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TAKOMA PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Residential Security Survey Program
Commercial Security Survey Program
How to receive Crime Alerts and Crime Blotter Information
Other Community Oriented Policing Programs of the TPPD
Residential Security Survey Program
A residential Security Survey is an inspection of your home, performed by a police officer, in an effort to identify areas in which you could improve the physical security of your residence. It is also a good opportunity to review personal safety and security habits with an officer so that your daily routines incorporate habits to decrease the likelihood that you might be victimized by crime. Many security features may be discussed, ranging in cost from simply trimming shrubbery appropriately, to the pros and cons of security alarm systems. The surveys are offered to homeowners living in the City of Takoma Park, free of charge, by appointment only. They generally take about an hour of your time, and can be scheduled during evening hours if you prefer. To schedule a security survey, please contact the C.O.P. team, and they will call you back to schedule the appointment.
The national Neighborhood Watch Program is a means for communities or blocks to collectively deal with crime concerns, and strengthen communication between citizens and the police. Usually, the first step in forming a Neighborhood Watch group would be for a concerned citizen to call for a meeting of the neighborhood to discuss interest in the program. The citizen would invite an officer to attend the meeting to explain to everyone what the program involves. There are two major components of the program: Security Surveys and Telephone Trees. Generally we will ask that the group elect a point of contact, or leader, usually designated as the Block Captain. This person will chair any meetings, and will serve to help the beat officer spread information to the other people in the neighborhood. They will help organize the telephone tree, an easy method for distributing important information through the area. Neighbors are encouraged to be alert for suspicious activity in their community, and to report it immediately to the police, and to their neighbors via the telephone tree. Once 50% of the neighborhood has become involved in the program by either having a security survey performed on their house, or agreeing to be on the telephone tree, then the neighborhood becomes eligible to have signs erected warning potential criminals of the existence of the Neighborhood Watch Group and therefore deterring the criminals activity. If you are interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch group, or want more information about the program, please contact the C.O.P. team.
Several neighborhoods in Takoma Park have formed Citizen Patrols in order to better address concerns about crime in their areas. Usually, during their patrols, groups of citizens from the neighborhood walk their streets wearing highly visible orange vests. The groups are supplied by the police department with a cellular phone and a flashlight. They are expected to be vigilant for suspicious activity and to report it immediately to the police. Additionally, they look for conditions in their neighborhood that might contribute to criminal activity and inform their beat officers about these problems so that appropriate action can be taken to hopefully prevent crimes before they occur. Current Citizen Patrols include:
Westmoreland Avenue Citizens Patrol
Cedar Avenue Patrol
Willow Avenue Patrol
North Takoma Patrol
Sligo- Longbranch Citizens Patrol
Circle Woods Citizens Patrol
B.F. Gilbert's Community Patrol
SOSCA Community Patrol
These groups are always looking for more volunteers to help out. The usual commitment is one or two nights a month. It is an excellent way to get to know your neighbors, and spread a strong sense of community, which is a powerful crime deterrent. If you would like to get more information about joining one of these groups, or about starting a patrol on your street, please call The C.O.P. team.
If you are planning on going on a vacation, and nobody will be staying at your house, you are eligible to request a vacant house check on your home. In this program, a Takoma Park Police Officer will visit your home once a day during your absence and inspect the premises for any signs of suspicious activity. To take advantage of this program, call the Police Dispatcher at 301-270-1100 , and request a vacant house check registration. They will need information such as the duration of your absence, vehicles parked in the driveway, emergency notification information, etc.
If your group would like to request a presentation on personal safety, or any other topic of concern relating to crime prevention or police services, please contact either your appropriate beat officer as listed on this web page. Presentations have been done in the past on Personal Safety, Auto Theft Prevention, Burglary Prevention, Robbery Prevention, Gangs, Drug Abuse Prevention, Senior Citizen Issues, and other topics. Cpl. Baxter Rich has also produced a short video on personal safety issues for use in group discussions.
