Crime prevention programs aimed to help residents

Posted to Police Beat by Taha Hameduddin at 10:36 a.m., March 22, 2009

The MU Police Department and the Columbia Police Department offer a variety of crime prevention programs, which focus on proactive law enforcement crime prevention.

Crime prevention programs are part of special crime prevention units set up by police departments.

“The CPD has a community services unit, and a specialized crime prevention unit,” CPD Sgt. Lloyd Simons said.

The crime prevention unit performs crime surveys and uses crime mapping to locate areas more prone to crime, in addition to offering crime prevention programs.

“We have a newsletter every two months which covers seasonal topics on crime prevention,” Simons said.

For its crime prevention programs, MUPD offers classes that can be customized to fit different needs.

“We customize a class for a particular group's needs, and thus offer a more valuable and effective program for the group”, MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said.

The Rape Aggression Defense is a program offered to women associated with the university.

“RAD is a popular program which teaches overall self defense,” Weimer said.

Classes are 12 hours and review general safety tips and handling weapons and self-defense.

“RAD incorporates classroom teaching to hands on training, to simulation training where you can practice what you've learned,” Weimer said.

Other personal safety programs include a self-defense class, which uses aerosol sprays and defensive key chains. Men can attend this class as well.

An alcohol awareness program is held to educate students about the effects of alcohol. It also discusses important state laws regarding alcohol consumption and abuse.

MUPD offers a three-tier drug awareness program, which discusses drug use and misuse.

The first program helps community advisers know what is required to arrest someone for drug use. A second program focuses on drug use hazards and its prevention. The third program deals with identifying predatory and date rape drugs.

MUPD's Operation ID is a special program used to deter theft of items such as laptops. It is also used in recovering stolen items.

Weimer said students learn about the crime prevention programs by word of mouth and also through student orientation.

“We publicize our programs through student groups, the student wellness center, web pages, brochures, department of student life, and other sources,” Weimer said.

CPD offers a similar drug awareness program that deals with creating drug free workplaces, and offers instruction on drug abuse recognition and awareness.

“The youth services unit and school resource office deal with drug use prevention programs for high schools or junior high schools,” said Simons.

The department also holds a neighborhood watch program for Columbia residents.

“Our neighborhood watch programs train citizens to watch and report for crimes. They learn how to work as a group, and what to be aware of while doing a neighborhood watch,” said Simons.

Simons said the department has more requests for neighborhood watch classes in the spring because residents tend to be more watchful and aware of their surroundings in the spring.

A program devoted to dealing with workplace violence addresses identifying problems with colleagues and making the work environment safe from outside violence.

CPD also conducts free security evaluations for commercial and residential buildings.

“We have a specialist in security evaluations who conducts free evaluations for residential and commercial buildings,” said Simons.

Simons said CPD holds programs based on community needs.

“If a bank requests for robbery prevention, we can stage a mock robbery, and employees can learn how to respond and follow up after the crime,” said Simons.