NCJ Number
140574
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1992) Pages: 68-72
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The growth of the city population and the police department in the 1980's brought many new programs and some changes in the organizational structure of the police department of Virginia Beach (Virginia).
Abstract
The agency added a CAD radio system with KDT terminals in police vehicles and computerized its incident and investigative data, arrest data, and certain personnel and equipment information. It also improved the retrieval of information. Other changes were to process certain non- critical complaints over the telephone through the Telephone Reporting Unit. The auxiliary officers and civilian volunteers also contributed diverse and valuable services. Other programs included a crime solvers program, a mounted patrol, neighborhood watch, crime prevention through environmental design, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, and the Compu-sketch computer program for drawing suspects. The department also began efforts to obtain new helicopters and boats. Although the department was confronted with many problems during the 1980's, the city experienced the lowest crime rate in the United States for cities between 200,000 and 700,000 population during the 1980's. During the 1990's the department will continue its efforts to provide the services necessary for a growing community.