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Paying A Little Courtesy Call

NEW CHIEF INTRODUCES COMMUNITY POLICE EFFORT

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From left: Avon Park Police Commander Michael Rowan and Avon Park Police Chief Matthew Doughney plan to have courtesy cards distributed door to door in downtown Avon Park this weekend.

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: June 18, 2008

AVON PARK — Police officers will pay a few courtesy calls on the city's residents and businesses armed with a new tool, courtesy cards.

Police Chief Matthew P. Doughney and the Avon Park Police Department will implement a courtesy card program as an effort to increase crime prevention and citizen awareness.

The cards will have the officer's name, time the property was checked and the officer's comments. They also provide people with valuable information such as important telephone numbers and how to prevent residential, business and car burglaries .

"During their shifts the police officers will be parking their police vehicles and conducting business and residential property checks," Doughney wrote in a news release. "These types of property checks will allow the police officer to have a more active role in the community as well as more awareness of criminal activity."

After a property check is finished the police officer will place a courtesy card on the door, thus providing the resident or business owner with helpful information.

With gas prices so high, conducting the property checks will cut down on the usage of patrol cars and save the city some money for gas usage, said Cmdr. Michael J. Rowan on Tuesday.

"We're in the process of getting the cards printed, we got some in today, and may get them back by Friday," Rowan said. "We should be implementing them by the weekend. Members of the Avon Park Police Department are committed to excellence and are striving to create a safer community."

Actually it's more of a tri-fold pamphlet, Rowan said Wednesday. The department is having 1,000 copies printed for a start.

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