Just minutes from the bright lights and vibrant energy of Denver sits Lakewood, the fourth largest city in Colorado. The foothills of the Rocky Mountains nestle to the west. Within Lakewood's borders, William Frederick Hayden Park on Green Mountain and Bear Creek Lake Park provide residents and visitors with thousands of acres of land and water recreation. The City of Lakewood provides a variety of events focusing on heritage, culture and the arts. Citizens and organizations get involved with Heritage Days and Cider Days. Since incorporation in 1969, Lakewood has been run by a people dedicated to community. The Lakewood Police Department follows this way of life as well.
The Lakewood Police Department is comprised of 278 sworn agents and 136 civilians. In 2007, 132,000 calls for service were received. Agents work out of one main station and patrol the 42 square miles of Lakewood. Several smaller, report-writing stations exist throughout the city. Dispatchers work with an 800MHz system and, unlike many departments who banish their operators to the basement, Lakewood's communications division resides on the top floor of the main station. The city is divided into three sectors, each with a sector liaison unit. Once assigned to a sector, an agent stays there, usually in the same beat, for a year. "We incorporate the latest technology, and crime analysis plays a big part in calls for service and detecting patterns," explains Mark Dietel, Lakewood PD Training Sergeant. "The officers are allowed to detect crime patterns in their sector. We want them to be familiar with businesses and calls for service in their area. We've had this philosophy for as long as I've been here." Dietel has been with the department for 23 years.
Sector Based Policing
Since its incorporation, Lakewood PD has thrived within a communal framework. One of the first departments to receive CALEA certification (in 1986), Lakewood has focused on integrity, professionalism and community based policing. "You can't be an effective agency if you're not working in unison with businesses, schools and community groups," Dietel says. "It's an attitude, not a word. It's not just going out one time and meeting with a group. It's a philosophy. Something you use everyday when you go out on the street." Lakewood PD prides itself on using the community as a source for identifying and solving problems. "We expect everyone to incorporate community based policing into their work whether they're a detective, a patrol officer or a supervisor," explains Dietel. "Problem solving is one of our foundations. We use not only traditional law enforcement resources but community resources as well. You want to incorporate an approach of problem solving not only as a crime problem but a quality of life issue."
Academy
Recruits attend a 24-week in-house, non-residential academy followed by a 16-week field training program. New agents start at $48,400 per year, and top-out at $72,100 after five years. The department offers tuition reimbursement and a 403 retirement plan. Agents purchase and qualify with their own firearm, usually a 9mm, .40 caliber or .44 caliber. Some older agents still carry revolvers. Agents also can purchase a personal AR-15 rifle. 12-gauge shotguns are issued by the department.
Three shifts are available and the department conducts a seniority-based shift bid every year. Agents can apply to a variety of specialty units, including K-9, SWAT, Special Enforcement, Narcotics, Sector Liaisons, SRO, Crime Scene Investigations, Detectives and Traffic. Uniformed, off-duty work is allowed and is handled by the Professional Standards Section.
Innovation
Although a relatively small department, Lakewood PD has been a model for departments across the country for 40 years. The Blazer Project was one pilot program Lakewood attempted. During the project, agents wore slacks and a blazer instead of a a traditional uniform. Agents would integrate with the community by dressing in a similar fashion. "We wanted to implement community policing and that is one example," Dietel said. "The people didn't recognize police officers in blazers. It lasted three years and was phased out for traditional blue uniforms. It was something innovative that no one else had tried." Another innovation was the requirement of a four-year degree. Lakewood PD was the first department to require this of all agents. With its willingness to try new things, Lakewood PD must be doing something right. Since 1969, the department has produced 63 chiefs of police.
A lookthe department web site shows Lakewood is not currently hiring agents, but Dietel states they are planning on having an academy in September 2009. He won't know until March how many will be hired, but a typical academy is 15-25 people. "If we have an academy this year, we will only accept applications for a six-week period starting in March," he says. During recruitment, the Department of Employee Relations works strongly with internet job sites and posts information at colleges. They also attend regional job fairs and travel to universities in the six surrounding states. Currently, the department is hiring dispatchers.
Even though a look to the west shows the breathtaking mountain range, Lakewood's climate is relatively mild with an average summer high of 85 degrees and an average winter low of 31 degrees. There are plenty of recreational activities, from sailing and mountain biking to museums and theatre. Of course, a short drive east opens up the excitement of Denver. Although geographically in the west, Lakewood's philosophy of policing couldn't be further from the "I've got the badge, just do what I say" mantra of western law enforcement. "We've always prided ourselves for being innovative and willing to look beyond the traditional approach to crime," says Dietel. "I think we can back that up with the fact our community based approach has always been instilled in us. That is what sets us apart from others. An innovative approach and incorporating not only a crime focus but also quality of life issues for the people of Lakewood."
