The Merrill Police Department is launching a Crime Prevention Initiative with the goal of creating a line of communication with Merrill businesses, organizations and citizens to assist in deterring crime, detecting crime, and diminishing opportunities for crime.
According to Merrill Police Chief Ken Neff, the first phase of the initiative will involve individual Merrill officers making face-to-face contact with every business in the City of Merrill. They will offer crime prevention resources and gather information from each business to establish an updated database that will be used in a variety of ways by law enforcement. Information for the database includes business contact information, including email address and phone numbers, business owners and key-holder information, in case a need arises where contact is necessary. An email address provides law enforcement with the ability to inform businesses of important information including criminal activity that may affect the business. Officers will be able to provide resources regarding crime prevention solutions and tips and will be able to offer a free physical inspection of a business for crime prevention related issues.
Subsequent phases of the initiative will offer presentations to service organizations or other venues, focusing on crime prevention subjects such as internet, phone or mail and email scams. Also, the initiative will extend into residential areas of the city where officers will offer crime prevention resources to households and individuals.
“The goal is that residents will be at ease in passing along information to officers enabling the police department to address neighborhood concerns and issues,” Neff said.
The initiative will also establish a “Crime Prevention Initiative info line” that residents can use to provide information to the police at any time of the day or night, by phone. The CPI info line will allow residents to leave a voice message to officers with this information, or with questions they may have on any subject.
The Crime Prevention Initiative is intended to allow Citizens and Police to share Information.