Politics & Government
Madeira Beach Reinstating Community Police
Resident's complaints about the rising crime rate has brought community policing back to Madeira Beach.
Madeira Beach will again have a police officer who will deal with Madeira Beach, and only Madeira Beach.
On February 8, the Madeira Beach City Commission voted unanimously to reinstate a community police officer, according to Tampabay.com.
On February 27, Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Shawn Heffner will take up the title of Madeira Beach Community Policing Officer.
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Heffner won't be out responding to every call in Madeira Beach. Instead, he'll be focusing on issues that are given to him from the city manager or other deputies working in Madeira Beach.
Madeira Beach had police station until 1995. Since then, they've contracted the work out to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and kept a community officer until 2008.
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Recently, residents in Madeira Beach have made complaints about drug deals happening in the neighborhoods.
The current community police program is scheduled to last through the budget year, after which it will be evaluated to see if community policing could help with lower crime rates.
Do you think the community policing is a good idea? Tell us in the comments.
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