In the past 14 years, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department has employed problem solving policing techniques to reduce crime. Below is an example of one of these initiatives. The key component has been community involvement and action on the communities and Sheriff’s Department’s part.
In 1997, Leon Lott took over the helm of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and implemented problem-solving community oriented policing to the county. Lott’s objective was to include, not exclude, citizens in reducing crime and creating safer communities. The success over the last 12 years has been because of the community’s involvement and the implementation of education, awareness and enforcement as the cornerstones of the Sheriff’s Department’s mission.
One example of Richland County’s many successes is Lott’s project, The Hollywood Hills Initiative to Reduce Crime.
This has been a multi-agency and community collaborative effort initiated in 2007 to combat the sale and use of narcotics in this community and to improve the quality of life in the area. The presence of narcotics in this community led to several violent crimes and numerous property crimes, causing the citizens of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood to live in constant fear.
The Hollywood Hills initiative is a focused deterrence strategy, which is modeled after a similar High Point, N.C., initiative. This partnership among law enforcement, various social service agencies and the community helped to establish a clear message to criminals, “that crime is no longer tolerated in our community.” The residents of this neighborhood and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department have strengthened their relationship and are tackling this problem as partners with the same goal in mind – a community free of crime.
Crime has been reduced by 50 percent since the induction of this program on September 30, 2007. In 2007, we had 108 reported crimes in this community; as of March 2009, that number was reduced to 59 reported crimes. The Hollywood Hills community’s largest criminal offenses involved the sale and use of narcotics. When this initiative began, there were 29 reported narcotics cases in this neighborhood. As of May 1, 2009, there are only two reported narcotics cases.
The Hollywood Hills Initiative relies on delivering a message of specific deterrence to those who generate and sustain a culture of violence, coupled with support services to facilitate the transition to a nonviolent lifestyle. The initiative also focuses on dramatically and quickly reducing the frequency of street violence in Hollywood Hills and on continuing to reduce the frequency of crime over time.
How Did We Get Here
Lott recognized how the crime rate in Hollywood Hills was on the rise; in addition, the concerns of the community were apparent as citizens were no longer willing to tolerate the violence.
With these new developments, Lott, the Richland County Solicitor’s Office, a local food bank, a local Goodwill supplier, Job Corps and the Richland County Recreation Commission formed a partnership. This was designed to create opportunities for those who wanted to transition to a nonviolent lifestyle.
The Sheriff’s Department provided a presence 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Hollywood Hills community for 30 days after the operation was completed. Two deputies were assigned to the community. They constantly monitored activities and maintained security during this 30-day time period.
The results of this initiative are still apparent today. Of nine reported offenders, only one arrest was made. Of the remaining eight some have moved out of the community and the rest have transitioned to a nonviolent lifestyle.
What We Are Doing Now
The Sheriff’s Department patrols this neighborhood several times a day, and meets with the neighborhood association monthly. Sheriff Lott executes periodic 30-day blitzes through this neighborhood which involves the Sheriff’s Department maintaining a constant police presence, 24 hours a day for that 30-day period.
Results
This community no longer lives in fear because they know the Richland County Sheriff’s Department cares about their safety and their quality of life. The citizens of Hollywood Hills are also confident in law enforcement's ability to keep their neighborhood free of crime and know the Sheriff’s Department will respond to any issues they may have.
The relationship that was established between the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Hollywood Hills community will be the driving force behind the continued success of this program.