Police
In 2006, the Police Department conducted its own telephone survey, which showed that public safety remained a pressing citizen concern. Of the respondents, 51% indicated that they felt as safe in their neighborhoods in 2006 as they did in 2005, while 49% did not. The majority of the respondents (72%) indicated that they felt that the Police Department is doing a satisfactory or better job of providing policing services to their neighborhoods, and 74% indicated that the services provided to the City as a whole are satisfactory or better.
The Police Department has instituted a “No Crime” agenda, based on the philosophy of community policing and the primary purpose of combating crime. This concept is promoted through enforcement strategies, high visibility patrols, billboards, community interaction, and other programs. The Police Department incorporated this “No Crime” philosophy into the NNPD Strategic Management Plan.
Part of the Department’s crime-fighting efforts through the “No Crime” initiative includes special Warrant Operations to serve outstanding warrants. When the program began, there were over 3,900 outstanding warrants in the City of Newport News. Recognizing that crimes often are committed by the same criminals, the Warrant Operations published an advertisement in “The Daily Press” that named the individuals from all felony warrants, conducted a department-wide blitz of serving warrants, and printed in the newspaper color photos of violent felons. In 2005 the operations resulted in the arrest of over 400 individuals, many of whom were violent criminals. This success prompted the Department to continue with this initiative in 2006 and 2007. The advertisement and City-wide operation in 2006 resulted in 171 warrants served, and 236 arrests in 2007.