Police: How Are We Doing?

Did you encounter a police officer at the scene of a traffic accident? During a medical call? Anyone feel the cold steel from a pair of handcuffs tightening around their wrists?

Monroe Police Chief John Salvatore and Capt. Mike Flick want to know how their officers performed their jobs, whether it was for a minor or a serious call. Surveys were recently mailed to a random sampling of citizens who dealt with police officers and department staff over the past two months to get their feedback.

"We have done this before," Flick said. "The purpose is to receive information on what people's concerns are. The feedback helps us to maintain a professional level of service to the town."

The questionnaires may be filled out anonymously. Once a mailing goes out, Flick said the list is thrown away, so police will not be able to cross check completed surveys with the names to determine who filled them out.

Identifying information police do ask for includes gender and an age range.

Recipients are also asked to check one of seven descriptions of their last contact with police. Options include reporting an incident, having been issued a citation or written warning, being assisted after a motor vehicle accident, requesting information from the department, having been the victim of a crime, having been contacted for questioning about a crime, or having been assisted by an officer during a medical emergency.

An eighth option leaves space for those filling out the form to describe the nature of their interaction with police.

Did police respond in a timely fashion? People can choose yes or no.

Yes and no answers can also be checked as to whether the department representative was competent, courteous, knowledgeable, fair and neat in appearance.

Among the other questions are:

• Was the respondent satisfied with the overall quality of service?

• How should police resources be used? Should traffic or drug enforcement be increased? Should more emphasis be placed on youth crime prevention and community and school programs? Or should police patrols and crime prevention measures be beefed up?
• What, if anything, should be changed about the department.
• What are the top three safety concerns in this community?
• Please indicate any concerns you may have with the Monroe Police Department.

This process will continue throughout the year Flick said, adding 20 surveys will be sent out per month.