We are implementing a new, community oriented “beat policing” strategy in order to better connect the police department with the residents of the Village.  Before the implementation of dispatchers, radios, and in-car laptops, police officers were assigned to a certain section of town, known as a “beat”.  They would walk that section for their entire shift allowing officers to know nearly every face and every business.  As technology grew, it allowed officers to cover wider areas without sacrificing response time to calls.  Unfortunately, they were no longer able to foster the close community connection as they were when walking their beat. 

Winnebago Police has decided to revisit this idea.  While we are not about to get rid of our dispatchers and radios, you will begin to see us “walking our beat” (once the weather warms up a bit).  The way officers respond to calls and patrol the Village will not change, but it does provide you with a direct link to the police department for issues regarding “quality of life”.  For example, if your neighbor’s dog barks for 3 hours in the middle of the night or there seems to be a high number of speeding cars between certain hours, you would contact your officer.  Your beat officer can also help with starting a neighborhood watch group or speaking to your youth organization.  Together, you and your beat officer can work to resolve the situation and improve your neighborhood.

The beat system will begin it's implementation by assigning beat officers to follow up with residents who hvae neighborhood-type concerns or complaints.  During warmer weather, officers will begin to patrol on foot and on bicycle more often in order to meet the individuals in their beat.  
 
For now, the Village will be broken into five beats, four for residential areas and one for businesses.  Each beat has their own email address.  To determine who your officer is and obtain their email, click here for a downloadable .pdf document.  The beat breakdown is also available in the Village Office.   As the Village grows, more beats will be added and the beat lines may be redrawn. At these times, we may also survey some residents to gain their input and ideas on how to improve the system.