The Benton Police Department is launching the “All About Your Business” initiative, which will not only increase officer visibility at local stores, it will strengthen employee and customer safety and community policing. The main goal is to deter crimes by officers being prominent at business locations. Officers will not only patrol parking lots, in this proactive initiative officers will exit their patrol cars and interact with the public.
“With the holiday season upon us, the amount of people shopping increases, and it also, unfortunately, increases crimes of opportunity,” said Chief Kirk Lane. “To counteract crimes of opportunity, our officers will increase their presence at local businesses. This safety measure will also further build upon the relationships established in the community, and forge new relationships, because our officers will step out of their vehicles and get to know the business owners, their employees, and their customers.”
Officers will also provide contact information and material on joining the Benton Business Watch program (if the business isn’t already a member). In addition to the full-time officers, we’ll also utilize reserve officers to provide extra patrol of businesses. Officers will patrol the businesses day and night, and with the times being unannounced, it will keep criminals wondering when and where an officer will show up.
Business owners can help reduce crime in the community and assist in keeping the city safer by participating in the BNPD initiative. If any business wants to participate and request officers to meet with employees and/or customers, contact Benton Police Department Media Specialist Matt Burks for scheduling at mburks@bentonar.org or call (501) 776-5900 extension 131.
To report crimes, contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
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