Preserve Our Neighborhoods
In the Preserve Our Neighborhoods (PON), police officers visit neighborhoods where there have been complaints of criminal activity in the neighborhood or nearby. This is a form of community policing. Using the PON process, officers select specific neighborhoods based on the latest information. Through the PON process of evaluation, officers then determine where police visits will have the greatest impact.
Officers go door to door, and meet with residents in a friendly way, sharing information about reporting crimes like graffiti. Graffiti should be reported immediately and residents should tell the dispatcher the time that they noticed the graffiti. If a perpetrator is seen making graffiti, residents should get a description of the person.
Officers remind residents that they can help prevent petty theft; for example, car doors should be locked, valuables should be out of sight or removed from the vehicle, garage doors should be closed and locked. In addition, residents tell officers about “problem” houses—loud parties, barking dogs, trash in the yard, too many cars parked at the house—on their street or in their neighborhood. That way, police officers can watch these houses for criminal activity.
Did you know that it is against the law to park facing the wrong direction on a street? This may seem like a minor offense, but it can be an early sign that the people on the street don’t take pride in their neighborhood. Sahuarita police officers recently interviewed an arrested criminal about why he chose a certain location for criminal activity. He said that cars were parked the wrong way on the street, and many front yards had weeds. He knew that people on the street were less likely to question what was happening at the house he rented.
The goal of community policing is to prevent the “small stuff” before more serious crime moves in.
Some residents may worry that something is “too small” to bother the police. This is not true at all. Sahuarita Police Officer Zimmerling says: “You are not bothering us with your calls, questions or concerns. You’re helping us.”
In December, the PON program will be visiting residents in the Rancho Sahuarita neighborhoods in the area of Calle Vista Larga. So be sure to open your door and get to know Sahuarita police officers, they’re here to help you, and you can help them prevent crime, too.
If you see a crime happening, call 911 or the Sheriff’s dispatch at 351-4900. The Pima County Sheriff will immediately dispatch Sahuarita Police to the crime location.
If you would like to leave information about unusual activity at house, cars parked the wrong way on your street, or other quality of life concerns, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 520-344-7000
