Each Neighborhood Now Has Its Own Police Officer

Police in Martinez are doing more these days than arresting bad guys and writing speeding tickets – now each officer is also a neighborhood ambassador, thanks to a new program launched recently by Police Chief Gary Peterson.

Peterson has divided the city into 24 neighborhoods, and assigned one officer to each neighborhood. The officer will be charged with reaching out to that area, to develop a relationship with the residents there and be a point of contact for local government.

“The days when the government knows what’s best for the community are over,” said Peterson. “The community knows what’s best for the community, and we’re here to work with them.”

Each officer is now required to spend several hours of each shift getting to know the people in their particular neighborhood policing area (NPA). They will organize neighborhood watch groups, if there is interest in that, Peterson said. They will get to know the area, and be permanently assigned there, unless they are promoted or leave the department.

“The officers will still have their normal duties,” Peterson said. “But sometime during their shift they will work on neighborhood duties.”

How that happens will be up to the individual officer, Peterson said. 

“We’re giving them the latitude to develop their own techniques for each individual area,” he said.

To find the officer assigned to your area, visit the police department’s website.