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Morgan Hill Police Department Newsletter

Community Announcements | Updates | Alerts

Fall 2012      Vol. 4
In This Issue
MHPD Community Survey
Volunteers in Policing
Spotlight on Dispatch
Are you Ready for the Rainy Season?
MHPD Stats
Quick Links




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Chief's Corner

 

MHPD Launches Community SurveyChief Swint 

 

In 2011 the Morgan Hill Police Department embarked on an ambitious process to develop a Public Safety Outcome Based Strategic Plan. Our Strategic Plan was developed over the course of several months and included input from the community, city staff and police department. The Plan will serve as a roadmap for the Department over the next four years. Included in the Plan are four tangible outcomes that are aligned to our mission and vision:

 

  1. Reduce Incidents of Crime and Traffic Collisions
  2. Increase Trust and Confidence in the Police Department
  3. Increase Feelings of Safety
  4. Increase Proficiency of Staff

Our Strategic Plan an be viewed on our website

 

Outcomes 2 and 3 are directly related to enhancing feelings of safety, trust and confidence in the Department. In order to accomplish this, the Police Department needs to know the pulse of the community in regard to current feelings of safety and security.   We will be conducting a Community Survey to do just that. The survey will be implemented in 2 segments:

 

1. Morgan Hill residents to be conducted this fall

 

2. Visitors to our recreation centers as well as Downtown to be conducted in Spring/Summer 2013 

 

Read on... 

Volunteers in Policing Program
 
VIP Vehicle 

Have you seen this vehicle in your neighborhood or by your child's school? If the answer is yes, then you've seen the vehicles dedicated to our Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program, manned by our volunteers.   Last year, the Morgan Hill Police Department launched the innovative VIP program to help support the department in a variety of ways. 

In 2011 we started with a handful of dedicated VIPs who helped the Department as needed. In one year, the program has grown to 18 VIPs who are responsible for a variety of tasks and are now considered indispensible by members of the Department.

 

"In this era of limited resources, the work of the VIPs allows us to leverage the resources and staff we do have to allow officers to conduct the very important work of keeping our community safe" said Captain Jerry Neumayer.   Read on... 

Spotlight on MHPD's Dispatch Center

Dispatch  

If you've ever experienced an emergency and needed to call 9-1-1 for police services in Morgan Hill, then you've interacted with our Dispatch Center. The Police Department's Dispatch Center houses 7 highly trained full-time Dispatchers who work a variety of shifts to man the Center 24/7. If you call 9-1-1 in need of medical assistance, our MHPD Dispatchers will transfer your call to the centralized County Communications Center (also known as County Comm) who will dispatch ambulances and paramedics to the call.

 

Did you know that to become a Dispatcher you must complete 120 hours of basic dispatch training and an on-the-job training module with a trained Dispatcher? In addition to basic training, professional Dispatchers must complete 24 hours of certified training every 2 years as required by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training or P.O.S.T.  Read on...
Are You Ready for the Rainy Season?
Flood1 
The creeks and rivers that helped form the pic
turesque Santa Clara Valley are an integral part of the natural beauty of the area. They are also subject to periodic flooding. Although city maintenance crews work year-round to prepare our systems to carry floodwaters away from homes and businesses, blocked storm drains, downed trees and other creek blockages can cause small scale flooding in neighborhood areas. Here are some helpful hints to help you through the rainy season.

 

Dispose of Leaves & Trimmings the Right Way

Falling leaves are a sign of the season, but when they accumulate and clog storm drains, they can cause flooding.  Please take care to dispose of leaves properly.  Keep catch basins and drainage channels clean.  Don't sweep leaves or litter into the gutter or storm drain - the street sweeper does not pick up piles of leaves or other materials. Place leaves and other yard waste in your Recology compost container.  Compost containers are picked up weekly.  To find out the schedule for your neighborhood and for additional information about this service, please visit: www.recologysouthvalley.com  or call (408) 842-3358.

 

Before winter storms arrive, it is wise to prune away any branches that could break and hit your home and/or interfere with drainage.  Property owners are responsible for trimming plants in their own yards so that they do not encroach onto the sidewalk, block visibility for drivers or interfere with traffic.  The standard clearance that must be maintained over sidewalks is seven feet and over the street, a minimum of fourteen feet.  

 

Read on...  

MHPD Crime Stats

 

Morgan Hill continues to experience a downward trend in Part 1 Property Crimes as of September 2012.  Morgan Hill experienced a slight increase in burglaries over the summer months, but we were able to successfully apprehend the suspects through proactive policing. Part I Violent Crimes are expected to remain at relatively the same levels as 2011.  Part 1 crimes are crimes against persons and property.

 

To view Morgan Hill's Part 1 Crimes from January - September, 2012

click here.