Our Healthy & Safe Community
We're increasing public safety staffing and Community Partnerships to better prepare for emergencies, prevent crime, reduce gang activity and improve critical response times.
Community Partner
"As a Volunteer in Policing (VIP) I take pride in being part of a community policing philosophy that invites resident participation in nearly every aspect of the police department so we can all help keep Ventura safe. The 45 graduates of the VIP program wear a badge and uniform to conduct foot patrols, perform school and vacation checks, enforce parking and respond to non-emergency calls for service, thereby freeing up offi cers to handle priority calls."
Built effective community partnerships for safer neighborhoods
- Increased resident/police partnerships by August 2007 to include:
- 45 Volunteers in Policing (VIPs)
- 23 station and 34 storefront volunteers
- Over 300 block captains and neighborhood watch participants
- Over 300 Community academy and ride-along graduates
- Enrolled 250 businesses in Responsible Retailer Program to prevent alcohol sales to minors and abuse by adults
- Expanded PAL (Police Activities League) and PEAK (Program Enrichment for After-school Kids) to serve 500 students after school daily to keep them away from gang and criminal activity
- Raised awareness of property crimes, auto and identity theft with over 100 presentations to community groups and associations and neighborhood watch groups over two years
- Developed county's first Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
Improved safety with added police services
- Added 4 new Patrol Officers to improve emergency response times and address neighborhood crime
- Added 2 new Police Officers for gang suppression team
- Addressed graffiti vandalism by enforcing criminal, civil and parental penalties and identifying vandals with GPS web-based Graffiti Tracker
- Removed 85% of graffiti within 48 hours of tagging
- Launched Measuring What Matters VPD strategic plan to focus on public safety goals
- Trained 45 Volunteers In Policing (VIPs) to free officers for priority calls
- Reduced traffic injury accidents by 45% over two years
Shortened firefighting and emergency response times
- Deployed roaming three-person fire engine city wide to cut fire and medical emergency response times
- Launched high-speed CodeRED telephone system to inform residents of emergencies
- Created Get Ready Ventura website with resident emergency preparedness information
- Trained Public Information Offi cer Team to provide up-to-date information to residents during emergency operations
The Road Ahead
- Engage more residents in police/community partnership programs, crime prevention outreach and fire/emergency preparedness education
- Build and staff a fire station to improve emergency response to beach and marina communities
- Relocate Fire Station 4 to Ventura Community Park
- Reduce crime and gang activity through enforcement, education and prevention programs
- Fulfill action steps of countywide 10-year Strategy to End Homelessness