Community Policing is the means by which citizens can have greater influence over how their neighborhood is policed. This involves creating opportunities for officers to meet with the residents that they serve in order to learn what their concerns are, and then translating those concerns into activities that address them.
Community Outreach Specialists
The Community Outreach Specialists (COS) assess citizen needs and provide intervention and follow-up services as appropriate to assist clients and/or families with issues, which may include, but are not limited to, domestic violence, homelessness, mental health, chronic illness, substance abuse, loss of job, poverty, suicide, serious motor vehicle accidents, house fire, personal and family adjustment, and criminal behavior. They promote the physical and mental health and wellness of residents in crisis. Our COS’s triage social services and mental health needs, deliver direct service and advocacy and maintain a strong focus on assertive community outreach and intervention. They act as a liaison and work with partner law enforcement agencies and other community partners.
By collaborating with referral agencies, attend resource meetings, and engage at resource fairs they provide critical services to our population. COS’s provide victim intervention and follow-up services to residents in crisis. And act to implement services, including assessment, treatment plans, case management, short-term counseling, consultation, support, information, crisis intervention, appropriate referrals to local non-profit agencies, and regional, state, and federal programs.
Contact:
COS Maria Nott; mnott@groton-ct.gov
COS Lurena Clarke; lclarke@groton-ct.gov
Community Policing Offices
The Groton Police Department currently has three locations where our officers maintain special office hours: the Groton Community Center (61 Fort Hill Rd), the Groton Library (52 Newtown Rd) the Groton Police Substation (9 Water St). Please check our Facebook page as those hours are subject to change. Officers meet with neighborhood associations, civic groups, or with individuals who stop in to discuss areas of concern.
Programs and Events
The Police Department has partnered with departments around Town, including Parks and Recreation, the Public Library, Human Services and the Groton Senior Center, to arrange a wide variety of programs and events for the community. Our officers are involved in the meal distribution programs, including the breakfast and lunch pick-up sites sponsored by Groton Board of Education and Groton Community Meals in conjunction with the Groton Senior Center.
The Cognitive Safety and Awareness Program
The Cognitive Safety and Awareness Program is designed to connect law enforcement and those persons and families who are affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and TBIs. The program involves training police department members (supervisors, patrol and dispatch) on how to respond to calls involving persons with cognitive issues. We meet with the families to collect essential information about the loved one with cognitive issues, in order to locate persons who have walked off (or “eloped”) in a timely manner and provide resources available to them. We recently extended this program to assist families who have loved ones on the Autism spectrum.
The Blue Envelope Program
The “Blue Envelope” was created to enhance communication between a police officer and a driver with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of the envelope is to have the driver place their license, registration and insurance card in it, so they can hand it to the officer during a traffic stop. On the outside of the envelope is helpful information and instructions for both the officer and driver on how to successfully communicate with each other.
The Green Envelope Program
Similar to the Blue Envelope, this program was created to enhance communication between a police officer and a driver with hearing impairment.
Safe Futures – Law Enforcement Victim Advocate
Community Policing Officers work with Safe Futures and the Law Enforcement Victim Advocate for issues involving domestic violence. This partnership helps victims and families access services for domestic violence and sexual assault, providing safety planning, advocacy, support and information about the agency’s resources. The advocate provides immediate crisis intervention and advocacy to victims, acting as a liaison between law enforcement and victims during the initial investigation, as well as with follow-up services and referrals.
Community Service Officers
Our Community Service Officers are non-sworn employees that assist the department by way of promoting public safety, enforcing local laws and ordinances such as parking enforcement, and facilitating the public with employment fingerprinting and permits. CSO’s will conduct patrols of high traffic areas such as downtown Mystic and assist with vehicular and pedestrian traffic during events.
Interested in becoming a CSO?
Contact Community Policing Officer Sherif Afifi; safifi@groton-ct.gov