Strategic Plan 2009
Chiefs Message:
The Bosque Farms Police Department is proud to present our five-year, 2009-2013, Community Policing Strategic Plan. This plan represents the future direction of policing in the Village of Bosque Farms. While strategic planning is not an exact science to predict the future, it is one of the best management tools available to assess an organizations position and chart a course for the future.
The Bosque Farms Police Department is dedicated to serving and protecting the members of our community with professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to excellence and service. As an organization, we are always looking for ways to constantly improve and enhance the police services we provide. The delivery of those services will be guided by a strategic plan that serves to support our vision, mission, and values. This plan provides you with the opportunity to review our goals and to hold us accountable.
This plan serves as a dynamic resource and will require review and revisions to be responsive to the needs of a growing and changing community. We look forward to working with various community groups and to have the support of the community as we strive to continue to make Bosque Farms a safe place to live, work, visit and drive through.
Sincerely,
Joe Stidham
Chief of Police
OVERVIEW
This report is comprised of several sections to allow the reader the opportunity to review a considerable amount of material. The report contains an organizational chart, a mission, vision, and values statement, short term goals (2009) and long term goals 2009-2013). This document will serve as a guide in showing us where we need to direct our efforts and energies and at the same time be used as a measuring tool to evaluate effectiveness towards accomplishing our goals.
The community Policing Strategy Plan is designed to direct the Bosque Farms Police Department to become more a part of the community rather than apart from the community. Our focus is to form partnerships with as many segments of the community as possible. These will include schools, the business community, homeowners groups, senior citizens groups, the youth groups, concerned citizens, service clubs, and other identifiable groups. To accomplish this we have developed the attached plan that addresses both internal and external goals.
The years 2007 and 2008 where years that we used to conduct a through analysis of where we need to go and how to proceed. During this time considerable efforts and monies were expended to increase officer safety in a variety of ways to include: increased training, better equipment, improved police facility and security, and the introduction of new technology. This first year was used as a planning platform for the remainder of our five year plan. In late 2008 we will begin our formalized Community Policing Strategy. First line supervisors will be the key in monitoring and guiding the efforts of patrol officers. First line supervisors will be trained in how to promote community policing initiatives and how to empower their personnel for maximum results.
Introduction
The Bosque Farms Police Department Strategic Plan 2009 is the result of extensive planning and effort by the police department. This plan is the blue print for the advancement for Bosque Farms community policing efforts into the twenty-first century.
History
Prior to 2001, the Bosque Farms Police Department’s delivery of police services remained predominately reactive. Police staff established priorities and objectives on a yearly basis. Along range strategic plan had not been developed, and the Department conducted business in much the same manner as agencies nation wide.
The policing philosophy of the 1970’s encouraged the community to look to the police as the problem solving experts. The public was encouraged to rely on the police to solve a myriad of large and small issues without much citizen contribution. By the late 1980’s, discussions and debate among academicians and police administrators questioned whether this had been an effective strategy. Supporters of community policing convincingly argued that the police couldn't’t significantly impact crime rate and victimization if they lacked support and participation from the citizens they serve. This support cannot be advanced if the police remain distant and unapproachable to the public, nor can the police, alone, be expected to solve all the social problems that manifest in crime and disorder.
In 2005 the Bosque Farms Police Department began to re-evaluate the way it was delivering services, and to consider the benefits community policing might have on enhancing personal and property safety in Bosque Farms. Though strides to integrate this philosophy were made, the process was slow. By 2006, the department re-evaluated whether establishing goals and objectives one year at a time could generate the changes needed to move the department from traditional policing to community policing. It seemed more logical and efficient to look at a multiple year plan. The larger framework would provide the necessary vision to accomplish both short and long-term challenges. Needed partnerships, resources, and organizational restructuring will become clear if changes could be viewed through the lens of the big picture.
In 2007, members of the Bosque Farms Police Department looked at several agencies around the country that were considered leaders in implementing community policing. Upon completion of the research the department formulated a plan. The result was the Strategic Plan 2009, a compilation of strategies that engaged all levels of the department in setting and attaining a wide range of goals.
Tenets of Community Policing
PARTNERSHIP- There must exist a close working relationship between the police and their community. Both share equally in the responsibility for the safety and order in their community.
PROBLEM SOLVING- Community Members and the police work closely to identify and resolve a variety of issues which impact safety and disorder in their community.
PERSONALIZATION- Develop partnerships based on a close relationship between the police and their community. On a personal level, police officers get to know the citizens who reside in the community they serve.
PLACE- In a community-Based Policing philosophy, the police deliver and tailor their services to meet the needs of the different neighborhoods within their community.
PRO-ACTIVE- Police and community members work pro-actively to prevent disorder and crime in their community.
The Nature of Policing
Police departments are called upon to handle a number of crime and non-crime related calls for assistance. For each problem or need for assistance, the police may respond reactively, pro-actively, and or co-actively. In some situations, all three response types are employed. For example, police may be called to the local car dealership because a stereo has been stolen from an unlocked car. The police document the loss and dust for fingerprints. This is a reactive response. The police realize that this is only one of a number of car prowls at dealerships in the recent past. They set up surveillance and attempt to catch the offenders in the act. They send flyer's to the dealerships to encourage them to lock their vehicles. This is a pro-active response. The police then coordinate with local dealerships to set up security measures in the lots and to report any suspicious activity immediately to the police. This is a co active or partnered response. Underlying each possible response is the desire to improve personal and property safety in Bosque Farms. A police department must find a balance between all three facets so that the response is appropriately tailored to effectively deal with the problem. These response types are fully defined below:
REACTIVE- Respond to an event while it is occurring or after it has occurred. It may be generated by a call for service or by an officer witnessing a crime or problem in progress.
