Vigo County Sheriff's Office
Policy Manual
Community Relations
344.4 COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR
The Sheriff or the authorized designee should designate a member of the Sheriff's Office to serve as the community relations coordinator. He/she should report directly to the Sheriff or the authorized designee and is responsible for:
(a)
Obtaining Sheriff's office-approved training related to his/her responsibilities.
(b)
Responding to requests from Sheriff's office members and the community for assistance in identifying issues and solving problems related to community relations and public safety.
(c)
Organizing surveys to measure the condition of the Sheriff's office’s relationship with the community.
(d)
Working with community groups, Sheriff's office members and other community resources to:
1.
Identify and solve public safety problems within the community.
2.
Organize programs and activities that help build positive relationships between Sheriff's office members and the community and provide community members with an improved understanding of Sheriff's office operations.
(e)
Working with the Patrol Commander to develop patrol deployment plans that allow deputies the time to participate in community engagement and problem-solving activities.
(f)
Recognizing Sheriff's office and community members for exceptional work or performance in community relations efforts.
(g)
Attending County council and other community meetings to obtain information on community relations needs.
(h)
Assisting with the Sheriff's office’s response to events that may affect community relations, such as an incident where the conduct of a Sheriff's office member is called into public question.
(i)
Informing the Sheriff and others of developments and needs related to the furtherance of the Sheriff's office’s community relations goals, as appropriate.
344.5 SURVEYS
The community relations coordinator should arrange for a survey of community members and Sheriff's office members to be conducted at least annually to assess the condition of the relationship between the Sheriff's Office and the community. Survey questions should be designed to evaluate perceptions of the following:
(a)
Overall performance of the Sheriff's Office
(b)
Overall competence of Sheriff's office members
(c)
Attitude and behavior of Sheriff's office members
(d)
Level of community trust in the Sheriff's Office
(e)
Safety, security or other concerns