The crime rate in Arlington Heights dropped by more than 5 percent in 2011, representing an all-time low. The Village’s crime rate is far below the National average as well as the average for the State of Illinois.
Police Chief Gerald Mourning credits the decrease to the Department’s hard work, proactive police tactics and innovative strategies, as well as a variety of community education, interaction and crime prevention initiatives.
Proactive efforts have included the targeting of specific crime categories such as Burglary from Motor Vehicles. These efforts, including crime analysis and surveillance activities, have resulted in increased arrests.
The Department’s education and prevention efforts include the Citizen Observer program, Crime Stoppers and the creation of Public Service Announcements (PSAs). In addition, the Department’s “Crime Opportunity Notice” program has played an integral role in citizen awareness. Since the program’s inception, police officers have issued thousands of written notices to residents and business owners informing them of changes or improvements they could make to protect their vehicles, homes and businesses from crimes of opportunity.
Community support has also played a tremendous role in helping decrease the Village’s crime rate. Residents and members of the business community who participate in programs such as Crime Stoppers and the Citizens’ Police Academy provide essential assistance to the Department’s crime prevention and public education efforts.
The Arlington Heights Police Department has set a goal for 2012 to substantially increase the number of residents registered to receive free alerts from Citizen Observer. The police department encourages residents to tell neighbors, friends, co-workers and family memeber, and have them register at www.citizenobserver.com. The Arlington Heights Police Department reports that CitizenObserver has been an important tool in making sure the residents of Arlington Heights are kept informed.
Citizen Observer is a Saint Paul, Minnesota company founded by former Minnesota state Representative John Jordan and author Scotty Roberts after the shooting of Scotty Roberts’ mom by Harvey LaDoucer. St. Paul resident William Harvey LaDoucer eluded police for one year after disappearing December 8, 1999. Accused of shooting his estranged wife, he avoided capture when a task force member tracked him to Denver, but arrested after he returned to St. Paul and was found hiding at a friend’s house.
Citizen Observer provides a set of law enforcement tools that includes anonymous tips, as well as citizen alerts, now used by a number of police departments throughout the United States.
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