To establish guidelines and methods for Division personnel to implement the Partners for Safety (PFS) philosophy through operational, educational, and public relations initiatives. Partners for Safety is both a philosophy and an organizational strategy that will allow the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHP) and community residents to work closely together in creative ways to solve the problems of traffic safety, highway crime, and the overall quality of life in the community.
A. OPERATIONAL - Each post commander shall develop an operational strategy that is proactive in problem solving, addressing local community traffic safety issues, and solicit as many groups, businesses and citizens as practical.
Operational initiatives should include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following topics: personal follow-up contact with traffic crash victims; victims of crime; attending public hearings pertinent to our jurisdiction; Operation Safe Stop; developing strategies for traffic crash prevention; use of door to door canvassing of businesses and residents to augment PSI/PBI identification and criminal patrol; multi-agency operations; city initiatives in conjunction with municipal police departments; and establishing partnerships. One or more of the following partners may be considered for inclusion in, but not limited to, the post commander’s PFS operational initiative: Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT); county engineers and commissioners; township trustees; chamber of commerce; courts; city safety directors and engineers; local law enforcement; public utilities; community leaders; public agencies and school officials; local and franchise businesses; trucking companies; service clubs; alcohol service associations; church leaders; civic associations; emergency response agencies; medical and hospital associations; media; and citizens at large.
B. EDUCATIONAL - The post commander will establish educational initiatives wherein Patrol officers will educate the community while allowing the community to educate the Division as to their concerns and problems. The following ideas may be considered when implementing the educational component of Partners for Safety: establish a community coalition/task force; take a proactive stance in organizing and conducting meetings specifically targeted to local traffic safety concerns; form focus groups; conduct informational meetings for judges and prosecutors on DUI laws; keep communities informed of local traffic safety issues; involvement in Safety Council; work with hospitals to educate new parents on how to properly install child safety seats; citizen police academies; work closely with local high schools; address AAA driver education courses; Adopt a School and sponsorship of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 55 Alive/Mature Driver Program and/or other similar programs.
C. PUBLIC RELATIONS - The post commander along with post personnel shall be involved in a sustained public awareness/public relations program regarding important public safety topics in line with divisional goals and objectives.
The following ideas may be considered for the public relations component: public speaking details, such as school and community group presentations, business partnerships, and media involvement at the local level.
D. PARTNER FOR SAFETY MANUAL - Each post will receive a Partners for Safety Manual, which will be updated biannually. The Manual includes the following sections: Partners for Safety Introduction, Impaired Driving, Speed, Traffic Safety, Multiple DUI, Recruitment, Internet Site, Monthly Articles, PSAs, Driver License Education, NHSTA Traffic Facts, Ohio Department of Public Safety Crash Facts, Safety Materials Catalog, Film and Video Catalog, and Media Tips. Additional sections may be added in the future.
Accountability and reporting are the responsibility of the post commander under the general supervision of district headquarters. Partners for Safety is not intended to generate separate documentation or surveys. Results should be captured through existing documentation policies. Results often cannot be accurately measured or quantified; therefore, attention should be directed toward issues such as safety belt compliance rate, traffic crash reduction, fatal crash reduction, diminished criminal conduct, positive media reports, and unsolicited appreciation letters.
PFS shall be incorporated in the annual district objectives and post strategies. PFS projects shall be reported as outlined in the next paragraph.
The post commander shall define and submit the post PFS strategy by inter-office communication (IOC) to the district headquarters. The IOC shall be brief, concise, identify the objectives, who is involved, when implementation will begin, and a brief statement of how the objectives will be approached. It is recommended the IOC not exceed one page. The IOC should be submitted by the post commander following the approval of the post strategies.
It is imperative to maintain communications with the Division’s Public Affairs Unit and the Planning and Information Services commander. These sections will provide direction and guidance pertinent to information dissemination, public education, and establishing business partnerships. The Office of Field Operations will coordinate the operational aspect of Partners for Safety through the district headquarters. PFS will be reviewed as part of the biennial inspection process.
Standard References
01.1.03 15.1.02 44.2.04 45.1.01 45.1.02
45.2.01