California Police Chief- Fall 2013 CPCA_2017_Winter Magazine Final | Page 37

Getting to know the men and women sworn to pro- tect the community is very beneficial, but getting to know your neighbors that live on the same block as you is just as important. To maintain the quality of life that we enjoy in Santa Monica, we must all work together and do our part in keeping our communities safe. As an example, Mr. Johnson next door helps his neighbors and the police de- partment by acting as the eyes and ears for any suspicious activity in and around the neighborhood. However, what happens when someone reports a suspicious person casing their neighbor’s house – and it turns out to be the actual homeowner inspecting their windows for loose screens? Through the Police Department’s daily interactions with the community, officers came to the realization that many residents do not know many of their neighbors that live in the area. A few incidents over the last few years highlight- ed this issue and prompted the Department to take action. In December of 2016, SMPD’s 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call of a burglary in progress. Officers immediately responded to the location ready to protect life and property. Unfortunately, it was later determined that, in fact, there was no foul play, but the suspected intruder was the person who actually lived in the home. In addition to the horde of resources diverted to the call, the homeowner was subjected to the stress and fear of officers showing up in force at their front door! This unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the two neighbors had met prior. From calls reporting break-ins that pan out to be the homeowner returning from vacation or other cases of mistaken identity, calls such as this can be avoided with a simple hello! SMPD encouraged the Santa Monica commu- nity to help strengthen our sense of community, by simply taking the time to introduce themselves to their neighbors. The contest/challenge was posted online. SMPD devel- oped an “engagement kit” with a note from former Chief Jacqueline A. Seabrooks, encouraging residents to host a small get-together on their block. Building on potential commonalities amongst residents, suggestions for events included, but was not limited to: • The Magic School Bus – For families with school- age children, accompanying them on their morning stroll and inviting other families to join along could potentially lead to weekend bounce house fun and after-school playdates. • (Wo) Man’s Best Friend – Everyone with a pet knows that sometimes they are the friendliest members of the family. Letting these four-legged companions break the ice seemed simple enough. Meeting community members along an evening walk- cleaning up any messes along the way, was a fun and engaging way to meet others in the area. These suggestions were just a few of the ideas included in the Community Engagement Kit. Block party invitation designs were also provided to make it easier to take the leap and invite others to join along. To further incentivize participation, all registered events would be eligible for a drawing to win a free block party hosted by the Chief and the men and women of the Santa Monica Police Department! In July, a random registration was pulled from a hat. Our lucky winner was a resident in the Mid-City area. While the winner took the time to meet the family across the street and the neighbors next door, she was unfamiliar with those that lived in a multi-family complex at the end of the block. SMPD aimed to change that and bring the sin- gle-family owners and the multifamily residents together. On a warm Thursday evening in September, SMPD hosted a block party with music, food, and fun to highlight the program and award the entire block for taking the time to get to know each other. The intent of the Meet Your Neighbor Program is also to help revitalize the SMPD Neighborhood Watch Program – with the ultimate goal of making our communities an even safer place to live. These types of small events, can lead to long lasting friendships. SMPD intends to offer the contest/challenge twice a year!  ■ WINTER 2017 | California Police Chief 37