Sidney Police recognized for community policing programs

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COLUMBUS — The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police recently published an article recognizing Sidney Police Chief Will Balling and the Sidney Police Department for excellence in the area of police-community interaction.

According to the press release, The Sidney Police Department is a strong advocate of community policing. Sidney’s community policing represents a life-cycle approach, carefully developing programs and education to meet the needs of all citizens regardless of age or background.

“I believe as a department we have a very special relationship with the citizens of Sidney and feel very fortunate to be working in a community that supports their Officers,” said Balling. “With everything that is going on across the national it is important for all of us to work together to help each other.”

The Sidney Police Department begins interacting with citizens at a very young age. Sidney’s Safety Town Program is a weeklong event which teaches traffic safety, animal safety and also exposes the children to other important departments in the City such as 911 and the Fire Department. The program builds an early solid relationship with children through positive interactions. The program also successfully interacts with other police programs like Kids on the Square, Bike Patrol and Bike Rodeos. Safety Town is so successful that this year four programs were quickly filled showing the community’s interest and the value of this effort.

The Sidney Police Department is a leader in recognizing the need for women’s self-defense. Sidney PD offers annual RAD Classes (Rape Aggression Defense System). The RAD system teaches women defensive concepts and techniques against various assaults using proven self-defense tactics.

One of the fastest growing crimes today is cyber theft. Again, the Sidney Police Department has addressed this need by offering Cyber Safety Presentations. Chief William Balling is also working with his department on developing a Skimmer Fraud Prevention Program.

Recognizing that Seniors are often specific targets for crime, Sidney has responded with specific programs. And more ideas are on the drawing board to develop programs relating to Senior Citizen Fraud and Self-Defense for Seniors.

A juvenile academy is a future program the Sidney Police Department plans on developing. Youth academies can be beneficial in promoting policing as a career and also help with future diversity hiring. Another benefit of juvenile academies is the ability to reach out and have a positive influence on teenagers at a critical point in their development.

The life-cycle approach to educating and interacting with citizens through specific programs has served Sidney Police Department well.

“Sidney’s citizens are our biggest supporters in preventing crime,” said Balling.

The Sidney Police Department was also recently recognized for adopting and fully implementing the new state standards recently established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen community and police relations.

“We are proud to announce that the Sidney Police Departments are joining the other agencies in making a commitment to provide outstanding services in their communities,” said Karhlton Moore, executive director of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS).

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Staff report

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