Perham, Minnesota Community Policing

The mission statement of the city of Perham, Minnesota police department is: “to protect and serve the citizens of Perham in the most effective, responsive, and ethical manner possible. The Police Department will always be striving to improve service to the Citizens, and will be continually conscious of new and innovative community policing programs, which will allow us to meet the needs of the Citizens we serve. We understand that in order to be effective as a Police Department we must be aware of what is taking place around us, and be responsive and flexible to change with the innovation of technology. We will strive to maintain a professional image within the community. We believe that for us to be successful in accomplishing these goals, we must understand and adapt to the needs of the citizens we serve.” The city of Perham’s police department does much more than just police, they also provide services, such as: Drug Abuse Resistance and Education, or D.A.R.E. Where the officers will go in and talk to kids during their school day about the dangers of drugs and drunk driving. They also offer the MN Safe and Sober challenge, where the program is designed to heighten public awareness in the areas of seatbelts, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and it is their effort to decrease the number of alcohol related driving accidents. This department has also made a crosswalk safety program, where they work with the public to bring attention to new laws in the state about crosswalks, and they have been putting “yield to pedestrian” signs at primary crosswalks in downtown Perham. Another thing the Perham police department does with the public is a “Bike Rodeo”. The clinic includes bike registration, bike safety check, obstacle course, drawing an giveaways for prizes. During the rodeo bike helmets are on sale for a nominal price. The Police Department and Lions Club, send flyers home with elementary students in the spring of the year as to when the clinic is, and the best part, the clinic registration is only $1.

One of the challenges of community policing however is reorienting recruitment. However, the city of Perham has successfully dealt with this challenge in a well thought out and organized manor. They have a reserve officer program that is made up from volunteers from the community, that has duties such as: residential checks, patrol, bike safety, traffic control and security to name a few. The rules are you must be 21 years old, with the exception if you are enrolled in criminal justice in college, than you can join younger, a good driving, be in good physical condition, and you must be at least be a high school graduate. This is just one of the examples of how the city of Perham overcomes community policing difficulties.

Sources Used:

1.http://www.cityofperham.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6F2EA21C-DD29-4AC1-8DBE-388ADCE1D3D5}&DE=

2. http://www.cityofperham.com/index.asp?Type=B_LIST&SEC=%7BF27E64C6-2259-4707-B337-D12CFF21A3FD%7D