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Part IV, Program Narrative -- Continuation Funding By instituting a crime prevention unit in San Marcos, we have been able to educate the ccmnunity in methods to care for themselves, increase their awareness, gain their cooperation in better reporting and doetm1.entation of suspicious and criminal activity, and to increase apprehensions for a safer canm.mi ty and neighborhoods. The increase in detection and reporting has shown specific trouble spots to enable the p:>lice to respond rrore efficiently to the citizen I s needs. To date, fifteen Neighborhood Watch groups have been organized and over one hundered hours of crime prevention training presented to citizen involve- ment programs. Our requests for services have increased throughout the year and we have a much wider selection of programs to offer now and in the future. Being active in organizing Neighborhood Watch groups has created a much stronger bond between the police and the comnunity. Teaching residents how to care for their neighborhoods clearly illustrates the department I s interest in their welfare. In addition, the citizens are urged to participate in the City Planning Conmission meetings to voice their concerns about the neighborhood in mich they live. The Crime Prevention Coordinator accompanies the residents to the meetings to offer any assistance necessary. Prior to this, many citizens felt there was no forum available to air their complaints and they felt ineffective in dealing with neighborhood problems. The intent for the upccming year is to continue to meet, or exceed, all our indicators of goal achievement. In addition, we intend to focus rrore attention on educating children in the area of crime prevention. This can be achieved by discussing topics such as drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, and child rrolestation by using crime prevention puppets in the schools and in youth groups. Along with this, the department is praroting the establishment of "safe houses 11 wi thin the local neighborhoods wnere children can go to in case of an emergency. Implementing these programs further expand our services for the corrmunity and increase public awareness on the importance of crime prevention.