Carson Officials Extend Community Policing Program

The city of Carson will continue its community policing experiment for six more months, after the initial three-month trial seemed successful.

The Carson City Council paid $123,765 for the three-month program so that four additional deputies from the Carson sheriff’s station and a lead officer could be added to the streets. They concentrated on six neighborhoods in the 20-square-mile city, patrolling neighborhoods on bicycle and by foot.

During that time, gang activity decreased and neighborhood watch programs got off the ground, Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Esson said. Officers patrolling the areas did not have to respond to radio calls and could meet the residents in the community and find out what concerns they had, he said.

“This is what being a peace officer is all about, getting in touch with the people in the community,” Esson said.

Director of Public Safety Allen Mitchell said the program will be continued for six additional months so the city can continue to evaluate its effectiveness.

The city is paying for the program out of the general fund, but Mitchell said it has applied for a $257,000 federal grant so that another community-based policing team can be added to the streets.