The Takoma Park Police Department has offered numerous programs involving the youth of our city, in an effort to foster better relations with our young people, to provide positive role models, and to help deter crime and quality of life issues from becoming a problem. The D.A.R.E. program is offered to all schools within the City of Takoma Park, including the several private schools in this area.
Officers have volunteered as coaches in softball, football and basketball teams.
Several local teens have assisted the department as volunteers, performing a variety of clerical and other support functions.
Numerous field trips have been conducted to a variety of professional sporting events, in conjunction with the Takoma Park Recreation Department. The trips have usually involved kids who are underprivileged or otherwise believed to be "at risk" of becoming involved in criminal activity. Participants have been escorted by police officers who volunteer their time to conduct the trips and present themselves as positive role models for the children. Please contact the C.O.P. team for further information or to nominate a young person for this program.
The Department has hosted Bicycle Safety Rodeos to teach children safe bicycling techniques. Both events have been well attended and the Department hopes to provide future events as well.
Commercial Security Survey Program
Area businesses face a variety of specialized concerns regarding the safety of their employees, protection of property, well-being of their customers, and protection from crimes such as check fraud and credit card offenses. Several officers on the Takoma Park Police Department have advanced training in Commercial Security procedures and can offer detailed, in-depth security surveys for individual businesses, located in the City of Takoma Park. The service is provided free of charge. Topics covered can include Robbery Prevention, Burglary Prevention, Shoplifting, Counterfeit Money, Employee Theft Prevention Techniques, Check and Credit Card Fraud, and others. Contact the C.O.P. team.
How to receive Crime Alerts and Crime Blotter information
The Takoma Park Police distribute a weekly Crime Blotter of major crimes or other incidents of concerns to numerous media sources, citizens associations, business groups, and other concerned parties in the area. Copies of this blotter are available to the public for pick-up in the lobby of the Takoma Park Police Station, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. The Blotter is posted weekly on the Police Bulletins of the page, along with other information and crime alerts.
By subscribing to the blog lines (lower left corner) you will be advised of any updates.
Bicycle registration stickers are available free of charge to City of Takoma Park residents. Please contact the Takoma Park Police Department Administrative Services Division, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, by walk-in service at the lobby of the station, 7500 Maple Avenue. Many bicycles are stolen and recovered daily in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and registering your bicycle greatly improves chances of recovering your bicycle should it become stolen. A national paid bike registration is available.
This is an important program for both stolen property recovery, and deterrent of theft and burglary. City residents can check out an engraver, free of charge, from the Police Department and receive information regarding engraving valuable property. At the very least, bicycles, TV's, stereo equipment, computer equipment, lawn care equipment and power tools should be engraved with the owner's drivers license number and state. Once the engraving is done and the tool returned, you will be given window stickers that will warn potential thieves that your property is engraved and will therefore be much more difficult for them to convert through re-sale or pawning operations. To check out an engraver, come to the Administrative Services window in the Takoma Park Police Station lobby, 7500 Maple Avenue, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. You will need a photo ID with your current address to check out the tool.
Any questions regarding this program can be directed to your appropriate beat officer.
The Department plans to participate in the state-wide program in which people can sign up to obtain stickers on their vehicles that would allow the police to stop the vehicle if it is seen operating between the hours of 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, in order to check the registration and verify that the operator is authorized to have the car. This is a federally approved program that is aimed at deterring auto theft, and is being coordinated by the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. To enter your vehicle in this program, the OWNER must bring the car, the MVA registration card, and photo identification to the TPPD Administrative Services window, 7500 Maple Avenue, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. There is no charge for this program. This program is open to Maryland residence with vehicles registered in this state only. The Department has also made available the "Club" anti-theft device at manufacturers cost to City Residents. Offered twice in the Spring of 1998, it is hoped that additional supplies will allow this offer to be made again. For additional information about auto theft prevention or these programs, please contact either your appropriate beat officer .
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