The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“OCALA, FLORIDA POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME PREVENTION: ``WEED AND SEED''” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6762-H6763 on Aug. 2, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
OCALA, FLORIDA POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME PREVENTION: ``WEED AND SEED''
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Mica). Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a report that was issued this spring of this year from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs called ``Weed and Seed Best Practices.'' I thought this was a very interesting report and in this report is featured an officer from my hometown of Ocala, Florida.
For many of my colleagues, the ``Weed and Seed'' program, as they know, is a community-based crime prevention program. Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, community support services, local businesses, and ordinary citizens get together to weed out violent crime and drug use and plant the seeds to foster new community growth and, of course, stability in that community.
The ``Weed and Seed'' program began with three pilot sites in 1991. As of today, there are over 200 pilot sites and one of those, of course, Mr. Speaker, is in my hometown of Ocala, Florida, which is in my congressional district. The article, as I mentioned earlier, is written by Ken DeVilling, a lieutenant with the Ocala Police Department, the Crime Prevention section. I would like to share what Lieutenant DeVilling's observations were and actually the eminent success of the Ocala Police Department and the surrounding community in their fight against crime.
As Lieutenant DeVilling mentioned in his article, the City of Ocala was, of course, not immune to the effects of crack cocaine and the subsequent surge of crime. Additional resources were needed and the Ocala Police Department had the foresight to recognize the newly developed ``Weed and Seed'' program as a viable solution to rising crime in my hometown. So myself, and with the help of my other colleagues in Florida and the Florida delegation, they assisted me in getting Ocala as a site designated as a ``Weed and Seed'' program.
A number of initiatives were created by the Ocala Police Department using the funds that were provided by this ``Weed and Seed'' program. One initiative was the creation of a community organization called the Community Council Against Substance Abuse which was comprised of members of the local Community Commission, the city council, school board, State attorney's office and of course other community organizations.
As a result of these organizations getting together, Ocala recorded its lowest crime rate in 1998. Furthermore, in 1997, the city's homicide rate was only one, and in the previous decades it went as high as 20 per year.
Another program that is cited in this article is called ``Problem-
Oriented Policing.'' Under this program, officers identify possible areas which, quote, detract from good living conditions in the neighborhoods they patrol, end quote. These areas may be abandoned lots or houses that are abandoned or they might be areas that provide haven for drug trafficking and criminal activities.
Once they identify these areas, a form is completed by the officer and is sent through the chain of command. The identified site is then referred to the city department best able to handle the situation. Let me quote from Lieutenant DeVilling in the article when he says, ``It is not uncommon for a police officer to identify a dilapidated building which is used as a crack House. Within a short time, the building is burned to the ground by firemen to practice and improve their skills. The property is then cleared and recycled. These recycled properties are frequently used for purposes such as building a brand-new home by Habitat for Humanity.''
Other programs operated by the Ocala Police Department include drug education for young people, drug abuse resistance education, and of course dealing with the gangs through education and training.
Mr. Speaker, this morning I am pleased to be here. I commend the Ocala Police Department, the local and State officials, and all the organizations involved in this dramatic, dramatic success achieved in crime prevention. As we here in Congress attempt to find solutions to the violence that is sweeping this country and this Nation, it is comforting to know that our local law enforcement and community organizations working hard to combat this problem at its source and it is happening in my hometown of Ocala. They are succeeding.
Mr. Speaker, I will submit to enter into the Record Lieutenant DeVilling's article as it appears in the Department of Justice's spring 1990 report, ``Weed and Seed and Best Practices Report.'' For brevity, Mr. Speaker, I will submit only that section dealing with ``Taking it to the Streets,'' which is a small part of this article explaining how the Ocala Police Department actually reduced crime in my hometown using the ``Weed and Seed'' program.
My efforts this morning are also to recognize the fine things being done by the Ocala Police Department to reduce and eliminate crime in my hometown of Ocala, Florida.
Taking It to the Streets
The programs and projects conducted by the Ocala Police Department, Crime Prevention Section include:
Drug Education For Youth (DEFY): This program was developed by the U.S. Navy and offered through the Department of Justice to local law enforcement organizations. The program at our level reaches out to under-privileged children and offers one-on-one mentoring for a full year. Most of the mentors are police personnel. We conduct a summer day camp and the local Army Reserve personnel attend and provide various instructional topics for the kids. We take the children on field trips to places offering educational and inspirational experiences. We also arrange for them to conduct their own community programs such as delivering fruit baskets to the elderly.
DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education): DARE is a well-known elementary school program which we have implemented in all of the primary schools in Ocalo with the assistance of the Marion County School Board. Our program reaches over 1000 school-children each year.
GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training): the GREAT program is similar in concept to DARE, but it is directed toward an older group of students and offers a different message. Street gangs are becoming a serious problem in the United States. Some cities are already overburdened with
``after the fact'' abatement programs and additional police efforts to cope with the violence, destruction, and crime created by these groups. The Ocala Police Department and the Marion County School Board, with the help of CCASA have implemented the GREAT program in all seventh grade classes in the city schools. The classes teach anti-violence, drug resistance, gang resistance, self-esteem, conflict resolution, and other important topics. This program will soon reach 1000 students each school year.
Other ongoing programs implemented through the Ocala Police Department are designed to address specific challenges in issue areas at various times. These projects may be operated for only a short time (one to two days) or for extended periods (a full year). We employ a concept of dynamic approach and response to community needs in order to provide our services in a timely manner. Programs can be implemented and discontinued as community needs indicate.
The following activities and events are only part of those conducted by Crime Prevention Section and the Ocala Police Department family as part of their regular duties:
Business Police Academy.
Citizens Police Academy.
Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.
Bicycle Safety Rodeos.
``Cops'' Kids & Firemen Day.
Crime Prevention Week.
Neighborhood Watch.
Business Watch.
Safe Halloween.
Community Clean-up Days.
Special Olympics Picnic.
DARE and GREAT Skate Nights.
``AMI'' (Aid to the Mentally Impaired).
Police Explorers Post.
Neighborhood Cookouts.
``SAFE HOME'' Program.
Police Recruit Academy.
Scholarships.
Community Resource Center.
Crime Prevention Programs.
Security Surveys.
McGruff Program Activity.
``Crash Dummies'' Program.
``Casey'' the talking car.
Operation ``Kid ID''
Project Graduation.
Host Statewide DARE Day.
HUD Summer Programs.
Red Ribbon Campaign.
Vacation Bible School.
Health Fairs.
The future of law enforcement is already here. Crime prevention has proven to be successful and will continue to be the foundation of progressive law enforcement as we move into the 21st century.
For more information contact: Lt. Ken DeVilling, Phone
(352) 629-8290, Fax (352) 629-8391.
____________________
