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Claire Louise Cary is a senior at JR Tucker High School in Richmond, Virginia.  She plans to attend Virginia Tech and would like to study International Studies or International Relations and minor in French.  Her success has come through hard work and determination.  She loves languages, government , law and culture.  We wish her much success in her future.

Virginia Law Enforcement: A Commitment to Community

Virginia police have proven in the past decades that the community is whom they care about, protect, and serve.  Virginia police take pride in where they live, and want to see their area as a safe place to live.  To ensure this safety, Virginia police have taken the initiative to create programs to educate, enlighten, and protect citizens.  From children's fingerprinting, to motorist assistance training, to home security programs for the elderly, Virginia police have given many opportunities to members of all ages of the community to learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones.  They even offer Explorer Posts to teenagers who are interested in becoming involved with law enforcement, and would like to participate in community service.  Virginia Police believe that education is the key in crime prevention.  Virginia's Law Enforcers not only serve the community themselves, but they teach the community ways they can volunteer and make a difference.
   As a Henrico Police Explorer, I have seen the impact that volunteering in my community can make.  I have been trained by the department to direct traffic, give CPR, collect evidence, enter in buildings when looking for an armed suspect, safeguard my home and vehicle, investigate fraud, recognize a DUI, use defensive tactics, and be a leader.  These are all practical things that I can use in a career in law enforcement or elsewhere.  This excellent program is just one of the many programs available to Virginia citizens.

    The commitment to continuous education and volunteerism is what makes Virginia's police forces so strong.  Various crime prevention techniques are the center of these programs.  The popular crimes of the time are continuously changing, and Virginia police have pushed to address these issues with new ideas and strategies.  Different departments in Virginia have come up with different programs.  In Virginia Beach, the Police Department has a program called S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) that provides monthly meetings for the protection and well-being of senior citizens.  In Norfolk, the department uses a program called PACE (Police Assisted Community Enforcement), which has a phone dialer system that allows police personnel to notify the general public about events, crimes and other important information as soon as possible.  In the Roanoke City Police Department, they use volunteer citizens to notify police of suspicious activities with donated cellular airtime from United States Cellular in a program called C.A.R.E. (Crime Abatement Residential Effort).  Officers take the time to talk to members of the community about what concerns them.  The Hampton Police Department has developed a community-policing concept they call K.E.E.P.S. (Knowledge Enforcement and Enhancement for Public Safety) that provides the philosophies that drive their community policing techniques.  In the Arlington County Police Department, officers provide educational prevention through a program called G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) that focuses on teenagers in the area schools.  Many departments in Virginia also have Neighborhood Watch programs and drug-education programs such as D.A.R.E.

   Community policing have become very popular throughout the United States.  Virginia Police has shown the initiative and commitment in developing these programs in our areas.  This particular type of policing opens the door for citizens to become  involved and take an active part in their community.  Virginia police have lead by example, and given the citizens that opportunity.

                                                Claire Louise Cary