Community Policing Unit holds open day in city hot zone

dehanne williams

Their job is to keep the peace and restore law and order to the community, but today the Police Department was engaged in another form of public service.  The Yarborough Community Policing Unit held its first ever open day at the Cumberbatch Field on Caesar Ridge Road.  The event, according to Sergeant Dehanne Williams, the organizer, was to create awareness.

Sgt. Dehanne Williams, O.C., Community Policing Unit

“This idea came about when our program, the Zone Beat Liaison Officer Program, that is where police officers go to homes, businesses and schools. In these visits they normally get concerns from the community and we realized that some of our community members have no idea what services are available to them. So we decided to have an open day where the services could be explained; the agencies could have an opportunity to explain to members of the community what kind of services are available.”

Marion Ali

“What were some of the concerns that you garnered?”

Sgt. Dehanne Williams

“Some of the concerns that we get from some of the—when we visit these homes we meet a lot of social issues. We have children suffering from HIV and AIDS, families suffering from HIV and AIDS, families who are in need of wheelchair and have no idea where to get a wheelchair. We have families who have medical concerns and have no idea or choose not to visit any medical area to get medical attention and it also has to do with visiting schools where children have to be educated and families need to be educated about their rights. So all these agencies were out here today.”

During the event, free influenza vaccinations and pap smears were available.  A number of relevant non-government organizations also took part.