Vigo County Sheriff's Office Policy Manual

344.6 COMMUNITY AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS

The community relations coordinator should organize or assist with programs and activities that create opportunities for Sheriff's office members and community members, especially youth, to interact in a positive setting. Examples of such programs and events include:

(a) Sheriff's Office-sponsored athletic programs (e.g., baseball, basketball, soccer, bowling).

(b) Police-community get-togethers (e.g., cookouts, meals, charity events).

(c) Youth leadership and life skills mentoring.

(d) School resource deputy/Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.®) programs.

(e) Neighborhood Watch and crime prevention programs.

344.7 INFORMATION SHARING

The community relations coordinator should work with the Sheriff to develop methods and procedures for the convenient sharing of information (e.g., major incident notifications, significant changes in Sheriff's office operations, comments, feedback, positive events) between the Sheriff's Office and community members. Examples of information-sharing methods include:

(a) Community meetings.

(b) Social media (see the Sheriff's Office Use of Social Media Policy).

(c) Sheriff's Office website postings.

Information should be regularly refreshed, to inform and engage community members continuously.

344.8 LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS EDUCATION

The community relations coordinator should develop methods to educate community members on general law enforcement operations so they may understand the work that deputies do to keep the community safe. Examples of educational methods include:

(a) Development and distribution of informational cards/flyers.

(b) Sheriff's Office website postings.

(c) Presentations to driver education classes.

(d) Instruction in schools.

(e) Sheriff's Office ride-alongs (see the Ride-Alongs Policy).

(f) Scenario/Simulation exercises with community member participation.

(g) Youth internships at the Sheriff's Office.

(h) Citizen academies.