MCOPS: Bridging the Law Enforcement-Community Gap
 Paul Casagrande, Executive Office of Weed and Seed (now CCDO), presenting an MCOPS van to Chief Larry Hart, Fort Myers Police Department. |
|
|
Mobile Community Outreach Police Stations (MCOPS) proved instrumental in fostering a positive relationship between residents and law enforcement. They also created community meeting places and continue to provide direct access to police services.
Funding was provided in 1998 for six Weed and Seed sites to obtain MCOPS vans. Uses planned for these mobile substations included not only basic law enforcement and victim and witness services, but also other community services such as child immunization and blood pressure screening. Sites were selected based on their crime-related needs and level of law enforcement commitment. All were using advanced community policing strategies.
The cities initially selected were Fort Myers, FL; Indianapolis, IN; New Orleans, LA; Norwalk, CT; Oakland, CA; and Washington, DC. Three additional cities were selected in 2000–2001: Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; and Kansas City, MO. In each city, an MCOPS van was purchased to support law enforcement operations, educational outreach, and community service. Each van features office space, a restroom, a small food preparation area, communications equipment, and a large awning to facilitate outdoor meetings. The vehicles cost about $175,000 each and were expected to be in operation for 15 to 20 years.
Initial Assessment
Representatives from the first six cities met in 1999 to discuss how they used the vans during their first 6 months of operation; the vans had already been used an average of 50 times. Although some cities were using the vans for community events and to provide health services to the community, others were using them primarily for law enforcement applications. As their officers continued to use the vans, representatives from these cities expected broader and more creative uses to surface.
MCOPS Today
Staff from the Institute for Law and Justice (ILJ) recently contacted all nine MCOPS sites to survey them about their use of the vans since 1998. All sites reported that they are still using their vans for law enforcement and community outreach purposes. In several locations, the vans are made available for other agencies to use as well.
Conclusion
Local officials involved in the use of the MCOPS vans report that they are an effective crime prevention and control tool. Local jurisdictions have continued to maintain the vehicles long past their original funding, and at least one community said that it would like to be at the top of the list should new vans ever be offered. MCOPS vans remain a valuable asset to these communities almost 10 years after they were introduced.
Find out how each city uses its MCOPS van:
|
|
|
Fort Myers
April Bodemann, Weed and Seed Coordinator for the Fort Myers Police Department, said the van is used very frequently in Fort Myers and surrounding areas, and she provided usage logs and photographs. The van is used primarily for community policing, and the police department is its sole user. The department's budget includes an allocation for maintaining the van. Bodemann reported that the van has had a positive effect on crime in the area and that members of the Weed and Seed communities are fully aware of the MCOPS vehicle and its uses and benefits. Bodemann also said that the van maintains a positive image because it has been used only for community policing functions and not for activities such as drug busts or police raids.
The van is used for a variety of community purposes, including—
- Neighborhood watch meetings. Community members gather under the van's awning.
- Parking lot security. From Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, the van provides security for mall parking lots, and it serves as a command center for helping lost children find their parents.
- School career days. Officers teach youth about the different functions of the police department and answer their questions.
Indianapolis
According to Lt. Dennis Peters of the Emergency Preparedness Unit, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the MCOPS van is used approximately 200–250 days per year. It is also used by prosecutors, hospitals, and health centers for small events. The van was recently upgraded with new computers, radios, and a rear camera and surveillance system. The police department's budget includes allowances for the van's gas, repairs, and maintenance. Residents have told officers that they appreciate the police presence the van brings to their neighborhoods and that it makes them feel safer.
The van has been used for many community and law enforcement events, including—
- Police community days.
- Community events. These occasions include the Circle City Classic, the Indiana Black Expo, the Indy 500 and Formula 1 races, Hispanic festivals, bike rodeos, NCAA Final 4/Big Ten Championships, and state fairs.
- Roving police roll calls. Officers begin their shifts on the streets rather than at the police station and participate in roll call using their patrol car laptops or radios. This protocol keeps officers in the community where residents can interact with them.
New Orleans
According to Capt. Louis Colin of the First District New Orleans Police Department, many divisions of the New Orleans Police Department have used the MCOPS vehicle. The van is used to attract residents and give them easier access to police officers. It also serves as a mobile command post for special police operations and major events within the area. Funds to sustain the MCOPS van come from donations, as well as from the city of New Orleans. While staffing the MCOPS van, officers are routinely approached by citizens, who are now more comfortable approaching officers than they were prior to the use of the van.
The New Orleans MCOPS van is used in several ways, including—
- Command post for major annual events, including Mardi Gras, Sugar Bowl football games, and the Jazz and Heritage Festival.
- Community outreach station during NFL football games.
- Added presence for community events involving youth such as health fairs and sporting events.
- Mobile substation, where police officers who have walking beats can complete tasks such as filling out incident reports and doing computer searches.
Norwalk
Lt. Thomas Kulhawik of the Community Policing Unit, Norwalk Police Department, believes that the presence of the MCOPS vehicle is a deterrent to crime. The van is used primarily as an outreach vehicle for community policing within Norwalk 's public housing complexes. It is included in the city's fleet and is maintained by the city's Fleet Services. The vehicle is well known to city residents, especially those who live in the public housing complexes, and is sometimes even requested; residents have said that they feel more secure when they see officers and the MCOPS van nearby.
