Ocala Initiatives In Community Policing and Public Safety.

Years ago, the Ocala Police Department envisioned a new method for public safety.
In order to address a host of revolving concerns, a new philosophy was adopted, community policing. The previous, reactionary system responded only to reported problems and frequently led to repeat calls on unsettled issues. While proponents of the centralized policing concept argued that traditional methods already maintained civil liberties and public safety at tolerable levels, crime continued to negatively impact the communities of Ocala in the late 1980's. Through "Modern Problem-Oriented Policing" programs, the police and the community integrated themselves through community organizations and government agencies, by infusing themselves on various advisory boards of civic groups and government committees.

The LECC (Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee) for the US Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida, through its signature "Weed & Seed" initiative, has worked in collaboration with the various residents of Ocala, law enforcement representatives, and city officials, in an ongoing effort to strengthen the rapport between governments and the community which they serve . Ocala Lieutenant Ken DeVilling, wrote that the program's arrival was, "in the 'nick of time,'" for the Ocala community. This cooperation first created the CCASA (Community Council Against Substance Abuse), with members on the Marion County Commission, the Ocala City Council, the Marion County School Board, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Belleview City Council, and the fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office. By 1998, this highly integrated council helped drop Ocala's annual homicide count from the 20's in the early 1990's, down to only one in 1997. The council helps to continue this trend today.

At the practical level, Ocala officers initiate the POP (Problem-Oriented Policing) program when answering calls for service in their communities, by completing a simple form, outlining the problem. The officer submits the form to a supervisor who forwards it to the appropriate superiors. The POP request continues to move through the system, until it reaches the municipal department best suitable to resolve the issue, utilizing the appropriate means. The Police Department and city management personnel provide oversight of the system, to insure its timeliness. For example, police officers often identify dilapidated buildings used by drug offenders. Shortly after the POP is recorded, code officials may be alerted for appropriate action. This may lead to mandatory renovation by the property owner, or condemnation by the city. In the latter instance, the property may be used by members of the local fire department for demolition-by-fire exercises to allow firemen the opportunity to train and improve upon their skills.

The prevention aspect of Weed & Seed presents unique challenges in trend analysis and planning. The Ocala Police Department, CPS (Crime Prevention Section), provides the personnel and logistical support for the "Seed" portion of the program. The Crime Prevention Section plans, designs, implements, and coordinates a wide range of programs and activities, including public events and presentations. With these activities, the Police Department closely and positively interacts with the community. CPS personnel are members of community-based organizations and government committees, with responsibility for updating and improving present outreach programs, and are charged with the challenge of creating and expanding new organizations. Current projects include: DEFY (Drug Education for Youth), DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), and GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training). Together these programs bring a particular focus on the area's youth and stand to greatly enhance the lives of Ocala's citizens.