Community Policing

The Haverford Township Police Department Community Policing Unit and the Juvenile Investigator were responsible for the majority of the education and investigation of juvenile matters. The unit is under the Detective Division Commander Lt Kelly. The Unit is staffed by Detective Michael Flynn. Detective Dennis Donnelly oversees and assists with Juvenile Investigations as a secondary assignment.

The community policing mission is to provide information to the public so it can be informed of current crime trends and have a basic understanding of how to reduce their risk of victimization. Officer Flynn is a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist and is tasked with instructing citizens of the township, adults and school aged children, in methods and strategies to reduce victimization. Crime prevention officers work closely with the residential, commercial and industrial communities to develop strategies that promote proactive community problem solving and crime prevention.

The foundation of a successful community policing strategy is the close, interactive relationship between officers and community members working toward the goal of reducing crime and its effects. Efforts focus on the underlying causes of crime by assessing the characteristics of problems in specific neighborhoods and the application of appropriate, mutually supported problem-solving remedies in a partnership role.

Crime prevention officers work closely with all community groups such as Local Civic Associations, Optimist Clubs, Rotary Club, Church groups, Boys and Girl Scout troops and neighborhood organizations with Community based safety presentations and programs. Additionally the unit is responsible for presenting a wide range of safety and education programs to students in the Haverford Township School District and Parochial Schools.