The Amherst Police Department has issued a new, short and concise mission statement.
AMHERST - The last time the Police Department issued a mission statement, the first George Bush was president, Donald N. Maia was chief and gasoline at the pump cost about $1 and a few pennies a gallon.
But now, the Police Department has issued a new, short and concise mission statement that Chief Scott P. Livingstone has been long in coming.
“It was kind of on my to do list,” he said. He became chief in September of 2009.
The last statement, written in the late 1980s or early 1900s “was very long, convoluted.”
The new statement “is concise, to the point.” He said “it reflects the pride we have in our department...and the commitment we have working in partnership” with the town.
He said they put out a call for volunteers in the department to take the mission on. Sgt. Jesus Arocho and officer Yvonne Molin responded. They came up with “three really good drafts” and the department accepted voted on the mission. “It really spells out what we feel is important and the culture of this department.””
According to the statement, the “department values the dedication and integrity” of every officer. It also values “the diversity of our community and are grateful for the confidence they have in us.” The department aims “to protect the safety, rights and property of every person” in town. At the same time the department is “committed to the enforcement of laws, preservation of order and improving the quality of life.”
Livingstone said he thinks the collaboration with the community has grown. “We’re seeing that more and more....It shouldn’t have taken budget cuts,” for that to happen. But he said as budgets get tighter “we’re going to need more help from the community.”
Looking back over the years, he has been with the department for nearly 34 years - the force has always had “great support from the community,” he said. They’re hoping to continue trying to build that support with students.
The department has been trying more ways of reaching out and will continue working with the university. On the first full weekend of school this fall, police, residents, members of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and others gathered for pizza and then walked through the neighborhoods with residents and police. The hope was to have students understand the consequences of unruly behavior by meeting those effected. “I think we found some pockets (of success),” he said. “We need to continue.”
Police will be meeting with UMass and state police over the next few weeks to plan coverage for the last weekends of the school year.
Last year, police answered more than 200 disturbance calls over the first weekend in May netting 101 arrests or court summonses for charges that included disorderly conduct, alcohol and narcotics violations, vandalism and inciting a riot.
To read the complete statement, visit: http://www.amherstpd.blogspot.com/