Leesburg Making Police More Visible in Communities

For years, Leesburg police officers were assigned to patrol large swaths of the town, making it difficult for them to become acquainted with individual communities.

"They weren't familiar because they were too scattered," said Lt. Wes Thompson, a spokesman for the Leesburg Police Department.

But earlier in the year, the department launched a system that provides for a greater police presence in neighborhoods. The Community Commander Program splits Leesburg into three districts that include four patrol beat areas. The patrol beats have 18 community policing sectors.

The new system assigns police officers to neighborhoods in each community sector. "The officers work the same time each shift," Thompson said. "They know what is out of place; they know what belongs. Each officer can keep their finger on the pulse of every community."

The last overhaul of police assignments was in 1995, Leesburg officials said. Policing sectors were divided into business, retail, residential and mixed-use areas that used natural boundaries such as creeks. Officers were assigned to areas that were more spread out.

"Before, you could end up patrolling an area you're not necessarily assigned to," said Lt. Vanessa Grigsby, a district commander.

"The town is growing and it's becoming congested," she said, adding that the police force also has grown to 80 officers. "It was hard to stay spread out."

Police officials said they hope having more officers patrol neighborhoods will help build a relationship between law enforcement and the community. Many officers are attending homeowners association meetings. They also get out of their cars to talk to children and residents.

"What we try to do is try to make sure the officers really get to know the people in their community sector," Grigsby said.

The department has not tracked the effectiveness of the Community Commander Program, and no data indicate it has deterred crime.

But Thompson said he hopes that increased police presence in neighborhoods will help residents trust officers.

"Police are the most visible form of government," he said. "We're trying to soften that image."