At the end of 2010, there was a lot of movement within the Raleigh Police Department (RPD). As you may have seen reported, RPD had a historic promotional ceremony with over 100 officers advancing to various new ranks. Additionally, there were nearly 200 officers transferred, either due to promotions or lateral specialty shifts. The Southwest Police District (SWD) had some exciting changes as a result:
- The SWD lost all of its current sergeants (first-line supervisors) to these promotions or transfers. We were sad to see these veteran sergeants, who were familiar with District D, leave the SWD. However, they were replaced by eager new sergeants who have hit the ground running.
- The SWD was approved to receive a Community Services Squad. This squad will initially consist of one sergeant and three officers. The squad will specialize in addressing the unique crime and quality-of-life issues that affect the SWD. They will use the Community-Oriented Government model to launch a coordinated, multi-entity response to these issues. This squad should be fully staffed by early spring.
The Community Services Squad will be led by Sergeant Gerald Takano. Among his many talents, Sgt. Takano was also previously a Corporal assigned to the SWD. So, he already has excellent insights and experiences from District D.
Obviously, The Community Services Squad operates in conjunction with our strong contingent of regular beat officers, who routinely patrol and respond to your communities. They are your “first-responders” for neighborhood incidents. While patrol officers also pro-actively seek out emerging community problems and attempt solutions, the Community Services Squad will directly focus on, and specialize in, addressing crime spikes and recurring quality of life issues.
The SWD also received a lieutenant, who acts as a “second-in-command.” Lieutenant Steve Jackson comes from our RPD Special Operations Division (SWAT). Coming from a specialized unit, Lt. Jackson expects a high level of service excellence from the SWD officers. With these new changes, we expect to maintain a very professional and effective police service to District D throughout 2011, and beyond.
Lt. Jackson, Sgt. Takano, and I look forward to frequently attending community meetings, CAC meetings, and other events. We look forward to introducing ourselves, listening to your comments and concerns, and collaborating with you on effective strategies. Thank you for your partnership.