Neighborhood Visits

With red lights turning, and sirens blaring a procession of emergency vehicles move slowly into a surprised residential neighborhood.  The procession consists of marked patrol cars, animal control vehicle, unmarked cars, fire trucks, and a barbecue on wheels, hot and ready to go.

This is the beginning of a “Neighborhood Visit” in the City of Livingston.

Neighborhood visits first started in 1998, with the Police Department bringing a few vehicles into a neighborhood to attract the residents to come out of their homes and meet the officers.  In 1999, the program was enhanced with an overall goal of improving our relationship with the community through education and opening communications between the police and the community.

Each year between May and August, the Police Department, and Fire Department conduct neighborhood visits. Department supervisors, select the location for each visit, keeping it a secret until the day of the event. 

City Council members, Police Officers and Volunteers, along with Fire Department, Public Works personnel and Office Staff meet at 5:00 p.m. for a briefing on the selected location for that night.  A plan is laid out to the location, route of travel, and where the aerial truck will set up to spray water.  The group meets on the adjoining street near the station, and moves out to the visit location.  Just before arriving within the area of the visit, lights and sirens are activated and they move into the neighborhood, with the barbecue smoking and ready.  A location is selected in the neighborhood, and the roadways are barricaded.  The officers, and fire personnel then set out door to door and invite residents to come out and enjoy the water spray, free hot-dogs, and meet the personnel on scene. 

We have found that these visits are a huge benefit in promoting communication between the community and the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department, Office Staff and members of the City Council. 

REMEMBER, THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR SIRENS, WE MAY BE COMING TO VISIT YOU……