The MCOPS van is often used in conjunction with other agencies such as the Norwalk Housing Authority and the Norwalk Health Department. These uses include—
- A mobile office for various programs, including book drives and health screenings.
- A mobile office for city events, such as fireworks displays, holiday tree lightings, and vehicle safety checkpoints.
Oakland
According to Candice Jessie, Weed and Seed Administrative Coordinator for the Oakland Police Department, Oakland's MCOPS van is used extensively in Weed and Seed sites for law enforcement and community-based efforts. The city of Oakland covers the van's operational and maintenance expenses; Jessie stated that the MCOPS van earns its keep by giving communities access to many important services.
MCOPS-related law enforcement and community outreach activities include—
- Command outpost. The van provides a mobile command station for gang, prostitution, and drug buy/bust details; DUI enforcement; and sting operations.
- Public safety fairs. Officers hand out safety information and community outreach materials about the police department.
- Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) Camps. The MCOPS van provides an office and home base for the camps.
- Community outreach events. The van provides a home base from which representatives of neighborhood programs can share information about help that is available, such as employment-referral services, municipal lending opportunities, childcare screening and immunizations, and blood pressure screening.
Washington, DC
According to Lt. Debra Manigault of the Metropolitan Police Department, the MCOPS van is rotated between the different Weed and Seed sites in the District of Columbia. When a violent crime occurs, especially a homicide, the van is driven to the respective site and staffed by two uniformed officers until the District Commander gives the directive to relocate it. The van is also deployed during community events and high-visibility and overtime patrols.
When the van enters a particular community, residents often come out to see what is going on. Patrol officers use these opportunities to engage residents from a community-policing perspective. During this time, information is exchanged regarding crime statistics and current and upcoming events scheduled in the community.
The van has been used for various community and law enforcement events. These events include—
- Forty Days of Increased Peace. This is a city-wide series of free events, activities, and services targeted toward youth and young adults as an alternative to violence.
- East of the River Safety Awareness Day. This is a day for citizens to come out and participate in workshops on car seat installations, self defense, home and auto security, and medical emergency and life-saving techniques.
- Intelligence gathering regarding violent crimes.
- Drug activity deterrent.
- Fight Backs. In these operations, the streets are cleaned, trash is picked up, abandoned vehicles are towed, and crime and safety tips are distributed to the community.
Atlanta
Karen Rogers, Director of the Mayor's Office of Weed and Seed, indicated that the MCOPS van is still being used frequently in Atlanta for Weed and Seed activities and other community events. It is used to patrol neighborhoods and assist in various police details, including visibility patrol. The city of Atlanta maintains and provides funding for the vehicle.
Numerous community and law enforcement events for which the van has been used include—
- The Weed and Seed “Fingerprint Initiative.” About 60 children were fingerprinted and their parents were given information that could help police identify their children.
- Law enforcement sweep. A multijurisdictional sweep was conducted in the Weed and Seed communities of Pittsburgh and Mechanicsville.
- Mayor's Teenage Prostitution Summit. Police officers provided information on prostitution and child exploitation to attendees.
- National HIV/AIDS Day. HIV testing was offered.
- Miscellaneous events. The van was featured at various community parades, ribbon cuttings, school presentations, and concerts.
Houston
Ron Cutlip, Community Relations Officer for the Houston U.S. Attorney's Office, reported that Houston's main goal for MCOPS is to project a positive law enforcement image. The van also has been a major success in fighting and preventing crime, he said. Law enforcement officials leave the van in targeted high-crime areas, primarily in Weed and Seed communities, for a week at a time to assist in high-visibility enforcement efforts to rid the areas of drug and alcohol abuse, traffic violations, gangs, and prostitution. Cutlip reported that people associate seeing the van in their neighborhood with a crack-down on criminal activity. The U.S. Attorney's Office also uses the van for outreach and it has received substantial coverage from the local media. The city of Houston pays for the van's maintenance.
The van is also used for community activities, including—
- Crime Prevention Fest. Community and health service providers, the mayor's office, churches, police and fire departments, medical practitioners, and the Texas Employment Agency offer their services to residents and discuss how to prevent crime.
- DEFY Camps. The MCOPS van is frequently used as an office and contains radios, training materials, information for organizing athletics, and more.
- Community health assessments. The van is taken into Weed and Seed neighborhoods to provide youth with health assessments, flu shots, other medical attention, and information on the police department.
- School career days. Officers teach youth about the different functions of the police department and answer their questions.
Kansas City
Sgt. Randall Sims, Operations Sergeant for the Central Patrol Division of the Kansas City Police Department, reported that the MCOPS van is used primarily for community and business functions that are held outside in warm weather. It is also used for special events and is being outfitted as a secondary command post to supplement the primary command post at critical incidents. Funding for the vehicle is part of the city's Fleet Operations budget. The MCOPS vehicle has enabled Kansas City to better serve its citizens and to help its police department do its job. For 2 weeks last summer, the van even housed the North Patrol Division's staff while they waited for air conditioning repairs to their own building, which high temperatures had made uninhabitable.
Events where the MCOPS van has been used include—
- St. Patrick's Day parade and various festivals.
- Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) graduations.
- Community outreach events. Officers park the van in neighborhoods where they are serving drug search warrants so residents can come by the van to ask questions about what's happening in their neighborhoods.
For more information, contact:
Callie Long
Project Management Assistant
Institute for Law and Justice
703-684-5300, x103
1018 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
