INNOVATING LAW ENFORCEMENT - BETTERING OUR COMMUNITY
We believe that innovation starts with a "What if…" moment. We encourage each department member's strengths of vision, empowerment, and collaboration. We find that implementing innovative outreaches to our law enforcement mission produces the best public safety and citizen engagement results. These endeavors garner yields from national recognition to corporate partnerships. We strive for one goal - to provide the highest service value to our Hawthorne Community.
These programs are not about law enforcement in the traditional sense. It is our commitment to making a positive difference in someone's life, teaching valuable lessons and tools to our youth so that they have every opportunity to succeed, and building trust between our community and our officers. Every program you see here was proposed and started by our officers and not directed by leadership. This exemplifies our unique culture, where the best idea wins, regardless of rank or seniority.
Here are our signature Programs & Engagements:
[click on the photos to learn more]
coffee with a cop
'Coffee with a Cop' is our signature program, created by the Hawthorne Police Department at our local McDonald's in 2011. We set out looking for ways to interact more successfully with our community. We hit upon a simple plan to break through the barriers that have been built over the years–a cup of coffee. Coffee with a Cop events are now held in all 50 states and is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country. The program has also expanded to outside the Unites States to Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. The key to Coffee with a Cop’s growing success is that it opens the door for interactions outside of the crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together. INFO HERE
Ride to live
‘Ride to Live’ is a motorcycle-driver training class taught by Department Motor Instructors, offering riders of any skill level the ability to improve their riding skills, enhance their safety and control, and learn the techniques taught at law enforcement motor schools. The classes are free of charge and now encompass two different skill competencies. The mission is simple - improve the safety of motorcyclists and traffic safety jointly through professional training and awareness.
FACILITY DOG SCOTTIE
‘Scottie’, HPD’s full-time “Facility Dog,” one of the original pioneer law-enforcement service dogs in the U.S., is assigned to our Community Affairs Unit. Scottie comes to work daily with a specific mission: Increase community communication, ease the tension between crime victims and children, and maintain department morale. Scottie does it all! VIDEO HERE
tactical medicINE program
[fade]The Hawthorne Police Department TacMed Program oversees our officers' training, equipment and deployment of medical-based offerings. We took this SWAT-inspired focus and formatted it for our Patrol Division Officers - those who are most likely to respond to you first in a crisis.' Tactical First Aid' was born. The positive results are staggering - life-supporting and saving act performed monthly in our city's streets. But we didn't stop there. We offered this training focus free of charge, and many of our neighboring police agencies in South Bay and LA County successfully passed on this skill set. We have now evolved this training to complement the public sector, bringing actual life-saving knowledge to our community, who can immediately address medical needs when confronted.[/fade]
YOUTH-SPORTS ENGAGEMENTs
[fade]One of our most successful community programs! An elite partnership between the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy, the Chevrolet Corporation, Coaches Across Continents, and your HPD. You will not find another similar alliance anywhere - ‘HPD Police-Youth Futsal.’ Our Officers create a “safe space” for positive interaction as they team up with local youth to learn and play Futsal at Hawthorne Memorial Park. The results are fantastic, teens and Officers alike![/fade]
SURVIVING Active-shooter ASSAULTS IN TODAY'S AGE
[fade]The sad reality of today is that schools, businesses, or public congregation spots are now targets for mass-homicidal attacks. We are training and preparing Hawthorne-based stakeholders for readiness and survival. Expert Staff teaches and role-plays our school and private sector partners in real-world scenarios better their prevention, preparedness, and survival.[/fade]
power project
[fade]The Power Project is an adult-volunteer mentoring group for pre-teen and teenage girls from our Community. The coordinators from the Police Department and private-sector industry meet weekly and address topics that build maturity and life-preparedness in the young ladies, coupled with engagement in rigorous activities such as Ice Hockey and CrossFit. These collaborations make this opportunity to learn early and advance future academic and life-experience opportunities unique! Our girls also earn community service hours by helping at various charity / police-supported events throughout Hawthorne.[/fade]
