Strategies for Law Enforcement

Work with the DARE program to increase the awareness of the importance to connect adults and youth. More officers (not just DARE Officers) getting involved by visiting classes and other school activities.

Work within the School liaison program by assisting the liaison officer in school activities. Other officers could stop in at the schools to meet students through the liaison officer. Other officers could also stop in the schools during sporting and other events after school hours.

Establish Community Crime Prevention programs that:
Have block parties that add getting to know your kids as a specific part of the activities.

Add a teenager voting member to every committee in the community.

Allow skate boarding on all city parking lots when not in use.
Encourage Officers to participate in their neighborhoods. Have Officers encourage neighbors to invite them in for the importance of adults connecting with youth.

Utilize Police Officers in athletic leagues and other youth functions. One or more officers could begin a program in their community and encourage others to attend. This could be expanded to other activities (games, crafts, etc) for those youth and officers that may not be interested in athletics.

Offer Training programs to stress to officers the importance of how to deal with youth (especially in stressful situations). Encourage officers to spend a few extra minutes with youth whether they are dealing with them at a call or just stopping at a park or other area where youth are gathered.

When an officer is called to a residence with a conflict in the family, encourage or train the officer to teach the parents or adults of the household the importance of spending time and talking with their kids. Officers usually refer families to social services or other counseling, but it only takes a minute for them to encouraging interaction and discussion between the adults and youth before leaving this type of call. By bringing the child and adult together for a monitored talk before the officer leaves the home, it may help the family learn to communicate on a more calm level after the officer leaves.