[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE WHITE BEAR LAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 19, 1999

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the 
White Bear Lake Police Department in my district for their reception of 
the 1999 Community Policing Award. Chosen from among hundreds of 
nominations from around the world, The International Association of 
Police Chiefs unanimously selected the White Bear Lake Police 
Department for their innovative approach to community problem-solving.
  The White Bear Lake Police Department is distinguished for several 
programs designed to connect citizens to the law enforcement community. 
Programs such as Triad, the Police Academy, the Citizen Crime 
Prevention Committee, and a police partnership with the city's schools 
educate all citizens from age 5 to 95 in police prevention issues.
  Recognizing the value of police officer involvement in the community, 
the White Bear Lake Police Department assigned every police officer to 
a specific neighborhood. This led to a greater sense of familiarity and 
understanding between local residents and the department. Law 
enforcement's successful approach to community policing provides a 
positive example for all neighborhoods across the nation.
  The hardworking men and women of the White Bear Lake Police 
Department are another reason why White Bear Lake is a safe and great 
place to live. It is with heartfelt pride and admiration that I 
congratulate them on winning the distinguished 1999 Community Policing 
Award.
  I have included, for my colleagues review, an article which appeared 
in the White Bear Press, a local community newspaper. This article 
outlines the White Bear Lake Police Department's achievements and 
success in the international competition.

    White Bear Police Are ``Top Cops'' in International Competition

                         (By James C. Pittman)

       The White Bear Lake Police Department has received the 1999 
     Community Policing Award from the International Association 
     of Police Chiefs.
       ``We are very proud of this award,'' said Police Chief Todd 
     Miller. ``I think it is great recognition for everyone in the 
     department and those in the community who help us.''
       White Bear Lakes was selected from hundreds of law 
     enforcement agencies worldwide for their dedication to 
     community policing programs. Four other U.S. departments were 
     also selected. The International Association of Police 
     Chiefs, in association with ITT Industries Night Vision, will 
     feature the five winning departments as part of a ``Best 
     Practices In Community Policing'' presentations.
       Miller, who has been chief here for the past six years, 
     said it is the department's philosophy to involve officers in 
     the community. Those citizen-involved programs have been 
     successful, he said.
       They include Triad, which involves senior citizens in 
     police prevention; the Police Academy, which graduates 
     citizens who want to have greater understanding of police 
     techniques; and the Citizen Crime Prevention Committee. In 
     addition, there is a police partnership with the schools. He 
     also emphasized that every police officer is assigned to 
     specific neighborhoods.
       Miller, a ``scorer'' in the competition in past years, said 
     the association looks at problem-solving skills by police and 
     citizens within a community.
       He said the association judges were especially impressed 
     with the department's work on the speeding issue, which they 
     said was a well-organized attempt to implement a community 
     policing policy.
       Miller said he was told that the White Bear Lake Police 
     Department was the unanimous decision of the committee that 
     evaluated the departments. ``And it was the first time that 
     we entered the awards competition,'' he said.
       The award will be presented at the police chiefs' annual 
     conference Nov. 3 in Charlotte, N.C.
       ``The winning departments successfully demonstrated that 
     community policing is proactive and effective policing, 
     requiring a new way of thinking about and approaching 
     community problem-solving,'' said Gary Kempfer, Missouri 
     director of public safety. Kempfer serves as the chairman of 
     the International Association of Police Chiefs Community 
     Policing Committee.
       The outstanding five departments represent five categories, 
     based on population. The White Bear Lake Police Department 
     was selected in the population category of 20,001 to 50,000 
     residents.
       Each demonstrated a significant change in their approach to 
     crime, from reactive to proactive. Departments divided 
     communities into individual zones and dedicated officers to 
     patrolling the same neighborhoods daily.
       Other police departments chosen for the award represent 
     Clearwater and Jacksonville in Florida; New Haven, Conn.; and 
     Beaufort, S.C.
       A preliminary panel of 14 judges and a final panel of six 
     police chiefs reviewed hundreds of nominations from the 
     United States and six foreign countries, including Australia, 
     Ireland and Germany. The first panel selected the top 32 
     nominations. The final panel reviewed the 32 nominations to 
     select five winners and 14 finalists.
       With more than 17,210 members in 112 countries, the 
     International Association of Police Chiefs is the world's 
     oldest and largest non-profit organization of police 
     executives from international, federal, state and local 
     agencies of all sizes.

     

                          ____________________