Video: Community Policing Present in Gulfport

The Gulfport Police Department has graciously invited citizens to learn more about the department's operations, policies, procedures and more! The Citizens Police Academy is an 8-week course with class time, demonstrations and a ride along. Now, during my first week, I wrote about learning what it takes to apply to become an officer for Gulfport. During the second week we learned about three topics: GPD Records and Crime Analysis, Communications and K9 Operations. Be sure to check out my second video; it includes three demonstrations from K9 Cosmo.

Unfortunately, I had to skip my fourth class, which was about the department's Red Light Camera Program, Traffic Enforcement, DUI Investigations and the Marine Unit.

This week, week 5, we learned about community policing and we were CPR certified by the Gulfport Fire Department.

Community Resource Officer Robert McLaughlin explained that community policing is empowering and engaging for a community. Basically, anytime a community member sees a problem or believes there is a problem, they inform officials and officials take it from there. McLaughlin said when the community gets involved people can make positive changes. I also learned:

• 10 percent of victims are involved in 42 percent of crimes
• 10 percent of produce 55 percent of crimes
• 10 percent of locations account for 60 percent of calls

What that tells me is that repeat offenders add to the number of reports, as does the number of victims.

McLaughlin also explained how the following problem solving process is used in "community policing":

• scanning
• analysis
• response
• assessment

Scanning is:

• Reports from citizens (talking to neighbors, business owners)
• Officer observations (noticing repeat calls, suspicious or illegal activity)
• Information or reports from other agencies or departments (receiving tips from codes, public works, probation and parole, postal service and department of Children and Families.

The second portion of our lesson was a CPR certification course by Firefighters Mike Hayes and Adam Poirrier with the Gulfport Fire Department. The local fire department is a location where anyone can get certified. I don't know the specifics, but if you are interested, contact the department at 893-1059.

This happened to be the second time I received CPR instruction by the Gulfport Fire Department. I took a course provided by the Chief and Gulfport CERT about a year ago. One thing that the Chief told me before really stuck out in my mind. He said that often times, if you use your CPR skills as a bystander it's on a friend or family member. That made me pay very close attention to every instruction during the class.

I highly encourage anyone able to take a CPR course. You never know if or when the skills would be needed to save a life.