Neighborhood Policing Division

Neighborhood Police

• Animal Control
• Code Compliance
• D.A.R.E.

Safety Town

• School Resource Officer
• Neighborhood Coordinating Officers

Explorer Program

Kids ID

• Crime Prevention

Combat Auto Theft (CAT)

Home/Personal Safety

Neighborhood Watch

Operation ID

Club Giveaway

Cell Phone Giveaway

Car Seat Check/Installation

Trespass Program

Neighborhood Policing Division

The Neighborhood Policing Division was created as a component of the Staff Services Bureau to service special needs within our community.  Its purpose is to supplement the department in the following areas:

·        Animal Control

·        Code Compliance

·        D.A.R.E. Program

·        School Resource Officers

·        Neighborhood Coordinating Unit

·        Crime Prevention

The offices are located at 311 South State Road 7, just behind Blockbuster Video. The division is headed by Lieutenant Arnie Finkelstein.  Lieutenant Finkelstein can be reached at 954-972-1232.

Animal  Control

Animal Control Officers have authority to enforce code violations involving

Animals.  The major responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

a.      Responding to calls pertaining to the handling of animal complaints or animal bites;

b.      Removal of dead animals;

c.      Capturing injured animals and transporting them for treatment;

d.      Enforcement of ordinances relating to animals.

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Code Compliance

There is a specific Code Officer assigned to each section of the City.  Call the Code Compliance Unit with any code related issues you may have in your neighborhood at 954-972-1232.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program

The D.A.R.E. program is a sixteen week curriculum designed to educate younger students about the dangers of drug abuse.  An Officer is assigned to each Elementary School in the City to instruct students in the D.A.R.E. program.  That officers responsibilities include:

·        Scheduling and administering the D.A.R.E. curriculum;

·        Acting as a liaison between the department and the assigned school;

·        Acting as a resource for community assistance programs as needed within the school;

·        Work with school personnel in enhancing security within the assigned school;

·        Act as the coordinator and instructor for the Safety Town Program.

If you have any questions about the D.A.R.E. Program you may contact the officer at your child’s school.  

 School Resource Officer

 A School Resource Officer (SRO) is assigned full time to work at Margate Middle School during times that school is in session.  The School Resource Officer program has three main objectives;

• To enhance safety and security within the school setting;
• To educate students about the law and law enforcement;

·        To act as a referral service for community assistance programs.

Officer Ralph Scaperrotta is assigned to Margate Middle School .  He can be reached at 754-322-3808.

Neighborhood Coordinating Officer

The Neighborhood Coordinating Officer (NCO) is a sworn officer whose duty will range from working alone or in teams, coordinating with other police department divisions or other city or county agencies,  to identify and resolve problems in neighborhoods. NCO’s are assigned to a specific area and are responsible for working with residents to identify and address quality of life issues in neighborhoods through designing and implementing innovative and creative projects and solutions.  NCO’s also coordinate the Police Explorer Program.

To speak with the NCO assigned to your area, call the Neighborhood Policing Division offices at 954-972-1232.

Crime Prevention/Community Involvement

Crime prevention is before the fact efforts or measures that reduce criminal opportunity. Crime Prevention is the anticipation, recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and a plan of action to remove or reduce it.

Our crime prevention officer is certified to do CPTED surveys. CPTED is an acronym for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. This is a crime control philosophy that attempts to apply physical design, citizen participation and law enforcement strategies in a comprehensive way to protect entire neighborhoods or facilities. The goal of CPTED is to reduce criminal opportunity. This reduction is achieved with physical design features that discourage crime. There are three overlapping concepts in CPTED:

*Natural access control

*Natural surveillance

*Territorial reinforcement