The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department, Saluda Police Department and Tryon Police Department announced today that they have implemented Polk County’s first multi-agency community policing program.
The program will be coordinated by officers from each agency who have volunteered to take on, in addition to their normal daily duties, the extra responsibilities of coordinating community meetings, public education and community crime prevention.
Organizers said the program is designed to ensure that all law enforcement agencies in Polk County are providing the most up-to-date information possible to Polk’s citizens and that the citizens of Polk County will have direct personal contacts within each department for sharing information.
The Polk County Community Policing Program’s first goal is to help build on existing community/neighborhood watch programs already in place throughout Polk County and to assist in starting other community/neighborhood watch programs.
Officers from the Polk County Community Policing Program will hold community meetings to answer questions and provide further information on the community policing program as well as community watch programs, crime prevention, fraud and identity theft prevention, domestic violence prevention and home and personal safety.
If you would like to schedule a meeting for your individual neighborhood or community talk to officers at one of the community meetings or call one of the community policing officers in your area.
For more information on the Polk County Community Policing Program, contact one of the following:
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Ronnie Russell, 40 Ward St., Columbus. 828-894-3001
Columbus Police Department
Sgt. Nick Stott, 95 Walker St., Columbus, 828-894-5464
Tryon Police Department
Officer J.J. Sauve, 291 N. Trade St., Tryon, 828-859-9195
Saluda Police Department
Officer Brent Cantrell, 2 E. Main St., Saluda, 828-749-2691
“I think this is going to be a great opportunity for the departments to build personal relationships with the people of Polk County,” said Polk Sheriff Donald J. Hill.
– article submitted by Kim Pack

 

Community meeting schedule
Columbus area:
Tuesday, March 13, 6:30 p.m., Columbus Town Hall
Sunny View area:
Thursday, March 15, 6:30 p.m., Sunny View Elementary School
Mill Spring/Pea Ridge Area:
Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., Mill Spring Fire Dept.
Green Creek/Sandy Plains area:
Thursday, March 22, 6:30 p.m., Green Creek Family Life Center
Tryon area:
Monday, March 26, 6:30 p.m., Tryon Fire Dept.
Saluda area:
Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 p.m., Saluda Fire Dept.