The Community-Oriented Policing Section (COPS) of the Special Operations Division  of the Pontiac Police Department maximized the effectiveness of available police resources by actively reducing crimes on the neighborhood level. 

The COPS unit refurbished and occupied the old Ada Shelley Library on Rundell Street in Pontiac, turning it into a Community Center with public access. 

The Community-Oriented Policing Section was commanded under the belief that working with community leaders, ministers, businesses, and the everyday citizens would help to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Pontiac.  COPS brought together a wide variety of police services under one chain of command with a single philosophy -- deliver the police services the citizens want, rather than what we think they need.

We are building a premiere law enforcement agency grounded in the principles of integrity, partnership with the community and respect for all person's human dignity. 

The COPS unit focused on strategies that helped prevent crime, reduce fear of crime and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. It employed a teamwork approach to neighborhood crime watch and was re-oriented toward three basic ideas:
 

• Geographic responsibility
• Combined resources
• Personal initiative

Community-Oriented Policing is not a cure-all for all citizen concerns and chronic problems. The solution is to address the needs and chronic concerns from isolated neighborhoods through open lines of communication and partnership with citizens.

The key to success will be in the effective use of resources to tackle a broad spectrum of City concerns. The ultimate goal is to involve every member of the police department in Community-Oriented Policing concepts.

Officers assigned to this unit served as the backbone of the initiative in the city. Called CATT (Community Action Target Team), this core group of officers maintained the versatility of COPS, blended with the involvement in citizen affairs of the Crime Prevention Officer.

Past Accomplishments

The COPS unit had eight Harley Davidson motorcycles, called the "Road Kings". When members of the Community Services Division traveled to Washington, D.C. for National Police Memorial Week, the motorcycles caught the attention of national magazines and were featured in "Law and Order".

COPS officers also had 20 Trek mountain bikes equipped with lights and sirens. The bikes came in handy during the Woodward Dream Cruise and Arts, Beats and Eats.

The COPS unit also organized the Harvest Festival. Sponsors, volunteers and participants enjoyed providing a fun and safe day for more than 6,000 children of Pontiac.

COPS personnel also provided turkey baskets to Pontiac families for the Thanksgiving Day holiday, and they assisted needy families with Christmas gifts for their children during the holidays. Many families in the City of Pontiac benefited from the hard work and dedication provided by members of the COPS unit.