Community Policing

The North Fond du Lac Police Department has received three awards for its initiatives in community policing and problem solving efforts. In addition to receiving Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association (WCPPA) awards in 2000 and 2005, we also earned the Wisconsin Association of Community Oriented Police (WACOP) Sir Robert Peel Award in 2001.

At it's original inception, the neighborhood policing program had the community divided into five different geographical districts with one officer assigned to work specifically with each district on a regular basis. This approach was, in part, intended to provide every resident with more personalized policing services.

While this concept has good merit, the police department identified some downfalls as well. In many cases, night shift does not allow those officers to make personal contact with residents for follow-through on cases. It was also difficult to address activity in a timely manner when an officer was on an extended leave. The process also tended to isolate district officers, forcing them to handle issues on their own rather than taking a team approach to problem solving or creative solutions. Therefore, the department decided to eliminate the district officer concept and implement the "section team" philosophy.

In place of the previously determined districts, the community is divided into two sections:  section #1 north of Winnebago Street and section #2 south of Winnebago Street. One sergeant and three officers are assigned to each section. The districts now serve only in the capacity of identifying a specific geographical area of the community.

A true benefit of this system is that officers from each shift can collectively work as a team to accomplish their section's objectives.

A new process was established to insure that calls for service are consistently reviewed and assigned for follow-up.  Records personnel forward the lists of calls to the respective Sergeants heading up each section.  The Sergeants determine those calls needing further attention or follow up.  These lists are then forwarded to the appropriate section team.  Each team prioritizes these assignments and conducts the necessary follow-up.  When the assignment has been completed and the appropriate notes are added, the log is maintained for historical purposes.

If you would like more information about our Neighborhood Policing efforts, please contact Chief Pete Vergos at 920.929.3760 or at pvergos@nfdl.org.