2.  CRIME AWARENESS

Safe House is a program whereby Hope Police Officers will check on the status of properties when owners are absent for short durations such as vacations.  Additionally Officers will check on the status of the elderly or special needs persons living in our area absent family or other support resources.  To sign up for the program simply call the Hope Police Department at 870-777-3434 extension 5 to speak with the Lieutenant of Patrol concerning your request or email your questions to chief@hopearkansas.net.   Be ready to provide us with the address and the name of the person related to your request, as well as your complete contact information including home and cellular phone in case of emergency.

Every 40 seconds a child is reported missing in theUnited States.  Because of this, the Hope Police Department has partnered with a federally funded non-profit organization known as, "A Child Is Missing."  This purpose of this partnership is the rapid recovery of missing children and elderly persons.  This partnership allows Hope Police Officers to send emergency public safety announcements to telephones within a prescribed area via a telephony program that utilizes telephone database systems, geo-mapping, and satellite imagery.  Approximately 1,000 telephone calls can be placed in 60 seconds.  These messages usually begin with, "This is an emergency message from the Hope Police Department."   The message will provide biographical and descriptive information of the missing person, the persons last known whereabouts, and a number the public may call to report information.

The Amber Alert System is utilized in many states through out theU.S.   In Arkansas, this system is referred to as the Morgan Nick Amber Alert System and is coordinated by the Arkansas State Police. The purpose of the system is the rapid dissemination of information pertaining to certain cases involving missing children. When the system is activated, information is provided to the public via television, radio, and other sources. 

When the Hope Police Department receives information that a child is missing and suspects that a child faces a known threat of danger or is the object of criminal intent, the Hope Police Department will request activation of the Morgan Nick Amber Alert System.  Local investigative personnel of the Arkansas State Police will assess the information provided.  If the information provided meets established criteria, the National Emergency Alert System will be activated and information disseminated.

8.  SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM

The Hope Police Department works closely with the Hope Public School System to ensure the safety of our school children.  Currently, 2 Police Officers are assigned to providecomprehensive resources in the schools to which they are assigned.  The Center for the Prevention of School Violence's research-derived definition of an SRO is:

a certified law enforcement officer who is permanently assigned to provide coverage to a school or a set of schools. The SRO is specifically trained to perform three roles: law enforcement officer; law-related counselor; and law-related education teacher. The SRO is not necessarily a DARE officer (although many have received such training), security guard, or officer who has been placed temporarily in a school in response to a crisis situation but rather acts as a comprehensive resource for his/her school.