A continued enhancement of community policing

As part of the Long Beach Police Department’s continued, comprehensive approach to community policing, we are doing everything in our power to protect residents’ safety. Community policing, now common around the nation, is a specific strategy employed by police departments that focuses on building ties and working closely with community members. On a national level, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 established the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) within the Justice Department to promote community policing.

To date in 2015, there have been 18 reported shots fired in Long Beach; last year, there were 28 in total. Thus far, year over year, that represents a 36 percent reduction in reported shots fired. With that said, we are doing everything we can to get guns off the street and stem the tide of gun violence in our city. Detailed in this article are some of our department’s efforts and plans for the future. All of this is being accomplished by a police force that has received a 12 percent reduction in staffing due to fiscal and budgetary restrictions — achieving our goal of doing more with less. 

 Most recently, we have also obtained the ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection and Location system from Nassau County which will track the exact location of gun shots. ShotSpotter uses sophisticated technology to detect gunfire in specified geographic locations. Using mounted detectors, when gunfire occurs, the system records the number of shots fired, whether the shooter was stationary or moving, and essential audio playback of the gunshot event.

In conjunction with the Nassau County district attorney’s office, we have held gun buy-back programs that have resulted in the removal of more than 500 guns from the streets in the last four years. We have also partnered with MLK, Inc. and the district attorney’s office to bring their Council of Thought and Action (COTA) programs to Long Beach, offering the tools needed to lead more productive lives to individuals reentering the community, and those at risk for entering the criminal justice system.