Property/Evidence:

The Property and Evidence function is part of the Records Division. Specially trained Community Service Officers and Police Aides staff this part of the Division.  It is part of their responsibility to collect property and evidence related to crimes and other Department cases, these staff members perform such duties as:

• Crime scene assistance including latent fingerprint and photo analysis
• Preparation and presentation of evidence requested by the courts
• Destruction of drugs and firearms and purging and disposal of evidence from adjudicated criminal cases
  

 

Warrants:

The Warrants Section of the Records Division received and processed 1,850 felony and misdemeanor warrants in 2004. The Division also maintains an active roster of outstanding warrants which numbered 970 as of the end of 2004. In the last year, 987 warrants were served, 392 were recalled by the court, and 208 were exceptionally cleared.

Crime Analysis Unit:

The Crime Analysis Unit focuses on tracking crime within the City. A key area of analysis is gang activity. The unit tracks gang associations and activities and uses this data to identify key players and their associates.

The Crime Analysis Unit works closely with other allied agencies such as Yolo County Probation, State Parole and the California Youth Authority to monitor the status of individuals under their supervision. This networking function expands the Department’s pool of information regarding known offenders with a history of violence and provides valuable gang intelligence on those returning from confinement. The Unit, consisting of a Crime Analyst and a CSO, also creates maps and graphs representing crimes against property, which are submitted to The Daily Democrat for monthly publication as a public service.

Volunteering:

The department has a volunteer coordinator whose duties are to develop and oversee the operation programs that include the VIP’s (Volunteers in Policing) and the Chaplaincy.

Volunteers in Policing: The VIP program officially was launched in January of 2001 with 20 volunteers helping in a variety of areas. They assist in the records division, investigations, patrol, administration and traffic.

Some of the new projects within the program include the You Are Not Alone (YANA) project. This is a project designed to bring care to individuals who are shut in or don’t get out very often. Regular visiting makes sure they are safe and gives them company.

Another project is the Vacation Home Check project which looks after the homes of individuals who go on vacation. They register with the police department and the volunteers will patrol their homes on a regular basis to make sure it is safe. The volunteers are also involved in the Speed Watch Project and will soon be staffing the Community Services Center at the County Fair Mall.

Chaplains - The Chaplaincy is made up of 9 licensed and ordained ministers from the community who serve in a voluntary capacity helping the emergency personnel and the community during time of crisis. They were trained in an academy in Sacramento in addressing the needs of Law Enforcement and the community. They were instructed in many things, among them being crime scene integrity, death notifications and law enforcement protocol. Since the inception of the program in 1997, the Chaplains have been instrumental in helping officers as well as citizens of Woodland and Yolo County in time of need.

Youth Diversion:

In an effort to improve the Juvenile Justice System within the City of Woodland, the Woodland Police Department maintains a Youth Diversion Program.  The Diversion program targets first and second time youthful offenders.

The basic goals of the Youth Diversion Program are to work together with the juvenile and his/her family and divert the youth from further contact with Probation, Court, and Law Enforcement Agencies. This program is staffed by a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who conducts assessments when meeting with the families. An important aspect of this assessment is the coordination of any community services deemed appropriate in assisting the youth and family with relevant issues.

Crime Prevention:

The Crime Prevention Unit works with the community through various crime prevention programs such as Neighborhood Watch. There are approximately 300 Neighborhood Watch Groups  established in Woodland. These groups represent about 4,700 household members. Through the Neighborhood Watch program residents have taken an active role in working together with the Police Department. They also learn about crime in their community and how to report suspicious activity. There are many benefits of being part of a neighborhood watch group. The Crime Prevention Unit sends out a quarterly newsletter to the members and informs them of upcoming crime prevention events or gives them information about safety.

The Crime Prevention Unit also coordinates National Night Out. This event promotes Police/Community Partnerships. Residents of Woodland are encouraged to spend some time outside with their neighbors. Many neighborhoods block their streets and have big potlucks or BBQ’s or some type of block party. During this evening, law enforcement, fire department, and city officials visit the neighborhoods; they spend time and listen to any concerns that neighbors wish to share. We highly encourage the community’s participation.

DARE:

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is provided to 5th and 6th graders in all 12 elementary schools within the Woodland Joint Unified School District. The program is also provided to students in 2 private schools within the City.

DARE is a partnership between the Woodland Police Department, and parents and teachers who work together to help children deal with the pressures and influences that promote drug abuse and violence. The DARE curriculum focuses on teaching life skills such as dealing with peer pressure, managing stress, developing problem solving skills and building self-esteem.

DARE is currently taught full time by Officer Greg Ford and part time by Officers Gina Bell and Jeff Henderson. All DARE officers have received training in child development, classroom management, teaching techniques and communication skills.  In addition to teaching, DARE officers provide crime prevention presentations to schools as well as businesses in the community on a variety of topics that include, the role of police officers, teens and drug use, gang awareness and stranger danger.