In a small village like ours, community-oriented policing is a collaborative philosophy and strategy where police and residents work together to proactively identify, address, and solve public safety issues and quality-of-life problems. This approach prioritizes building trust, sharing responsibility, and mutual respect over traditional reactive policing methods.
Key Principles
Integrated Role of Officers: Officers are encouraged to be an integral part of the community's social fabric, rather than an outside force. This naturally occurs in a small village, such as ours, where officers and residents may already know each other on a first-name basis, making formal barriers less likely than in a large city.
Proactive Problem Solving: The focus is on addressing the underlying conditions that lead to crime (e.g., specific areas for loitering, an unsecured local business) using a structured approach like the SARA model (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment).
Decentralized Responsibility: The police act as liaisons, connecting community resources and stakeholders (e.g., schools, local businesses, non-profits) to problems rather than shouldering the sole burden of change.
Citizen Partnerships
Citizen partnerships are the active, ongoing collaboration between residents and law enforcement. In a small village, this can be achieved through both formal and informal means:
Formal Initiatives
- Neighborhood Watch Programs: Organizing residents to serve as the "eyes and ears" for the police department, especially in residential areas.
- Community Advisory Panels: Creating formal groups of community leaders and residents who meet regularly with police to discuss concerns and advise on policy development.
- Citizen Police Academies: Offering programs that educate residents on police procedures and challenges, fostering a better understanding and potential volunteerism.
- Joint Events: Hosting regular, planned events like "Coffee with a Cop" or National Night Out to facilitate easy interaction and communication.
Informal Initiatives
- Daily Interaction: Encouraging officers to engage in positive, informal conversations with residents during patrols, not just during official calls for service.
- Accessibility: Ensuring police leadership is accessible and open to dialogue, even with critics, to gain comprehensive perspectives and build trust.
- Referrals to Social Services: Beyond law enforcement, police can actively connect community members to appropriate social services (e.g., mental health, housing) to address non-crime-related issues that still impact quality of life.
House Watch and Overnight Guest Parking
Going on Vacation? Need to Have Your House Watched?
Need to Have a Guest Park on the Street Overnight? Don’t risk getting a ticket!
Follow the link below for more information.
Overnight parking on Village streets is prohibited every day of the week between the hours of 2:00 am until 6:00 am, except residents with a valid, Village, vehicle sticker.
A parking citation may be issued to guest vehicles parked overnight without prior permission.
Guest permission to park overnight may be granted on a limited basis by clicking the link below.
No overnight parking will not be allowed during actual or expected snow fall of 1 inch or more.
NOTE: Vehicles allowed to park overnight on the roadway must have a valid, Village, vehicle sticker affixed to the windshield if the vehicle is “sited”/dispatched from an address in Oakwood Hills. Otherwise, Guest permission must be granted by clicking below:
House Watch & GUEST Overnight Parking Submission Forms
The OAK Program – Outreach, Assistance, and Kindness
A free community safety program from the Oakwood Hills Police Department offering telephone and/or personal home wellness visits to help residents maintain their independence and stay connected to available resources.
Officers work with social workers, first responders, and Neighborhood Watch Captains to identify residents who may need additional assistance, particularly during emergencies, evacuations, prolonged power outages, or other crisis situations.
Note: Participation is voluntary, and enrollment does not guarantee a welfare check. Welfare checks may be conducted when circumstances warrant. Call 911 for emergencies. Information is confidential and used for public safety purposes only. See the enrollment form for additional details.
Learn More: See the PDF flyer below for program eligibility and additional information.