“PROVIDING ENHANCED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY”

Community Team Policing is a manner of policing that involves close interaction between specific teams of officers and the community we serve. The campus has been divided into four geographic areas with one team assigned to each area. Each team consists of a team supervisor, two team leaders, five officers, one detective, and a representative from both the Parking and Safety Services Divisions.

Team Supervisor

Each team supervisor is responsible for managing their team resources to address issues within their team area. Crime analysis data and reports will be provided to each team supervisor so that they can formulate strategies to direct these resources. Each team supervisor will track daily activity of all team members and hold each accountable for directed activities. Coordination of all follow-up investigations will be handled by each team supervisor and monitored to ensure timely disposition of cases. Sergeants will monitor and record team member activities and provide regular feedback to officers to improve performance.

Team Leaders

Team leaders are responsible for maintaining personalized contact and continuing to build close relationships with students, faculty, staff, and employees and acting as a conduit for information flowing between the community and their respective teams. Team leaders will help to maintain the satellite offices within their respective areas. It is expected that team leaders will volunteer for calls in their area, as well as perform some follow-up investigations as directed by the team supervisor.

Team Officers

Team officers bear the primary responsibility for motorized patrol within their respective area but are not restricted from patrolling other areas as directed. It is expected that team officers will volunteer for calls within their area when appropriate and available. Team officers may be assigned to activities by the team supervisor based on a specific strategy or plan to address issues identified through crime analysis or other means. Team officers may be assigned follow-up investigations on a case by case basis depending on the officer’s area of expertise and needs of the team. Officers will be evaluated on their ability to effectively contribute to the team and accomplish stated goals. Each officer will be expected to perform a variety of activities in meeting these goals.

Team Detectives

Team detectives will act as resource persons for each of their respective teams and may assist in coordinating and assisting with more complex investigations as needed. Team detectives shall monitor criminal activity in their respective areas through use of crime analysis data and team reports.

Parking and Safety Services Team Members

Parking and Safety Services Division team members will act as resource persons to each of their respective teams. On occasion, Parking and Safety Services team members may be called upon by other team members, to address specific issues or problems as they relate to their area of expertise. When Parking or Safety Services team members become aware of issues that may impact policing services, they should advise the appropriate team supervisor.

Patrol Commanders

The two Patrol Lieutenants assigned will be responsible for managing the overall operational aspects of the team policing concept and will set expectations for the sergeants working under their command. Lieutenants will continue to monitor the progress of all those officers assigned to their respective shifts. It is expected that officers and sergeants will receive regular feedback regarding progress in meeting the goals of the team and mission of the department. Sergeants will be evaluated on their ability to effectively lead the team. An example would include their ability to process crime analysis data, criminal reports, and intelligence information; work with their team members to develop strategies to allocate resources; reduce crime and enhance safety in their respective areas.

Community Team Policing Coordinator

Sergeant McGlothian-Taylor will maintain regular contact with team leaders to coordinate the release of information to the community. Special projects and or programs that require media attention or dissemination through other various information outlets, can be coordinated through Sergeant McGlothian-Taylor. Sgt. McGlothian-Taylor will also act as a resource person to provide team members with crime prevention materials as needed.

Team Member Attributes and Abilities

The team concept and other types of policing approaches are extremely dependant on the personal attributes and abilities of the officers that perform the day-to-day police activities. To provide an example of some positive attributes and abilities, these were taken directly from two recent weekly FTO reports: officer has excellent work ethic and attitude; always prepared for shift; during slow periods stays active with traffic enforcement and physical property checks; volunteers for calls when not assigned to assist fellow officers; very professional demeanor and treats citizens with courtesy; aggressive traffic enforcement; makes good quality stops; knows the campus well and is excellent in dealing with people; reports are written well and are complete.

The success of this type of policing is also dependant upon both individual initiative and the collective efforts of those assigned to each team. Innovation, creativity, leadership, and communication are all crucial to meeting the goals of the team and the overall mission of the organization. This change in structure was a result of input from MSU Department of Police and Public Safety employees and feedback from our community. This is only a starting point from which we can build and improve. Feedback is necessary and encouraged as we continually look for better ways to serve our community.