Cellular Phones Donated to Crime Watch Groups
The Long Beach Police Department and a cellular phone company are providing wireless phones to 21 Neighborhood Watch groups as part of an innovative program intended to enhance community-based policing.
“Wireless phones are an excellent crime prevention tool for our community patrol groups to possess since they help community members to become an effective extension of our policing efforts,” said Long Beach Deputy Chief Tony Van Coutren.
Hank Bonde, president of L.A. Cellular, said industry statistics show that the use of wireless phones by local watch groups has led to significant decreases in crime.
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