City of Monrovia

PROGRAM & PROJECTS

Safe City/Safe Campus Task Force

This program brings together the police, City, School District and community to address the safety of our children when they are going to and from school and while attending school. When asked the question of where our future problems might come from, Monrovia realized many would come from our future adults, the youth of today. Everyone knows the uneducated child of today is the criminal of tomorrow, the welfare recipient of tomorrow, and the adult of tomorrow who never reaches his/her true potential. Incidents involving the emergence of gang activity and guns on campuses in spring of 1994 caused our community to combine efforts and resources to prevent campus violence and develop programs to better prepare our youth for their future responsibilities and challenges.

Monrovia has accepted the challenge to use all of its resources to ensure the safety and well being of our children on the streets, in public places, and at our schools. The task force deals with problems that mutually impact law enforcement and the school district. The task force is made up of representatives from all city departments, including police and community services. School District representatives include administrators, principals and teachers. The task force meets bi-monthly and more frequently in subcommittees. At the line level all groups work together on a daily basis.

School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

The Police Department hosts and participates in monthly SARB meetings that are held in the Police Department's Community Policing Room. SARB diverts students with school attendance and/or behavior problems from the juvenile justice system by providing guidance and coordinated community services to meet their special needs. SARB is comprised of school officials, police officers, probation officers, district attorneys, community members and counselors. School officials report a significant improvement in student and parent participation since meetings were changed from school district offices to the police department.

D.A.R.E. Parenting Workshop Program/Child Care

Because we believe parents, guardians and family members are the most important stakeholders when we are talking about the future or our children, the Police Department sponsors and coordinates a free D.A.R.E. parenting workshop, with free child care and specialized activities for children while their parents are attending the workshops. It offers new ways for parents to become more effective with their children by providing a 12-hour parenting program that meets once per week for six weeks. A specially trained police officer facilitates the workshop and uses counseling professionals from the community to address such topics as effective communication, discipline, drug abuse identification and prevention, peer pressure, violence prevention, conflict resolution and self-esteem building. Parents have been very grateful the Police Department is willing to sponsor a program that helps them when they see their children failing and getting into trouble and they don't know what to do or where to go for help. They also appreciate the department's efforts to prevent delinquency instead of simply locking their children up when they get into trouble. The workshops are always full. This year the workshops will also be presented in Spanish.

Zero Tolerance to Violence on School Campuses

When a student is involved in any fighting on campus, the student responsible for the fight receives a non-criminal citation to appear in Juvenile Traffic Court with a parent or guardian. The citation is separate from any school discipline. Students are reluctant to fight because of the required court appearance with a parent and it provides an excuse not to fight by telling the aggressor "I dont want to get a ticket." School officials report a dramatic reduction in fights on campus since this program began.

Schools Emergency Communication System

School campuses are vulnerable to outside influence and major events occurring on and off campus. We know that a gang fight in the community on a Saturday night can carry over and become a problem on school campuses the following Monday. For this reason, the Communication System was established. In the event of any violence or gang activity on or off campus that could impact the schools or community, the Police Watch Commander quickly establishes a dialog between the police department and school district to be proactive instead of reactive to potential problems. If the incident occurs on campus, the principal contacts the Watch Commander. They work together when addressing problems to ensure the safety of students and eliminate problems that develop because of late information, misinformation and/or rumor. The School Superintendent and the Police Chief have each other's home telephone numbers and they encourage each other to call any time, day or night on issues of mutual concern. The goal is to give each other and their organizations early warning of incidents that can impact the schools and/or community, and to afford each other time to plan for and prevent an incident from escalating instead of reacting after it occurs.

Safe Schools Crisis Response Box

In June 2000, the Attorney General and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Safe Schools Task Force released its final report. One of the recommendations was the development of a Crisis Response Box to provide the police and schools with the most up-to-date lessons learned from recent school crisis in the nation and to assist them in developing crisis response plans as an essential element of the safe schools planning process.

The purpose of the box is to provide the police and school administrators with immediate information necessary to manage a major critical incident. Monrovia has completed our Crisis Response Box. Our Tactical Response Team and patrol officers conduct periodic mock drills on school campuses to test and develop information needed for the box.

Project Safe Haven

In 1999, the Police Department worked with various churches in the community and the superior court to establish a child custody exchange location at the United Methodist Church of Monrovia, instead of the lobby of the police station or on the corner of a city street. The goal of the program is to reduce conflicts between divorced parents during child custody exchanges. This is accomplished by providing a video-monitored drop-off and pick-up area at the church that is staffed by volunteers. There is no contact between hostile parents during custody exchanges; the drop-off area provides an environment where child custody exchanges can be done safely and comfortably; and it eliminates children's worries and fears during custody exchanges.

Volunteers

Monrovia's volunteer program provides opportunities for everyone to get involved, whether working inside the police station or in the field. The Police Department provides qualified citizens the opportunity to work in a variety of assignments helping police officers do their jobs more effectively. We currently have volunteers working in Detectives, Crime Analysis, Community Policing and the Records Bureau.

Seniors over 50 years of age may be interested in applying as a Citizen Patrol volunteer. These volunteers work in the field providing critical help in the areas of traffic control during traffic accidents, vacation checks in residential neighborhoods, vehicle impounds and many other jobs.

Amateur Radio Volunteers

Amateur Radio Volunteers provide much needed assistance during times of disaster and emergency. They provide a vital link between neighborhoods and government during times of emergency when other forms of communication are not available.

