By far the newest aspect of the new patrol plan is the development of the Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO).  The NRO is the direct link between the community and the Police Department.  The NRO is best described as the “small town sheriff” for each patrol beat.  The NRO will provide a personal contact to anyone living, working, or visiting within the specific patrol beat.   If there is an emergency or routine police service request, the public should continue to use 9-1-1 or our non-emergency line (310-458-8491).  However, if there is a reoccurring concern, or developing crime trend, or other non-routine need for service, the NRO will be able to assist. 

The NRO provides the community with a named officer they can contact within the police department.  The NRO will assist in the coordination of the patrol beat officers through information sharing and communication.  NRO’s are available to attend community meetings and events; engage in regular patrols; and conduct proactive crime prevention.  Unlike the patrol beat officers that are assigned to their beat for a period of six months, the NRO’s are assigned for several years.  The NRO’s can be contacted through e-mail, cellular phone, or a phone call to their office.  If you would like to contact your NRO, you can call (310) 458-2201 extension 4NRO (4676) or click on the Neighborhood Resource Officer link on this web page to see their picture.

The Police Department’s Community Relations Section will continue to be a vital link and integral role in community collaboration.  Each Crime Prevention Coordinator (CPC) is assigned two beats.  The CPC provides the community, patrol beat officers, and the NRO’s with a contact to coordinate community meetings and assist with developing crime prevention programs. In addition, the Office of Criminal Investigations Property Section has aligned investigators with the patrol beats to have consistency amongst detectives working within the same geographic region. 

Other elements of the new patrol plan include the ability of the public to engage in crime mapping through the Police Department’s website, later this year.  This upcoming program will allow anyone to generate maps of call for service and crime report data.

Community Oriented Policing is an integral part in a strong, working relationship between the community and the police department.  We look forward to continuing to build upon these efforts and provide the highest quality law enforcement services available.