Police Department's Problem-Oriented Policing Program Gains National Recognition

The has a track record of nationally recognized policing programs, its Problem Oriented Policing (POP) program included.

Problem Oriented Policing involves a proactive approach to law enforcement, instead of what is commonly referred to as "reactive" policing, said CHPD spokesman Eric Mattke. This means POP and its organizers are in the business of attempting to prevent crime from occurring, rather than just responding to crimes when they happen.

"In Citrus Heights we combine the efforts of our community with our employees to identify problems and find long lasting solutions," Mattke said.  

The Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) dedicates staff to proactively solving issues in the community through strategic policing methods. The Citrus Heights POP Unit is comprised of police officers, code enforcement officers, and civilian staff who are specially trained to resolve criminal activity, quality of life and general nuisance issues throughout the city. These methods typically involve those officers and staffs meeting with specific neighborhood watch groups and local individuals throughout the city to determine on a case-by-case basis what specific issues those neighborhoods are dealing with.

"Each problem we look at, we try to prioritize based on what's happening in the world and the resources available and what we can do there," Mattke said.

Mattke said among the most prominent issues POP officers deal with include domestic violence, working with individuals in group homes and transients. Sometimes overlap can exist for these issues as well, Mattke noted. For example, individuals in a group home environment can often present problems to business owners when those individuals are found loitering near liquor stores. The issue poses a legal problem for those storeowners when alcohol is being consumed on their property grounds.

"Kids who are raised in that situation turn out to be users or victims as well," Mattke said. "If we can stop a cycle, we can have a long-term effect there, as well as improving somebody's quality of life."

Working with those individuals sometimes presents opportunities to assist them as well. Mattke explained one of the methods for improving quality of life for individuals in a group home or those on the streets means donating food and shelter - a means for them to find some foundation. However, it can also lead to enabling of those less desirable habits.

"That’s always a possibility," Mattke said.  "Most times in that situation we will offer resources to groups that have a food bank, such as Loaves and Fishes."

One of the key functions of POP is to work with and empower citizens of the community to recognize, identify, and assist in the resolution of problems and problem locations within the community. The POP team meets on a daily basis with citizens and a variety of city departments, including police, City Council, Public Works, and the Chamber of Commerce. The POP team also works closely with the Sacramento Metro Fire District and the City Attorney’s Office.

There is currently a POP officer assigned full-time to the Sunrise Mall to provide police service, crime prevention education, and problem solving for one of our city's most important businesses, Mattke said. POP officers work closely with community groups such as Neighborhood Associations and Neighborhood Watch groups to impact crime in their areas of concern.  These associations have monthly meetings to discuss activities, city projects and concerns.  

"Our code enforcement officers have been very effective in handling neighborhood nuisance issues," Mattke said. "Most nuisances — approximately 98 percent of them — are handled on the first contact with the alleged violator."

These nuisance issues range from overgrown weeds, vacant houses, to junk vehicles.

"The goal of Code Enforcement is to gain compliance rather than issue fees and fines," Mattke said.

Although CHPD has a specific Problem Oriented Policing unit, patrol officers are also POP officers. Mattke explained that Citrus Heights Police Department has a “generalist philosophy," which means patrol officers are looking for problems that need attention. These issues can be criminal, nuisance, or quality of life, Mattke explained.

CHPD has a number of ways to track crime and crime trends. Officers utilize this information in their patrol activities on a daily basis, Mattke said. This includes traffic officers working areas of collision incidents, areas of concern and safety identified via our residents, and our school zones.

The Citrus Heights Police Department was recently selected for the James Q Wilson award for recognition of its problem-solving program and the department's problem-oriented policing philosophy. The Domestic Violence Intervention Program was selected as the award-winning program.

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