Each year, millions flock to their favorite Florida beaches, and it falls to local police departments to keep them safe.
In the City of Fort Lauderdale, police monitored beaches for potential recruits during spring break.
In addition to proactively patrolling the beaches to keep the public safe, officers joined the crowds – and challenged beachgoers to friendly pushup and trivia contests. The goal: recruit them, not arrest them.
“We want to make sure we increase community engagement,” said Henry Lockwood III, a Detective with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. “The more we engage with them, the fewer problems we know we have.”
Innovative, community public safety initiatives aren’t limited to beaches. In the City of Fort Myers, the local Police Department is also introducing a fresh strategy to community engagement. With a local southwestern-themed restaurant, officers are hosting an initiative known as “Neighbors & Nachos.”
The goal: building trust and transparency with millennials and Generation Z over nachos in a relaxed, informal setting. Who knew that a simple plate of nachos could bridge gaps between police and the community?
The Town of Lady Lake takes a more caffeinated approach to public safety with “Coffee with a Cop.” Police Chief Steve Hunt and local officers routinely meet with the public to discuss everything from local public safety concerns to neighborhood nuisance issues.
“It’s an opportunity for people to meet our officers and tell them what’s on their minds, meet our officers, have a cup of coffee and share more about the things we do,” Hunt said. “It’s about building relationships and taking down barriers one person at a time.”
These innovative programs highlight the innovative ways Florida’s cities and police departments work together to engage with residents and visitors and keep our communities safe.