It's been a while since I've posted a message. We're now into the new year, so Happy New Year.
I was just reading a book on Active Shooter's and realized that very little has changed since I was in law enforcement. That is - successful organizations (law enforcement, prisons, businesses, social service agencies, non-profit corporations get there by planning, training and collaborations with others who have like goals.)
Often we think that if we don't think about something we don't want to happen - it will go away. Nothing just goes away.
This web site is displayed to give a great deal of information to people who are trying to change our world in a positive way. Often I think the term Crime Prevention has a negative connotation because it's roots were in law enforcement. Well that shouldn't inhibit the truth of the message or the importance of the things we can do to protect ourselves or our families, relatives and friends.
Unfortunately after the great success that law enforcement had in the last century in reducing crime and the fear of crime through some very interesting programs - we're in a new century and again see crime rearing it's ugly head. All for some of the same reasons as before - drugs, poverty, and in some cases - individuals who just want something for nothing.
Part of the successes we saw in the last century came from a law enforcement concept called Community Oriented Policing which came from a variety of sources - one book "Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective" by Robert Trojanowicz and Bonnie Bucqueroux is one I'm familiar with because I met one of the author's who was presenting at the FBI Academy's Behavioral Science Unit at a week long seminar that I also was invited to speak in a panel. The topic of the seminar was "Addressing Violent Crime Through Community Involvement" and the things presented still should be a cornerstone of our approach today.
I'm a firm believer in the concept that Communities Solve Community Problems and I've seen the truth to that statement over and over throughout the years. We can only solve serious problems if we meet them head on AND work together to bring all the resources together that can make a difference. We are innovative folks and when we put our heads together great things can happen.
I only hope this web site can be a catalyst to bring a wide audience of people together who can meet each other and form alliances that can help make our communities safer.
Alex E. Ward, CPP
Board Certified in Security Management (American Society for Industrial Security)
MCPA in conjunction with the Yellowstone County DUI Task Force and Q2 produced these DUI PSA's. They paint a sad picture of DUI in Montana and have been viewed on television as well as on you tube. This is one way we can educate folks as to things they need to know about crime.
