Introduction
One of the most important lessons the nation learned in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 is the importance of collaboration between local law enforcement and their communities. Community-oriented policing efforts at the local level play a significant role in combatting threats facing our community and our homeland.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been implementing the idea that homeland security begins with hometown security, and that local authorities such as the Stafford Sheriff’s Office need to be empowered themselves and their communities by developing community-based solutions to counter the types of crimes that are found in the community and beyond.
The Stafford County Shield program is the platform between our community and the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office that allows information to flow back and forth for the betterment of our community. From businesses, to neighborhoods, to houses of worship, and also individual citizens; this partnership is the foundation of the Stafford County Shield program and facilitates a safer and more secure community.
The SCSO Shield program keeps its partners informed of upcoming events, new intelligence and crime information developing in Stafford County as well as identified events abroad.
Information is researched and transmitted directly to our partners by one of several methods:
- Presentations and briefings
- E-mail alert messages
- Activity postings via email and website
- Offered trainings
The SCSO Shield program is a two-way street of communication. The key to success is information flowing both ways to foster trust and understanding between Shield partners and the Sheriff’s Office as well as keeping one another informed on every level. Community partners serve as the eyes and ears of the Sheriff’s Office and serve to directly impact efforts to prevent crime and dangerous situations by reporting suspicious behavior as soon as possible.
In addition, we recognize that our community partners are uniquely qualified to assist Sheriff’s Office personnel during an incident. You know what belongs where and what is out of place. Sharing your perspective and working together, we are better prepared to face the most difficult challenges together.
We have a shared responsibility to provide for the safety and security of our community. The Sheriff’s Office serves as the tool to accomplish this task; however, only by partnering together can we achieve the greatest success. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has always prided itself on it’s communication and relationship with the community we serve. By joining Shield we feel that this will strengthen that bond with every area in our community even more so.
As a member of the Shield program, you will have an opportunity to take an active role in helping to make Stafford a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.
Among the numerous benefits of becoming a partner with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, some of the primary ones are:
- Designated Sheriff’s Office personnel to serve as liaisons with community partners through Watch programs.
- Providing Shield partners with up-to-date electronic notices about community crime trends as well as concerning events abroad.
- Identify and create opportunities for networking of resources in times of community need.
- Provide materials and resources to educate partners on areas of public safety and security to include regular training and information specific to our Watch programs.
Shield Facts
SHIELD was created in partnership with NYPD SHIELD and reaches beyond the borders of Stafford County to keep our community partners and neighbors informed.
SHIELD is a force multiplier that significantly increases the effectiveness of the Sheriff’s Office crime prevention through partnering with the community and information sharing.
SHIELD provides community organizations and individual citizens with up to date information on emerging crime trends, community events and awareness of situations that impacts our community.
SHIELD is the central destination for community organizations to obtain information, seek out Sheriff’s Office resources, and start or continue developing a working partnership with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.