hawthorne FORCE YOUTH HOCKEY
[fade]Another first and one-of-a-kind! This program brings an opportunity for our youth in Hawthorne and an introduction to youth ice hockey. The Hawthorne Force Hockey Program was born from a partnership between the Hawthorne Police Department and the National Hockey League Players Association’s “Goals and Dreams” program. Now touted as a premier example of youth collaboration by the NHL, the FORCE youth are coached and mentored by volunteer officers from our PD. The program remains sustained through selfless work and Community and corporate donations.[/fade]
air 55
[fade]Hawthorne's 'Air-55' is South Bay's only dedicated municipal police helicopter. Equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, night-vision, and downlink technologies, our two-person Hawthorne crew pilots the MD500E, patrolling the skies of Hawthorne weekly, adding a force multiplier to our law enforcement officers that cannot be achieved in other ways. AIR55 additionally provides routine critical support services to our neighboring police agencies during their work, keeping our region safer and our public safety partnership strong. With this kind of air support above, our patrol officers have an added layer of crime prevention and apprehension capabilities that few other cities possess. Check out Air 55’s Instagram page HERE. [/fade]
BRANDING
[fade]Progression is the key to success. Our emphasis on looking at contemporary ‘branding’ is just another example. From the smallest to the largest, from our newly issued Badge, all the way up to our phenomenal Police Facility building, standing above and apart is preeminent. Our latest police vehicle graphics do such as a unique design, placing the Hawthorne brand in the forefront, body-wrapped in matted traditional colors. These stylings began as “conversation starters”. Now, Officers are routinely approached by the community with positive feedback and photo-seeking with the unit.[/fade]
MOBILE POLICE CENTER
[fade]In our continual search for ways to connect with our community, we introduce you to the Neighborhood Mobile Substation. This mobile “neighborhood-police-station-on-wheels” will bring us directly to your neighborhood! Conceived by our Officers and derived from grant funding, this platform will allow our deployment around the City, allowing officers and detectives to come to you, to stay, connect and address issues impacting your neighborhoods. Contact us if you want us to “pop up” in your community, business lot, or school.[/fade]
police-teen dialog
[fade] The Police-Teen Dialogue offers us a unique opportunity to engage our community’s youth in purposeful conversation that explains all the many things that are police related. A great partnership with the Hawthorne Teen Center provides the foundation for building bridges between police officers and our youth. Dialog sessions are held every few months. Check back for the schedule. Check out the videos of the program here and here.[/fade]
Job INTERVIEW WORKSHOP
[fade] As a law enforcement organization, we conduct rigorous, professional interviews in a never-ending quest for the best and brightest applicants. As part of that experience, as well as our own internal promotion process which relies heavily on interviews, we began to realize that we had the opportunity to help our community in a unique and valuable way. We could help our community land jobs! No matter what career field you are in, the job interview techniques we teach here will help you prepare for, and succeed at, any job interview. This class is free for all participants. [/fade]
HPD BICYCLE TEAM
[fade] The Hawthorne Police Department’s Bicycle Team takes our community policing philosophy on two wheels. Our officers have become much more approachable by eliminating one of the most significant barriers in policing (the police car). This allows us to increase our communication and build trust with our community. Our focus of the team is to be highly visible in the parks, shopping centers, and neighborhoods. VIDEO[/fade]
Care for blue
[fade]#CareforBlue is our wellness program designed by our employees, for our employees. Rather than have leadership make decisions on what is important, we asked our officers what was actually important to them. The result: A holistic and long-term program that addresses mental, physical, and financial wellness for all employees, sworn and support staff. DETAILS [/fade]
movies in the park
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ice cream & popcorn!
