Community-Oriented Policing

About Community-Oriented Policing

Community Policing is an organizational philosophy that promotes community, government and police partnerships; proactive problem solving and community engagement to address causes of crime, fear of crime, and community issues.

Concord is currently divided into two Community Policing Districts. The Districts serve to coordinate police services and other City resources in response to quality of life issues and criminal activities. A police sergeant is assigned as District Commander to each district. These sergeants are responsible for oversight and coordination of problem solving efforts in their district. Customer service is their priority and they provide a direct link between the community and police department.

District Areas

• Southern District: This district covers a portion of Northern Concord including Concord Avenue, the Estates, and Arnold Industrial Way. It also covers parts of Southern Concord including Sun Valley Mall, greater Monument Boulevard, Oak Grove Road; and south Treat Boulevard areas.
  Phone 925-671-5067 (Sergeant Nick Gartner)
• Valley District: Covers a portion of Northern Concord including Downtown, Port Chicago, and Holbrook and East Concord which includes the Clayton corridor, Concord Boulevard, and Lime Ridge. It also covers the northern portion of Willow Pass Road.
  Phone 925-671-5083 (Sergeant Mark Robison)

View the Policing Districts Areas Map (PDF) for more information.

National Recognition

Concord's Community Policing Program is an award-winning program that serves as an example to other local city governments:

• From 1996 to 1999: Awarded federal grant to operate as Community Policing Demonstration Center for 9 cities from across the nation
• Concord is the proud recipient of the James Q. Wilson award for Community Policing and the IACP-ITT International Community Policing Award

How It Works

A focus of Community Policing is problem solving. Police will still respond to emergencies. However, many calls to the police are not police related. They are more effectively handled by other agencies. As the number of these non-emergency calls decrease, Officers are able to spend more time working with citizens to solve crime and disorder problems.

With better police-citizen communication, officers can more effectively use and share crime information with the public. Officers who know both a community's problems and its residents can link people with other public and private agencies that can help solve community concerns. No single agency can solve complex social problems alone. A combined community-police effort restores the safety of our neighborhoods and business districts.

Community Policing vs. Traditional Policing