Cell Watch

Cell Watch is providing Monrovia residents and businesses direct access to our police dispatcher for emergency and other police related calls. In the past, cellular telephone users would be routed to California Highway Patrol (CHP) operators when dialing 9-1-1. CHP dispatchers would then determine where the caller was located and route the call to the appropriate law enforcement jurisdiction. This system wasted valuable time, which placed citizens in danger and gave criminals additional time to evade capture. Now citizens can use Cell Watch to access Monrovia Police Dispatchers immediately for all emergencies and police related calls.

Stop Gun Violence Bounty Program

In February 1997, Monrovia implemented the Stop Gun Violence Bounty Program. Any person who sees a person illegally possessing a gun in a public place or on any school campus is encouraged to immediately report it by calling the Monrovia Police Department any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by dialing 9-1-1. It is preferred the caller identify him/herself; however, it is not mandatory. The caller may remain anonymous.

Upon receipt of the information, the police dispatcher issues a confidential identification number to the caller and requests a call back telephone number. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, he/she will be instructed to call the department in one hour for final disposition using the identification number. The dispatcher then immediately dispatches a police officer to investigate and locate the suspected violator.

If the police officer does locate and arrest the suspect for illegally possessing a gun in a public place, the watch commander makes immediate arrangements for the caller to receive a new $100 bill. Donated funds from individuals, businesses and organizations are used to fund the bounties.

Expanded DARE Program

Drug and violence prevention continues to be important in our community. In 1991, the DARE program was implemented in all Fifth Grade classes. In 1994, the D.A.R.E. program was expanded to include grades Seven and Nine as a way of providing remedial and ongoing education in this area. A second D.A.R.E. Officer position was created to work with the additional age groups. As one would guess, this position does not come without significant cost. In the true spirit of cooperation, the city and school district jointly fund the program.

The Boys' and Girls' Club

The Boy's and Girl's Club concept has a proven history of success for youth who are looking for something to occupy their time instead of joining gangs. The Monrovia Club is no different. It is partially funded by the city and grants from foundations and individual donations from the community. Each facet of the club is designed to promote good citizenship and sportsmanship. A safe and caring atmosphere nurtures a sense of belonging and teamwork. Officers routinely drop in at the club to show support, participate in recreation activities and act as role models.

Neighborhood Management

Uniformed patrol officers volunteer to adopt a specific problem in a neighborhood. They work with the citizens to solve problems and develop strategies that will improve the area and eliminate the criminal element. The officer interacts with the residents on a variety of issues and assist in empowering the residents in management of the neighborhood. Their efforts are coordinated by a patrol lieutenant and sergeant who liaison with our Community Policing Bureau.

Free Gun Safety Locks

In May 2000, the Monrovia Kiwanis Club teamed up with the Monrovia Police Department to provide to the public free gun safety locks. The Kiwanis Club has agreed to provide free gunlocks for as long as needed. Since the program began, the police department has given away over 2,000 gunlocks to anyone over 18 years of age who comes to the department and asks for them.

Special Enforcement Team (S.E.T.)

S.E.T. is a specially trained team of three officers and one sergeant who are deployed to control, track and combat gang and drug activity. They are responsible for networking with other local and federal enforcement agencies to promote exchange of intelligence, enforcement support and cross training. They are available for special assignment from the Watch Commander and Community Policing Bureau on reports or pending gang problems, immediate suspect pursuits and apprehension of fleeing criminals inside and outside of the city.

Duarte And Monrovia Anti Gang Enforcement (DAMAGE)

In 1998, Monrovia's Special Enforcement Team (S.E.T.) established a partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to prevent gang activity that was escalating in both jurisdictions. A deputy sheriff and Monrovia police officer ride in the same car several times a month to address gang activity taking place in both jurisdictions and to gain information on gang members in each jurisdiction. This effort has proven to be very successful by significantly reducing gang violence in both communities

High Risk Offender (HRO)

The HRO works with the Parole and Probation Departments to monitor their charges and when necessary, arrest parolees and probationers who violate the law and/or their conditions of parole or probation. The officer attends parole hearings with family members or victims to oppose the early release of violent offenders back into the community. The primary focus of the HRO program is to minimize the impact of parolees living in our community. For those parolees who demonstrate their commitment to a law-abiding lifestyle, the HRO will help them find a job and assist them in making a successful transition back into the community. The HRO coordinates information with patrol officers, detectives and the Special Enforcement Team to assist in their enforcement efforts.

Uniformed Bicycle Patrol

Currently, the Department has ten officers who are trained for this assignment. They are deployed in two-officer teams for greater mobility and stealth qualities for on-view intervention. Bicycle officers are charged with enhancing community support and confidence, while addressing problems associated with drug and alcohol violations, gang-related crimes and other serious crime. Face to face dialogue with residents and business owners in the selected areas ensures a good relationship with community members.

Search Warrant Notification

Letters are delivered to the owner and/or person in control of properties where search warrants for drugs and gang violence have been served. Police officers follow up by contacting landlords and meeting at the property to show them, first hand, what activities has been taking place on their properties. The goal is to let them know they owe more to the community than simply collecting the rent. They need to manage their properties to ensure the safety of their tenants and also the neighborhood.

Free group seminars are held at the Police Department and one-on-one counseling sessions are given to landlords on property management and tenant selection. They are also advised of the benefits of a strong rental agreement and the need to develop "House Rules." A sample rental agreement that is recommended during the seminars has a clause that prohibits tenants from engaging in any type of drug or gang activity.

Graffiti Removal and Investigation

The City established a program that provides graffiti removal within 24 hours after the graffiti is reported. All city employees and citizens are encouraged to immediately report any graffiti observed.

During the last two years, the Special Enforcement Team has successfully identified gang members involved in graffiti vandalism cases. A computer database was implemented to assist officers in tracking, identifying and prosecuting gang members involved in this activity and when properly analyzed, the graffiti can give the department an early warning sign about pending gang rivalry and conflict.