CHP and community policing
by Officer David Longo

For a community orientated policing Neighborhood Watch program to be successful there has to be a real, genuine commitment by both the community and law enforcement to actively participate, communicate, and build a trust in one another, all of which will began to form a foundation that builds a safer community.

There has to be an officer (who I like to think of as a general) in the field, committed to his troops ... guiding, communicating, supporting, and networking to rally them ... which in turn instills a trust and confidence in his abilities. But most of all, a general has to lead by example. Then his troops will follow.

When this takes place in a community, good will and human nature will instinctively take over and the community members will bond together. They'll be inspired to work with their local law enforcement officers to make their neighborhood a safer place.

The Merrihill community, located in the northern California city of Carmichael, is my role model, and an example I hope will inspire other communities and Neighborhood Watch groups. I have new ideas and visions that I will be working hard to achieve in the near future. And I'm currently building up other Neighborhood Watch groups in my area.

But I'm still working with the original group on it's future plans. The Merrihill Neighborhood Watch Coordinator and the block captains for this community have been absolutely terrific. Not only do I find them open to my ideas, but they have become innovative themselves.

I thank them. For the first time in my eighteen years in law enforcement, I truly enjoy coming to work.

I'm experiencing a fulfillment like no other job I've ever had.

Please click here to read out how this happened ==> Merrihill Neighborhood Watch

Yours truly,

Officer David Longo, CHP
North Sacramento Field Office
dlongo@chp.ca.gov

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