Divisions | Administration | Neighborhood Services
Neighborhood Services Unit
Officer Joseph Avery
Telephone #: 203-946-6298 or 6299 (Voice Mail available 24 hours)
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Officer Joseph Avery
The Neighborhood Services Unit provides direct services to the community to enhance crime prevention goals and objectives. It places emphasis on neighborhood involvement in crime reduction strategies and cooperation with District Managers and the Community Patrol Division. It offers educational information and materials on a variety of safety issues.
BLOCK WATCH
A major function of the Neighborhood Services Unit is to organize new block watches and give technical assistance to existing ones. The block watch program is a vital component in the prevention of crime and the first basic step in forming communication between neighbors and police. Block watches are formed on a block by block basis. They are one of the police department's first lines of communication when important and timely information needs to be given to the community. A newsletter and crime summary is sent monthly to each block watch captain. There are approximately 300 block watches throughout the city.
The New Haven Block Watch Association, Inc., a volunteer non-profit association, continues to work with the department's block watch program to enhance communication among block watches and encourage public safety and education. NSU staff, acting as facilitators, assist the Board of Directors with program development and implementation.
MANAGEMENT TEAMS
Community Management Teams have been formed to help identify and examine neighborhood problems and to develop strategies utilizing local resources. The composition of management teams varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, but such teams are generally comprised of the police supervisor, patrol officers, block watch members, alderpersons, representatives of neighborhood based agencies and any citizen who takes an active interest in neighborhood improvement. NSU staff act as facilitators to the monthly Management Team Co-chairpersons' meetings and offer technical assistance to any team when requested.
PERSONAL SAFETY
The personal safety of people who travel within New Haven while working is a major concern for employers. Implementing proper safety initiatives, as well as providing useful and up-to-date information on safety procedures, ensures employees' well being and reduces their fear of real or perceived crime. Personal safety is also a major issue for people who live in the city. NSU staff provides in-service training seminars to area agencies and community groups. Informal consultation is also given to agencies requesting safety measures and recommendations.
WATCH YOUR CAR PROGRAM
In 1999, the department received a grant from the State Department of Public Safety to implement the auto theft prevention program Watch Your Car. In this nationally recognized program, car owners who do not normally drive their cars between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. give permission to the police to stop the vehicle if it is seen being operated during those hours. An awareness campaign was implemented by mailing program information to every registered vehicle owner (approximately 40,000) in New Haven. Registration drives are on-going. To date, 650 vehicles have been enrolled in the program and no vehicles registered in the program have been reported stolen.
CRIME PREVENTION AND SAFETY INFORMATION
Auto Theft Prevention - Block Watch - Burglar Alarm Systems - Safety Tips for Kids - Con Games and Scams - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design - Driver Safety - Handgun Safety - Guidelines for Home Security - How to Prevent Gang Membership - Organizing Community Events - Personal Safety for Adults - Things You and Your Neighbors Can Do to Prevent Crime - Watch Your Car Program
