(Photo by Suryel Vasquez)
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Police Department has announced a growing expansion of community service programs through the incorporation of the Neighborhood Services Division.
The division works to promote civic awareness and participation in order to address neighborhood needs, which in turn supports and creates healthy communities, Capt. David Rodriguez said.
Nationwide, programs like Neighborhood Services are housed under the Police Department.
“This will enable our police force to build and foster stronger community relations,” Rodriguez said.
In addition to building relationships with neighborhoods and social service agencies, Neighborhood Services has worked and established relations with other city departments.
“Such collaborations are critical in handling many complex community social issues,” Rodriguez said.
Programs, currently managed by Neighborhood Services, include:
• Neighborhood Development — Selected neighborhoods receive city services, which include community policing, neighborhood civic engagement workshops, training and community strengthening events.
• Neighborhood Watch — Individual neighborhoods are trained in community policing strategies in order to serve as extra eyes and ears of the police and work effectively to prevent crime and violence in their neighborhoods.
• Graffiti and Litter Abatement — This is a program to combat graffiti and litter problems through education, abatement, enforcement and community participation.
• National Night Out — An annual country-wide community building event that promotes drug and crime prevention awareness, while creating police-community partnerships.
“We are excited to begin our new partnership with our Neighborhood Services staff, and continue to expand and reinforce the incredible community relationships that already exist in Watsonville,” Rodriguez said.
For information, call Neighborhood Services Division Manager Chris Miranda at 768-3289.
