City of Hamilton, Ohio - Community Oriented Policing Section (COPS)

The Community Oriented Policing Section is an example of innovative police service designed to meet the ever changing needs of the community. The Community-Oriented Policing (COP) unit works very hard at building ties within very diverse communities. Officers patrol on horseback, on bicycles, and on foot, which gives residents more personal contact with the police. By using these methods, officers eliminate the barrier of the police cruiser between themselves and the residents. Residents also have officers' cellular telephone numbers to
give them direct access whenever problems are occurring within their neighborhood. Residents know who their COP officers are, and this builds a bridge of trust between the residents and the police department.

The COP officers spend a great deal of their day inside the schools in the targeted areas. The officers attend after-school programs in the targeted areas. These include Madison Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Living Water Ministries, Booker T. Washington Community Center, and the Central YMCA. These officers participate in activities and assist the students with their homework.

Community Oriented Policing

Officers participate in various activities with community residents. Some of these activities include: community cookouts, pool parties, movie nights, taking residents to various athletic events, and conducting Junior Police Academies for high school students. Officers also participate in flag football, basketball games, and paintball outings with students from the targeted areas. Officers also attend various meetings in the North End and Expanded Site. These include Weed and Seed Steering Committee meetings, Community Council meetings, Police-Community Relations Committee, and Neighborhood Watch meetings. Officers field complaints from the residents and assist in problem-solving with the residents.

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