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PART IV - PROGRAM NARRATIVE 1. Objectives and Need for This Assistance: The Crime Prevention Coordinator's and Crime Prevention officer's primary function is to design, organize, and implement crime prevention programs for the community. By presenting educational seminars for neighbor- hood organizations, comTIlunity groups, and parent/youth organizations, a proactive solution to fighting crime is offered. In a city with a population of 40,000 people, including Southwest Texas State University students, the need for crime prevention education is evident. The Crime Prevention Unit works closely with Southwest Texas State Univ- ersity Police and the Hays County Sheriff's Department to organize and present community based education programs. By being a liaison with these departments and other community social and business groups, the networking of information has increased efforts to detect, prevent, and assess criminal activity in a broad-based area. 2. Results or Benefits Expected: The intent for the upcoming year is continued participation in the diverse programs already offered and any new programs desired by the community. With a second officer working in Crime Prevention, we have been able to better meet our increasing demands for services. The crime prevention programs to school children have doubled with the addition of the second officer. Last year, when there was only one officer in the Unit, the programs were limited in number and restricted to McGruff only. With the addition of the second officer, the two were able to organize a fund- ing drive to purchase 118 puppets for each classroom, grades K-5. As a result, each teacher is giving weekly McGruff lessons and the Crime Prevention Unit has introduced a second program, Officer Ollie and Friends, to supplement McGruff. The officers visit the schools at least twice a month and can further instill proper social behavior. In this one area alone, we have received benefits of the training from children who have cited incidents where a dangerous situation was avoided as a direct result of our programs. We have seen, and expect to continue to see, children applying positive pressure to their peers to have good morals and values. We anticipate the benefits and results of these programs and the others offered to further impact the community in participating more in crime prevention activities. 3. Approach: a. Statement of Tasks Involved: Crime Detection - To detect and assess crime trends and notify the public of potential problems. Notification is given through the local media and programs are designed and offered to the public. Close contact must be maintained and criminal activity monitored in neighborhoods so that Neighborhood Watch groups can be advised and those areas not participating are encouraged to form new groups. Approaches to Encourage Participation - In addition to using standard approaches to encourage participation, innovative approaches must also be used. In the Neighborhood Watch program, once an area has been organized and displays the Neighborhood Watch signs, a reserve officer is assigned by the Coordinator to patrol an area. This gives resi- dents an added incentive to participate and the signs take on a new 15a