Fairfield Police Department Announces Shift to Eight-Beat Patrol System
Effective July 1, 2022, the Fairfield Police Department has shifted to an eight-beat patrol system in the City of Fairfield. The newly drawn beats -- which correspond more closely to neighborhood boundaries and take into better account the city’s geography -- will be patrolled 24-hours a day by officers assigned an area for at least six months at a time. Two beats make up a PSA, which is managed by a lieutenant. The new plan is more of a throwback to the days when a neighborhood had its own officer who took a special interest in the lives of the residents we serve.
Under the framework of our community policing efforts this realignment will allow officers to engage with residents and prevent crime from happening instead of responding to incidents after they occur. How is community policing different from traditional policing?
- Intended to prevent crime before it happens rather than responding to crime after it occurs
- Focuses on creating a safe social environment
- Engages residents to determine which criminal activities they are most affected by, creating an accurate law enforcement priority list shaped by the people who live in the area
- Encourages residents to participate with law enforcement in order to keep their own community safe
In its simplest form, community policing creates a partnership between law enforcement and residents. The more involved law enforcement is with the residents they are sworn to protect, the more residents can help law enforcement achieve their goals. What are the benefits of an effective community policing structure?
- Residents having a more favorable view of their local police department
- Improved trust between law enforcement and residents
- More accurate information from residents regarding criminal activity in their community
- Better understanding of the needs of citizens and their expectations of the police
A Sergeant is assigned as a Beat Coordinator in each of the eight beats to help connect residents in each area to the officers who are most familiar with their neighborhood.
Beat Coordinators guide Patrol Officers' response to problems in their Beat, develop and track the progress of community problems and projects, and manage follow-up investigations on cases assigned to Patrol Officers.
New Public Service Area Map: https://www.fairfield.ca.gov/government/city-departments/police?locale=en
Address/Location
Fairfield, CA Police Department
1000 Webster St
Fairfield, CA 94533
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-428-7300
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