CHIEF’S CORNER | By Police Chief James Fryhoff
Community Policing
Stay safe and look out for one another
A few months ago I gave a report at city council discussing our crime statistics for 2017. Fortunately, our numbers continue to be at historic lows. I pointed out in the city council meeting that this was not by accident. I explained that our community is very involved, one of those communities where people still communicate with their neighbors and feel comfortable with reporting something that doesn’t look right.
This relationship of being comfortable to call the police department, knowing that we have the community’s best interest at heart, is at the basis of community policing. We are not effective without the public. It is impossible to police a community where the community themselves do not take an active role in keeping everyone safe.
Some of you may be familiar with the article written by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling titled Broken Windows Theory; the premise of the article is that if a window gets broken and it is ignored other windows will get broken. In time other buildings suffer the same fate. Initial reactions to the article were that it would cause law enforcement to be overzealous in their enforcement of laws to keep from having any broken windows. However, the application has changed to be more of a gateway for a solid community policing model, where the police and the community work together to keep our community safe. It is important to keep from having broken windows in our community. A healthy relationship and dialogue are important to maintain a robust community policing effort.
During my tenure as Chief, I have joined many of the community Facebook pages to see what is happening in the community, I have attended nearly all the City Council meetings, and recently started having a “Coffee with the Chief” gathering at Beacon Coffee on Ojai Avenue. At these informal “Coffee with the Chief” meetings, I have been bringing a different deputy to each meeting. The hope is for the community, who wishes to meet us, can come meet me, your chief, as well as the deputies who patrol your community every day.
Remember, although we do take enforcement action in the form of arrests and citations, the majority of our time is spent serving and protecting our community.
This month’s public safety message is a reminder about water/pool safety. If you are around a pool, hot tub, pond, or other body of water, please make sure you are watching children to make sure they don’t accidentally drown. It can happen very quickly, and often no one ever hears the person in distress.
#staysafeandlookoutforoneanother
So great to see our Chief is so “on board” with keeping our community safe. The “coffee with the chief” is great. I intend to
bring someone new to Ojai and attend. Ojai is very fortunate to have Chief Fryhoff at the helm.
Coffee with the Chief is an excellent idea to build trusting relationships with the community and the citizens who truly are there to help you protect. Bringing another deputy with you as a meet n greet is the best way to start and reach the citizens. Keep up the great work and an “open door “ policy this is what sets you apart from the rest.
It was great meeting you at the last CWTC. See you around town.