The Traverse City Police Department is a Community Policing Organization
The concept of community policing began on a trial basis in Traverse City in the early 1980s and has seen many variations. Today, the Traverse City Police Department still utilizes community policing to develop and
maintain partnerships between our department and Neighborhood Associations, organizations, various media outlets, and the citizens of this great city.
Community policing and Crime Reduction is the title of Pillar 4, from the 21 st Century Policing Report. This pillar laid the groundwork to begin the rebuilding or our dedicated community-policing positions. The department currently has six community-policing positions; Community Affairs Sergeant, Downtown Community Police Officer, Crime Prevention Officer, North Boardman Community Police Officer, Community Engagement Officer, and a Neighborhood Traffic Officer. In addition, the department integrated a Police Social Worker Coordinator and a Police Social Worker, within the department to bridge the gap between law enforcement and community service providers. This will help ensure that relationships are developed and maintained between the Traverse City Police Department and the community.
We must use these partnerships we establish to proactively develop solutions to problems facing our community. We can do this by using problems solving techniques, such as the S.A.R.A. Model (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment). A recent example of this technique is Dann’s House – “Dann’s House provides transitional and supportive housing, without an abstinence requirement, for people who have been experiencing chronic homelessness and suffer from persistent, severe alcohol use disorder”.
The partnerships developed will also help increase trust between law enforcement and residents of Traverse City, residents of the surrounding area, and the many tourists that come to enjoy Traverse City each year. We, as a Department, want to be as transparent as possible through our Officers, the media, and the use of social media. Our website allows the citizens to interact with our department in regards to ongoing criminal activity and traffic problems that they have concerns about. The Traverse City Police Department has a Facebook page that will be used to stay connected with and provide information to the citizens.
The department has also reorganized how it implements Community Policing. The City is split up into four Service Areas with patrol officers assigned and responsible for the areas during their shifts. Those service areas being "SW1", "NW2", "NE3", and "SE4."