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Police report 22% drop in crime, announce new academy, fraud-prevention events and Coffee with a Cop
Summary
Local police officials said crime is down about 22% in Sanford, described a new basic law-enforcement academy launching in June that area agencies will sponsor, and promoted fraud-prevention outreach and an April 8 Coffee with a Cop event.
Sanford public-safety officials told the meeting that the city is seeing a sizable decline in crime and announced community outreach and recruitment efforts.
Why this matters: statistically meaningful crime reductions and new recruitment and outreach programs can affect public confidence, staffing and community-police relations.
Chief Perkins (identified as "chief Perkins" in remarks) said the city’s crime total is down roughly 22 percent as of the date cited in the meeting and credited the decline to partnership work between the police and community organizations. The chief also identified senior officers attending the meeting and reminded residents the school year is entering a busy stretch with about 43 days of school remaining for some campuses.
Recruitment and training: the chief said a new local basic law-enforcement academy, sponsored by municipal police departments in Seminole County and the sheriff’s office, will open its first class in June. Officials emphasized that municipalities typically sponsor recruits and pay to send them to the academy; recruits must be 21 at swearing-in.
Fraud prevention and outreach: public-safety staff warned residents about text-message toll scams and urged verification before providing personal information. The Sanford Police Department is organizing a fraud-prevention seminar on April 14 at Marina Isle Assisted Living Facility, and will host Coffee with a Cop on April 8 at a local Wendy’s from 10 a.m. to noon.
Officials encouraged residents to meet officers at community events and to report suspicious phone or text solicitations claiming to be from toll authorities or other agencies.
