Youth
Task Force and are responsible for supervising juvenile
probationers identified as gang members or gang affiliated,
within the City of Norwalk exclusively. Two additional
Probation Officers provide part time support services
and supervision of the remainder of Norwalk juvenile
probationers who are non-gang affiliated, and adults
whose juvenile probation contract has been extended.
Housed within the City Hall facility and the Public
Safety Service Center, the Probation Officers are accessible
and meet weekly with public safety, police, and local
school officials to share information and address probation
related issues and concerns.
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Curfew / Daytime Truancy
Enforcement Program
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One
of the City’s most successful programs in curtailing
gang violence, graffiti/tagging, and street crime has
been the aggressive curfew enforcement and parent responsibility
programs. Aggressive enforcement of the City’s
curfew law has proven to be a highly effective tool
in preventing youths from becoming involved in illegal
activity and/or becoming victims of crimes. Beginning
the 1996 - 1997 school year, the City of Norwalk adopted
Truancy Ordinance No. 1440, restricting students under
18 years of age from loitering or wandering, in public
places during normal school hours (8:30 a.m. - 1:30
p.m.). If a student is found in violation of the ordinance,
they along with their parents may be cited into Juvenile
Court where they will face fines up to $250 for the
first offense. Upon a second offense, in addition to
the initial $250 fine, parents, and students may be
responsible for all law enforcement and city service
costs of up to $2,500 pursuant to the Parental Responsibility
Ordinance (No. 1352). |
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Parental Responsibility
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In
dealing with the many youth involved in street crime
and gang violence, we found that a majority of these
youth had weak parent(s) and/or parent(s) who failed
to take of responsibility for their behavior and/or
the behavior of their child. When minors were being
gunned down in the street at two and three o’clock
in the morning or hanging out on the street corners
during all hours of the night, the question, "where
are their parents" was frequently asked. After
extended warnings and counseling to convince parent(s)
that they were in fact responsible for controlling the
behavior of their children failed, the City of Norwalk
established a "Parent Responsibility Ordinance."
The concept of the parent responsibility law is to let
parent(s) know that if they fail to properly care for
their children and/or fail to take some level of control
over their behavior, they will be held financially responsible.
The concept is not intended to be completely punitive.
In the initial process, parent(s) are offered a number
of resources to assist them in dealing with the incorrigible
behavior of their minor children. With the understanding
that many parent(s) simply cannot afford to pay the
fines or for the services, they are offered alternatives
such as community service and/or parent skill building
classes.
The first time a minor is arrested or detained, the
minor and his/her parent are held accountable for costs
associated with that detention and/or arrest. At that
point, if they are unable to pay the bill, the minor
is required to participate in the community service
program. If the minor is arrested again and it is determined
that the parent is not making an effort to control the
behavior of the minor, the parent is required to participate
in the community service program along with their minor.
They are also required to attend structured parent skill
building classes.
For a violation of vandalism (graffiti/tagging), the
Department of Public Safety forwards a bill to the parents
for the actual costs of law enforcement and administrative
services as a result of the arrest. The parents and
youths are also held liable for the costs of removing
graffiti. In addition to any fines, youths who are found
guilty of vandalism in the form of graffiti/tagging
shall lose their driving privilege for one year and/or
their ability to obtain a drivers license until they
are 18 years of age. The Norwalk Parent Responsibility
Program was the foundation for California Assembly Bill
No. 3797 which was passed into law January 1, 1995.
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Community Service Work
Program
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In
lieu of payment for fines imposed by the Juvenile Traffic
Court, Probation and/or the City of Norwalk, some parents
and youths are provided the opportunity to participate
in the City's Comprehensive Community Service Work Program.
Youths and their parents may work off approximately
$5 per hour of their fines or bill for each hour of
community service work they perform. The program is
highly successful because its structure offers the participant
an opportunity to experience the cooperative team approach.
The workers tasks include removing and/or painting over
graffiti in the community, cleaning City parks and public
areas, and washing of City vehicles. When youths perform
this work, it reinforces immediate consequences and
accountability for adverse and criminal behavior. The
Public Safety Officers who work with the program are
able to use Community Service as a time to educate the
juveniles in the program on the importance of respecting
public and private property. In addition, the Officers
are able to establish a positive rapport with the juveniles,
providing strong emotional support and serving as role
models for good adult behavior. The program provides
consistency and structure for youths who, often times
do not experience this consistency and structure at
home.