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Community affairs bureau
[fade]Hawthorne Police Department’s Community Affairs Bureau (CAB) is the focal contact point for many neighborhood organizations, parent groups, and individuals who want to make a difference in the community. CAB members are out in the community doing education, outreach, and helping to organize and plant the seeds of change to make Hawthorne a great place to live, work and play. Whether it’s an anti-drug presentation in the morning, a visit from Scottie the dog in the afternoon, or a neighborhood watch meeting in the evening, the CAB is there. CAB members are the initial point of non-emergency contact for community questions and concerns. CAB members strive to be accessible and able to offer advice and help people to work together as a community to solve problems[/fade]
“HAWTHORNE SAFE INITIATIVE”
our COMMITMENT for a safer hawthorne
Our approach to keeping our community safe revolves around the “Hawthorne Safe Initiative”. Our strategy is outlined below.
SAFE BUSINESSES
We understand the commitment and resources one must invest in opening a business. That you choose Hawthorne to operate your business is not lost on us. We deploy a clear and intentional strategy to ensure companies in Hawthorne are engaged in public safety. Any business owner, large or small, has a voice with us. Our patrol officers get out of their cars and contact business owners throughout the city on any shift. We conduct quarterly meetings with our business owners/managers. Engagement is key. More info HERE
SAFE SCHOOLS
Our School Resource Officers have one mandate: Any student (from elementary to high school) should not have their first meeting with an officer under an adverse circumstance. SROs work to build trust, mentor and help students. They have to be approachable so that students can report crimes if they are victims. We work closely with school leadership, non-profit groups that provide resources to minors, and parents to ensure all of our education stakeholders have a voice with HPD. Results? Check out this story HERE
SAFE PARKS
Parks are the focal point of any neighborhood. Our Parks must be safe spaces for our community members to gather., for kids to play, and for adults to find open space to exercise. We place a high priority on making sure our parks are safe and clear of graffiti. We work closely with the city’s Parks & Recs and Public Works departments to address issues quickly. Along with leveraging technology (Community WIFI, security cameras, etc.) HPD officers patrol the parks multiple times throughout their shifts.
SAFE TRAFFIC
With the ever-increasing traffic in our neighborhoods and city streets, our strategy revolves around Enforcement, Education, and Collaboration. What does this mean? Our Motor and Traffic Officers and Parking Enforcement Officers work together and conduct High Visibility Enforcement (HIVE) details around the city. The team will work in neighborhoods, highly traveled city corridors, business districts, or near schools. They will provide high-impact visibility and enforcement for a short period and move quickly and often to different parts of the city. Partnerships are critical to our strategy. We highly value having a great relationship with our neighboring police departments. When needed, we will partner with the other city Traffic Officers and work in each other’s area. These programs provide maximum impact and high visibility with added resources from other city police departments. Questions or requests for traffic enforcement? Email us at hpdweb@hawthorneca.gov
SAFE neighborhoods
Regarding communication, we understand the need for a straightforward way to reach someone at the police department. One of our Community Affairs Bureau's primary missions is to ensure a strong relationship between HPD and residents living in Hawthorne. We attend neighborhood meetings (in person or via Zoom) and come out and run the police department from your neighborhood using our Neighborhood Community trailer. Still, most importantly, we are there to try and resolve issues and solve problems.Contact the CAB directly by email at cau@hawthorneca.gov
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT Taskforce
The City of Hawthorne Community Improvement Task Force (CITF) is a collaborative partnership with businesses, residents, property owners, community organizations, and other public agencies working to improve the image and quality of life in the City of Hawthorne. These public and private partnerships seek innovative approaches to address social problems that emphasize the homeless crisis through open communications. CITF provides referrals for wrap-around supportive services that include housing, substance abuse, mental health, medical services, and other needs as necessary to mitigate recidivism. The CITF Team also meets regularly to discuss approaches to improve business commerce by implementing crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), with the ultimate goal of achieving a healthy and safe environment for our diverse community.