PRO-ACTIVE- Response that uses methods of prevention and intervention to eliminate or minimize problems before they arise. This response is based on information, knowledge, or experience that locations, events, or persons are at risk to host future problems.
CO-ACTIVE- Partnerships made with the community that creates an infrastructure to effectively respond pro-actively or reactively to problems requiring joint resources between the police and the community.
Beginning in 2008, the Bosque Farms Police Department began to explore ways to measure the effectiveness of a police department operating under a community policing philosophy. The paradigm uses these three response modes as a means to measure the day to day output of a community policing department. In essence, our model integrates the nature of policing with the tenets of community policing to identify qualitative measures of police performance.
Conclusion
The Bosque Farms Police Department began looking at community policing and employing problem solving tactics in 2003. Over the last few years the department has led many problem solving effort which have resulted in quality of life improvements for residents in chronic problem areas. Concurrently, the department will implement many new programs aimed at public education about safety and work to develop a closer relationship with citizens.
Many of these programs and projects will and have nurtured long-term partnerships between the Bosque Farms Police Department, governmental and community entities, and citizens. Today the police department is working closely with local schools, churches, and other village departments on a variety of community issues, finding that the long term resolution of most problems require strong working partnerships.
BOSQUE FARMS POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSION
The Mission of the Bosque Farms Police Department is to provide impartial, ethical and professional law enforcement services and protection to residents and visitors alike in partnership with the community; to promote community well being; to reduce crime, fear of crime and neighborhood decay; to protect life and property and to identify and solve neighborhood problems.
VISION STATEMENT
In support of the department Community Policing Philosophy, our work will be carried out with integrity and quality through:
Continuous application of the Community Policing Philosophy whereby each employee endeavors to use their skills, knowledge and creativity to the best of their abilities, to pro-actively and harmoniously work with our constituents to reduce crime, disorder and the fear of crime.
An understanding of citizen’s needs that is derived from enhanced partnerships and lasting relationships with our citizens.
Enhancing and enriching the jobs of all employees by fostering respect for their professional skills and knowledge and encouraging their input, participation and dedication in our quest to achieve our Community Policing Goals.
The consistent and professional manner in which we use our discretion and authority in providing police services to our community.
The empowerment of employees at all levels to engage in problem identification and problem solving activities, thereby making quality service delivery decisions.
BOSQUE FARMS POLICE DEPARTMENT VALUES
We Value the Law
We protect everyone’s Constitutional Rights, apply the law fairly, consistently and impartially and serve as examples to all.
We Value the People We Serve and Each Other
We value the sanctity of human life; care about people and treat everyone with dignity and respect. We aid those who are endangered. We maintain a family oriented work atmosphere emphasizing humor and joy attained through fairness, career development, and the development of self-esteem in all of our team members. We respect diverse view points without sacrificing professionalism in our service. We hold ourselves to the highest degree of integrity, never straying from the truth and always honest in thought and deed.
We Value Organizational Excellence
We desire to be the best in everything we do; therefore, we live our established values and hold ourselves to the highest standards. We are committed to training, established goals and written standards in order to focus on quality service for the community. We are proactive problem solvers, who are objective, fair, and discreet in the delivery of those services. We continually examine our goals, ourselves and our results in order to continually improve our productivity in both effectiveness and efficiency. We are a positive police force; analytical, flexible and innovative. We will become recognized leaders in service delivery, administrative ability, and human concern. We take pride in our work and strive for professionalism in promoting public safety and order.
We Value Communication
We work to educate our community about police procedures and the law. We keep lines of communication open within the police department and the community.
We Value Our Public Image
We are community role models in integrity and performance by being visible, as well as caring, effective problem solvers. We hold sacred our community’s confidence and trust and are inspired to maintain that honor.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE BOSQUE FARMS POLICE DEPARTMENT
BOSQUE FARMS POLICE DEPARTMENT 2009 GOALS
1. Maintain a high clearance rate on all crimes.
2. Accomplish a increase in the Bike Patrol.
3. Improve officer safety and related training.
4. Look at process for Citizens Police Academy.
5. Look at Accreditation Standards.
6. Apply for a Minimum of 2 Grants.
7. Increase Neighborhood Watch by 100%.
8. Continued training of our active shooter response for all officers.
9. Continued In-Service training plan to include all officers being certified in critical areas.
10. Develop better crime analysis capabilities.
11. Increase activity in Community Watch program.
12. Issue/Revise at least 10 General Orders.
13. Develop a Warrant Service Project.
14. Develop and Implement a case management system for our detective.
15. Develop a better overtime tracking system.
16. Develop a Elementary School Liaison Program.
STRATEGIC CHALLENGES
INCREASE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
Partnership is readily accepted as the most important component of an effective community policing philosophy. It recognizes that the police cannot resolve all issues of concern facing a community; rather it takes the coordinated efforts of many entities and people in the community working on a common goal to improve the quality of life for all. It is for this reason that we identify partnership as the cornerstone of our policing philosophy. In the years to follow the Bosque Farms Police Department will continue to build enduring partnerships within our community. Officers will devote time to the development of relationships that are based on trust and respect among police members, community agencies, and citizens.