Community Services Division

Mission
The Community Services Division is composed of two sections, Crime Prevention and Youth Services. The mission of the Crime Prevention Section is to provide education and information to businesses, schools, and residential communities in Lynnwood, with the goal of reducing crime. The mission of the Youth Services Section is to equip youth with the educational and life skills necessary to resist negative peer pressure and make responsible decisions.

Personnel
In 2009 the Crime Prevention Section enhanced and expanded service to the community by emphasizing education and information sharing to reduce opportunities for crime. Crime prevention specialists act as liaisons between the City and the public on crime-related problems facing the public. One crime prevention specialist also acted as the public information spokesperson for the Lynnwood Police Department.

Staffing
The Crime Prevention Section consists of two full-time crime prevention officers and one part-time assistant.

Two School Resource Officers (SRO), Ron Moore and Bob Myers, are assigned full-time to Meadowdale and Lynnwood High Schools. SRO’s provide a safe learning environment and act as positive role models for students and staff. Each of the officers assigned to this unit have many years of experience and specialized training. Both officers assist school staff by training the teachers and administrators in such areas as student threat assessment, bullying, harassment, and emergency preparedness.

Officer Robert Myers was assigned to Lynnwood High School until June of 2009. Since Lynnwood High School’s relocation to a new campus outside the city limits, the SRO position has been filled by a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy beginning in September of 2009. Officer Myers’ services vary greatly through the school year. He may be called to investigate criminal behavior, conduct classroom lectures, or assist parents with student-related issues. Classroom instruction included topics on Constitutional law, search and seizure, career opportunities, substance abuse and safety related issues. Officer Myers works in partnership with the school staff in identifying “at-risk” student behavior. Then, in conjunction with the school and parents, appropriate intervention programs are instituted.

Officer Ron Moore is the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Meadowdale High School. Officer Moore teaches numerous classes to high school students in areas such as bullying, criminal law, crisis negotiation and substance abuse. This year, Officer Moore started a weekly Students of Concern meeting at his school, bringing together the school counselors, psychologists and administrators to coordinate student interventions.

Officer Moore helped coordinate the City of Lynnwood’s Community Gang Forum held at Meadowdale High School in December of 2009. Officer Moore is a member of the Edmonds School District Student Safety Assessment Team.

Officers Myers and Moore took a combined total of 133 police reports at Lynnwood’s high schools, and handled 580 incidents. They made 28 physical arrests, and forwarded an additional 96 criminal cases for prosecution. In June of 2007, a survey was conducted with regard to the SRO program. Most respondents reported that they “strongly agreed” that the SRO’s make the schools safer, worked well with staff, students, and parents, and provide services that are beneficial to the school and community. One hundred percent of the respondents stated that the SRO program should continue. The SRO program continued to be an effective and valued program throughout 2009.