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Healthy Start Program
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The
Norwalk/La Mirada School District in collaboration with
the City of Norwalk, local businesses, community based
organizations, and local health care providers received
a grant to establish a program to assist low-income
students and their families at five Norwalk elementary
schools. Through grant monies, a 24-foot special designed
recreational vehicle was purchased and serves as a Mobile
Family Resource Center. The Mobile Family Resource Center
rotates each weekly day at five school sites to provide
families’ consultation sessions with the over thirty
service providers. Service providers include: counseling,
health & nutrition education, wellness check ups,
chiropractic services, probation services, intervention
and prevention services, recreation sign-ups, immunizations,
parenting classes, temporary shelter, domestic violence
awareness, vision and dental care. These services are
provided free or low cost to the students and their
families. The mission of the program is to improve school
performance of low-income children in the five targeted
schools by providing school support programs, improving
family health, enhancing family social functioning,
and offering assistance with basic family needs. The
goals of the Mobile Family Resource Center is to provide
a one-stop resource center to assist families who would
not otherwise seek available social service opportunities
in housing, employment, transportation, finances, recreation,
child care, food, clothing, and crime prevention and
intervention programs for their children. The center
also provides academic assistance through school support
programs, and free or low cost medical and social services.
The collaboration between the school district, city,
and law enforcement agencies provides families with
the most comprehensive and integrated services available
to assist them with improving and maintaining a healthy
family unit.
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Building Partnerships:
Urban Village
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The concept of the Urban Village is a systematic approach
to improving the quality of life in the community through
integrating a network of schools, community based organizations,
City, law enforcement, probation, parole, and employers
to assist unemployed residents and high-risk families.
The urban village is centrally located in the City of
Norwalk and centralizes service providers that include:
counseling, child care, family planning, job developers,
unemployment office, rehab department, social and health
services, law enforcement, recreation, three alternative
school sites, and a computer lab. The objective of the
Urban Village is to coordinate efforts, reduce duplication
of services, reduce overhead, and to improve the quality
of life for Norwalk residents. In order for people to
become responsive, dedicated, and committed to improving
the quality of life for themselves and their family,
they must first be given the tools necessary to get
a job, maintain a job, and to feel empowered. The Urban
Village integrates services so that families social
concerns are identified and dealt with enabling them
to become productive members of our society.
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District Attorney Services
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Street Gang Injunction • As a means to combat aggressive
street gang violence and build safer neighborhoods,
in 1993 the City of Norwalk was the first community
in the nation to enter into an agreement with the District
Attorney's Office to implement an innovative civil injunction.
The program was successful in eliminating the criminal
activity of an active street gang who presented an immediate
threat to the safety and welfare of an entire neighborhood.
After the injunction was granted and served, the citizens
from within the neighborhood reported that they felt
safer coming out of their homes and walking through
the neighborhood. Calls for Police service and graffiti
diminished considerably. |
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School Attendance Review
Board
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The
Department of Public Safety has assisted in strengthening
the local school attendance review board process by
promoting the active participation of law enforcement,
probation, the District Attorney's Office, and family
councilors. In working with the County Board of Supervisors,
the City arranged to have the school attendance review
board hearings moved from an informal school district
meeting room to a formal superior court room. The efforts
of the Department of Public Safety in working with the
State Assembly enabled the drafting and passing into
law Assembly Bill No. 2605, (Napolitano) which empowered
school attendance review boards to subpoena parents
to the formal hearings.
