I hope the summer has been safe and enjoyable for everyone. It has been a while since I brought you up to speed about the progress of the Police Department. We are continuing to rebuild our staffing levels and are phasing in the District Policing concept. As you know, at one point we were down to three (3) patrol officers working each shift. Since the levy passage in August 2005 we have hired fifteen (15) Police Officers, of that number thirteen (13) have completed the training program and assumed normal patrol duties. Two (2) officers are presently in the training program and we have 3 positions still to fill. We have increased our staffing levels with three (3) to four (4) officers on the street from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Five (5) officers scheduled from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and five (5) officers scheduled from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Our Detective Section has been increased by two (2) and now consists of a Sergeant and three (3) Detectives.

The Districts are in place and are still in the very early stages. We are now approaching a staffing level where the districts can begin functioning as we want them to.

The hiring process and training program are working very well and the quality of officers you are getting is second to none. As you know City Council passed a Nuisance Abatement Ordinance that was effective in December 2006. Since that time we have been successful in boarding up three (3) known drug houses and presently have two (2) more in the process. We have also caused four (4) apartment residents to be evicted with the abatement process. As the Detective Section staffing levels increase the number of drug house closings and narcotic investigations will also increase. If you have a suspected drug location in your neighborhood, please let us know. We maintain cases on all information received. Your information will get addressed; however, we conduct drug investigations on a priority, or scale of operations basis, and not necessarily in the order received.

You can report all criminal activity by calling the dispatch center at 937 225-4357 or for emergencies call 911. If you have internet access and wish to report activity anonymously you can go to www.rpdtips.com and send the information to us. Please do not use the website for emergency information as the information may not be received for several hours.

The City is divided into 4 Policing Districts. These districts were determined by number of calls for service and population density. Each district is assigned a Team Leader and a team of Police Officers. This team patrols the district and addresses concerns and situations that occur there. These teams hold regular meetings to discuss events and circumstances that are occurring in their districts and the steps they will take to effectively address the issues. Each district has or soon will have a District Office. Out of these offices, officers will: conduct meetings, run special programs, etc. To become actively involved in your District, or to find out when and where the next meeting is going to be held, feel free to contact your District Team Leader at:

District 1: Sergeant Danny Brodnick
Email: sgtdbrodnick@riverside.oh.us / Phone: 937-233-1820x251

District 2: Sergeant Jeff Trego
Email: sgttrego@riverside.oh.us / Phone: 937-233-1820x251

District 3: Sergeant Harold Jones
Email: hjones@riverside.oh.us / Phone: 937-233-1820x251

District 4: Sergeant Dave Crigler
Email: sgtdcrigler@riverside.oh.us / Phone: 937-233-1820x251

Report Crimes

This page is for the purpose of exchanging information between our citizens and the police department.

If you are here to report a crime in progress, you should call 911 for emergencies or 937-225-4357 for non emergencies and have an officer dispatched to your location as it has always been done. This page is NOT for reporting of the everyday matter such as barking dogs, witness statement pick up locations, parking complaints, etc.

Our goal was to provide a quiet method for those folks who want to make us aware of drug houses, wanted persons and their locations, stolen merchandise, stolen vehicle locations, and any other matter that might require some discretion when talking with a police officer.

To report crimes go to the Riverside Police Department Tips website:

http://rpdtips.com/

Riverside Victim Services program provides comprehensive services to those affected by traumatic or violent criminal acts including: survivors, witnesses, and family members. Emotional recovery largely depends on the support victims receive. Riverside Victim Services provides support, resources, and an understanding of the process of victimization and trauma recovery. Being part of the Police Department affords the victim advocates a unique opportunity to have immediate contact with victims. Investigators of traumatic and violent crimes can access a victim advocate twenty-four hours a day. Being the victim of a crime can be traumatic and stressful. Contacting and communicating with law enforcement and judicial personnel can be confusing and even intimidating. The Victim Service Office was created to help victims and their families cope with the effects of crime in their lives.

Goals

• To lessen the trauma suffered by victims and their families.
• To increase resources available to crime survivors and co-survivors.
• To increase public awareness of the impact of crime on survivors and to the community.
• To bind survivors and co-survivors more closely to the justice system and to advocate for their right to participate in the process.
• To make the community, legislature, and justice system aware of the needs and rights of crime survivors and co-survivors.

Services Provided

• Emotional support and crisis intervention.
• Court accompaniment during all stages of the justice system.
• Personal advocacy.
• Information and referral to community resources.
• Information and assistance in filing for Victims of Crime Compensation.
• Information and assistance with Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE).

Domestic Violence

• Riverside Victim Services review all domestic reports and contact all victims by telephone or letter. This ensures all domestic violence victims receive information regarding victims rights, protection orders, safety planning, referral services and the judicial process.
• Riverside Victim Services provide early intervention to both parties involved in a domestic dispute. By providing resources early we may prevent the situation from escalating into domestic violence.

Victim Services can be reached at Office: (937) 233-6224 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday (Closed Holidays) Email at scolon@riverside.oh.us The Riverside Victim Services Office is located at the Police Department at: 1791 Harshman Road Riverside, Ohio 45424.

The Police Department was recently tasked with enforcing the Exterior Property Maintenance Code. The District Officers have been on every street in their districts filling out notices of all exterior maintenance code violations. These violations for the most part include: tall grass and weeds, buildings that have peeling paint, hanging gutters or are in a general state of disrepair, yards that are full of trash and debris, outside storage, junk vehicles, vehicles parked in the grass, recreational vehicles parked improperly, etc. Please keep in mind if you have received a notice of violation, we are asking you to comply with the law. All violations that are not properly addressed will be taken to Court or abated by the City. The District Officers will be conducting street by street Exterior Property Code Maintenance inspections multiple times a year. I have no doubt we can have a very positive impact on our cities appearance and future if we all work together. Click here to proceed to Exterior Property Maintenance Code, Chapter 1331.

We want to continue to increase: Neighborhood/Police Department interaction, cooperation, and communication, while building ownership in YOUR Community and YOUR Police Department. Neighborhood Watch** Is a Crime Prevention Program that:

• has neighbors “Look out for each other”
• encourages Neighborhood Participants to get to know each other and their routines so that any out of place activity can be observed, recognized for what it is, reported and investigated
• teaches Participants techniques to reduce the risk of being victimized at home, in their vehicles and in public places
• trains Participants on the importance of recognizing suspicious activities and sounds, evaluate them and then how to properly report them
• teaches Participants how to make their homes more secure, and to properly identify their property
• is a cohesive body of concerned, involved Neighbor-Participants addressing many issues that concern the entire community

If you are interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch Program please give us a call or an Email chiefjohnson@riverside.oh.us, and we will get back with you to assist in getting your Neighborhoods Program started.