Vigo County Sheriff's Office

344.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for community relationship-building.

Additional guidance on community relations and outreach is provided in other policies, including the:

• Bias Crimes Policy.
• Limited English Proficiency Services Policy.
• Communications with Persons with Disabilities Policy.
• Chaplains Policy.
• Patrol Policy.
• Suspicious Activity Reporting Policy.

344.2 POLICY

It is the policy of the Vigo County Sheriff's Office to promote positive relationships between Sheriff's office members and the community by treating community members with dignity and respect and engaging them in public safety strategy development and relationship-building activities, and by making relevant policy and operations information available to the community in a transparent manner.

344.3 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

Deputies should, as time and circumstances reasonably permit:

1. Make casual and consensual contacts with community members to promote positive community relationships (see the Contacts and Temporary Detentions Policy).
2. Become reasonably familiar with the schools, businesses and community groups in their assigned jurisdictional areas.
3. Work with community members and the Sheriff's office community relations coordinator to identify issues and solve problems related to community relations and public safety.
4. Conduct periodic foot patrols of their assigned areas to facilitate interaction with community members. Deputies carrying out foot patrols should notify an appropriate supervisor and the Dispatch Center of their status (i.e., on foot patrol) and location before beginning and upon completion of the foot patrol. They should also periodically inform the Dispatch Center of their location and status during the foot patrol.