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<br />Enhance/expand Safer Schools program <br />? <br /> <br />Increased behavioral problems in middle schools in recent years have increased <br />the need for School Resource Officers (SROs) to leave their assigned high <br />school to respond to crimes such as drug use, theft, assault, and arson. In <br />addition to the increase in workload, SROs are detached for special <br />assignments, requiring patrol officers to backfill the positions or the school <br />position is left vacant for other SROs to cover as they can. This creates a work <br />overload for officers and depletes EPD’s resources in the high schools. <br /> <br />The Safer Schools program can be significantly enhanced, both in terms of types <br />of activities and numbers of officers, permitting coverage for additional schools <br />and necessary absences. An expanded/enhanced SRO program is potentially a <br />valuable tool to reduce juvenile delinquency and improve crime prevention <br />practices including illegal drug demand reduction. <br /> <br />? Develop a comprehensive domestic violence strategy <br /> <br />Domestic violence is an important issue in all communities and in Eugene is <br />responsible for the majority of violent crime, including serious assaults and <br />homicides. EPD plays a major role in the community and has recently increased <br />its involvement in community-based, interagency activities and programs. The <br />domestic violence strategy should include participation with other agencies to <br />identify the scope of the problem, development of interagency protocols to <br />address issues, participation in community education and prevention efforts, and <br />ensure that our own operating policies, procedures, and training continuously <br />reflect best practices on the subject. <br /> <br /> Develop a parks policing program <br />? <br /> <br />The City of Eugene prides itself on its many and varied outdoor activities and its <br />parks and natural spaces are an important part of the city’s culture and <br />environment. Because these are public spaces, they occasionally draw criminal <br />and nuisance activity that detract from the positive experience and environment <br />invested in by the community at large. Presently, parks-related policing is done <br />either on a call-for-service basis or in the course of a problem-related special <br />project. Many cities with less emphasis on their parks have dedicated parks <br />policing programs to address crime and nuisance issues in their parks. <br />Residents and visitors of Eugene could benefit from the development of such a <br />program and this initiative is intended for such a purpose. A number of national <br />models could be evaluated and considered for application or modification in the <br />Eugene environment. <br /> <br />Develop a comprehensive community outreach strategy <br />? <br /> <br />The ICMA-PERF report identified a need for an organizational marketing effort. <br />The staff response to this recommendation was to recognize the need for <br />broader community education regarding the policies and activities of the EPD but <br />also the need for a more interactive relationship with the community in the form <br />of a community liaison. An organizational community outreach strategy that may <br />include liaison functions, community education and specialized communication <br /> <br /> <br />