Crime Prevention

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH - Preventing crime in our community is the shared responsibility of the police and the citizens of Dennis. Neighborhood Watch has been entrusted with the responsibility of empowering the residents of Dennis to keep their neighborhoods safe. Safe neighborhoods and crime prevention is our challenge and our goal.

CRIME PREVENTION/NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SERVICES AVAILABLE

Neighborhood Watch training

Operation IDENTIFICATION to engrave personal items for easy identification.

Assistance with home security surveys

Program literature

Neighborhood crime statistics

Participation in National Night Out

Crime Alert bulletins

Block Watch creation and maintenance

Training to provide knowledgeable crime prevention techniques to our community.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED

RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSIVE (RAD) - The Rape Aggression Defense System training is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. Components of the program include (1) awareness; (2) prevention; (3) risk reduction; (4) risk avoidance and (5) basics of hands-on defense training. For further information contact department instructors Officer Kathleen Keating, Officer Damon Reinold or go to the RAD website www.rad-systems.com

radKIDS: The “rad” in radKIDS stands for resisting aggression defensively. It is an 8 week program currently taught as a component of the after school program for fourth and fifth grade students at the Wixon Middle School. It provides realistic choices in situations where children could face physical harm. Components of the program include (1) violence resistance; (2) school safety; (3) self esteem and character building; (4) Internet Safety; (5) stranger safety; (6) home safety; (7) personal safety; and (8) defense against abduction. For futher information contact department instructors Officer Kathleen Keating, Officer James Winn or go to: www.radKIDS.org

D.E.C.I.D.E. - The Developing Elders’ Choices in Defensive Education program is designed to educate seniors in crime prevention techniques to help them reduce the chances of becoming the victim of a crime. The goal of the program is to teach seniors risk reducing strategies using techniques to enhance their personal safety both at home and in public. Components of the program include (1) awareness and personal safety; (2) home security; (3) public transportation and street safety; (4) 9-1-1 awareness; (5) elder abuse; (6) identity theft; (7) scams and con artists. For further information contact department instructors Officer Kathleen Keating, Officer Craig Stevenson, Victim Services Coordinator Deborah Thompson or go to: www.decidecourse.co

The Dennis Police Department "Crime Prevention Unit" consists of two officers who also perform patrol duties on either the day or evening shifts. These officers are assigned to geographical areas to work with citizens of that area to assist in the development and advising of Neighborhood Watch Associations. Additionally these officers are assigned specific duties of support to such collaborative efforts as TRIAD, National Night Out and Project 365.

Our Crime Prevention Officers also provide local businesses with crime prevention seminars, which include Personal Safety, Violence in the Work Place, Drugs in the Work Place, Gun Safety and Homeland Security. As part of their education, the Crime Prevention officers receive training in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). With this training, they are often called upon to review security issues with Dennis businesses.