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School Based Partnership
Project
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In
September of 1999, the City of Norwalk Department of
Public Safety received a U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
for a School Based Partnership Grant program in the
amount of $180,000. Project staff include the Norwalk
Sheriff Station Crime Analyst, Public Safety staff and
staff and students from the two project sites - Corvallis
Middle School and Norwalk High School. The purpose of
the School Based Partnership Grant is to promote coordination
with schools, law enforcement, community, and the City
in order to develop a problem-solving model to identify
crime problems on or near school campuses. The model
would be utilized to, analyze the problem, develop strategies
to solve the problem, and measure results. This grant
program is focused on analyzing school related crime
problems, collecting victim/offender information, surveying
students, school personnel, and neighbors regarding
their perception of school safety. The grant is to be
used for research and to analyze school related crime,
to determine the underlying causes and to develop problem-solving
efforts. |
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Family Intervention Team
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The
Norwalk Family Intervention Team (F.I.T.) Program is
a unique and innovative approach to early delinquency
and violence intervention and prevention. The program
is designed to identify and address conditions within
the home and family environment that contribute to youth
delinquency and violence. Through active involvement
with elementary schools and work with at-risk families,
it has been determined that poor school attendance,
disruptive behavior, defiance, declining academic achievement
and social withdrawal are primary warning signs of a
path toward delinquency and violence. The difficulties
that many children experience at school are frequently
the result of a lack of parental support, limited family
structure, a lack of consistency in discipline, neglect,
abuse, deprival of the basic necessities of life, substance
abuse and/or violence within the home. In continuous
efforts to identifying children exposed to adverse and
criminal home environments as early as possible, it
was determined that elementary school teachers, counselors,
principals and law enforcement officers are the most
valuable resource in recognizing and reporting these
primary warning signs. The Family Intervention Team
consisting of a public safety officer, family counselor,
law enforcement officer and probation officer are the
initial intake for referrals from elementary schools,
school attendance review boards, parents, and law enforcement
officers. When a referral is made and complete information
is documented, the Family Intervention Team visits the
home of the youth where they will contact the parent(s),
assess conditions and identify underlining causes of
the child’s behavior. Through partnerships and
ongoing collaboration with various family service, health
service and family support organizations, the Family
Intervention Team identifies specific needs and makes
appropriate referrals. With the support of the District
Attorney’s Office, Courts, and the Department of
Children and Families Services, the Team has the ability
to take immediate action to address criminal, abusive,
neglect and overall welfare conditions within the home.
Provisions are in place to redirect incorrigible behavior
and get youth back on track. They may be placed on informal
probation with strict curfews and directions. They may
be required to participate in the special California
Youth Authority education program, and/or work Community
Service on the weekends. School attendance, homework,
and academic study is the primary focus of getting youth
back on track. Youth are held accountable for their
actions and behavior. The key in reaching program objectives
is monitoring and follow-up. In addition to the Team
ensuring that necessary services are in place and that
parent(s) follow-through as required, schools monitor
and report attendance and academic progress. Law enforcement
officers are responsible for monitoring and mentoring
assigned youth. Working with 2 or 3 youth, officers
check on school attendance and behavior on a regular
basis. They also visit youth at their home to ensure
compliance with directives and provide assistance as
needed. The officers also monitor special conditions
within the home environment to ensure that parent(s)
are fulfilling their obligation in directing the behavior
of their children and providing a safe home environment
for their family Parents and team members work together
to determine what is necessary to implement and maintain
a structured home environment. Which may include:
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Designated time for homework
• Designated bedtime hour
• Family meals
• Evening curfews
• Assigned chores
• Consistency in discipline
• Parent involvement and support
Through
frequent visits to the home, the team is able to assess
improvements and gain a greater understanding of the
dynamics of the family and youth. |
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Special Assigned School
Deputies
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In
order to provide highly visible police presence in our
local schools, two special assigned school deputies
patrol each school campus on a daily basis. The deputies
issue truancy citations, arrest students for crimes
on or near school campuses, prepare and present workshops
on gangs, new laws and ordinances, and strategies to
addressing concerns on their campus. The special assigned
deputies are a key component in deterring truancy, campus
violence, and disruptive behavior on or near school
campuses. |
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In Partnership:
The California Youth Authority
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In
order to provide highly visible police presence in our
local schools, two special assigned school deputies
patrol each school campus on a daily basis. The deputies
issue truancy citations, arrest students for crimes
on or near school campuses, prepare and present workshops
on gangs, new laws and ordinances, and strategies to
addressing concerns on their campus. The special assigned
deputies are a key component in deterring truancy, campus
violence, and disruptive behavior on or near school
campuses. |
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Motorcycle Patrol
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The
Motorcycle Officer program enables deputies to maneuver
through traffic and get to crime scenes and accidents
faster than traditional patrol vehicles. The main benefit
of the motorcycle is the focus on traffic enforcement
with an emphasis on hazardous citations such as speeding,
unlicensed and unregistered drivers, and failure to
stop at red lights.
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