VIDEO: Cocoa Police Showcase Community Policing, New Programs In 2015
By Space Coast Daily // January 2, 2016
responded to more than 69,563 calls for service
Cocoa PD in 2015Thursday, December 31, 2015 9:42 a.m.2015 YEAR END SUMMARY.This video highlight just a small part of our activity during the calendar year. It’s been a great year and here’s to more great impacts in 2016! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! BE SAFE!—2015 SHOWCASES COMMUNITY POLICING, NEW PROGRAMS AND POSITIVE IMPACTSPolice activity in the City of Cocoa during the 2015 calendar year focused on connecting with the community through new programs and a continued emphasis on making a positive difference. The men and women of the Cocoa Police Department responded to more than 69,563 calls for service in 2015. This number represents a 12% increase over the prior year in which officers handled 62,007 calls for service. Of these calls for service more than 9,500 involved a call made to 9-1-1. Officers also responded to nearly 6,000 reports of suspicious activity, 3,769 reported disturbances and 3,267 traffic stops which round out the top 5 types of calls. “Our officers and our civilian personnel do an amazing job in providing service to our citizens,” said Chief Mike Cantaloupe. “Whether it’s a call for service request or pro-active community relations, we are working every day to deliver the best and highest quality public safety available.” Among the highlights of 2015 was a number of pro-active community relations events including the National Night Out, Neighborhood Watch, Police Athletic League, Christmas Toy Drive and Shop with a Cop among so many other outreach programs. The department also opened its first thrift shop through its Cocoa Community First non-profit which is designed to fund all the community relations programs offered by the agency. “The partnerships we share in our business community are priceless. Without them we couldn’t provide the type of community outreach we see in our city. The non-profit is a huge part of that partnership and we hope it will allow us to reach more people.” The department’s community oriented approach to policing was so successful in 2015, it was featured by the Korean Broadcast System (KBS) as a model for law enforcement effectiveness around the globe. The department was also internationally recognized by PETA as a “Compassionate Police Department” for saving three pit bulls that were trapped in a storm drain. Video of the rescue reached more than 30-million views on social media pages. Chief Cantaloupe also launched new programs, including PredPol, also known as predictive policing. The program is based on call history and uses data involving types of calls, times and locations to predict when crime is most likely to occur and where. Officers use the data to put themselves in those areas for high visibility patrols in order to deter crime. In 2015 the department upgraded its communications center, provided security for major events including the city’s Mardi Gras, craft fairs, Octoberfest, 4th of July, concerts among others, accepted delivery of a new mobile command post and continued working to upgrade the fleet of police vehicles and radio systems. In addition the agency continues to hire and recruit new personnel. In 2015 the chief promoted a new sergeant who becomes the only active female sergeant among the ranks and only the second in department history. In addition, five officers with more than 100 years of combined experience retired. The Cocoa Police Department currently has 69 sworn personnel and 24 full time civilian personnel in addition to two part time booking officers, 5 reserve officers and 1 auxiliary officer. It operates on a budget of $10,028,258 dollars. A complete report including statistical data won’t be available until the second quarter of 2016 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement releases its 2015 Uniform Crime Report.
Posted by Cocoa Police Department on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Police activity in the City of Cocoa during the 2015 calendar year focused on connecting with the community through new programs and a continued emphasis on making a positive difference.
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Police activity in the City of Cocoa during the 2015 calendar year focused on connecting with the community through new programs and a continued emphasis on making a positive difference.
The men and women of the Cocoa Police Department responded to more than 69,563 calls for service in 2015.
This number represents a 12 percent increase over the prior year in which officers handled 62,007 calls for service.
Of these calls for service more than 9,500 involved a call made to 9-1-1. Officers also responded to nearly 6,000 reports of suspicious activity, 3,769 reported disturbances and 3,267 traffic stops which round out the top 5 types of calls.
Among the highlights of 2015 was a number of pro-active community relations events including the National Night Out, Neighborhood Watch, Police Athletic League, Christmas Toy Drive and Shop with a Cop among so many other outreach programs.
“Our officers and our civilian personnel do an amazing job in providing service to our citizens,” said Chief Mike Cantaloupe.
“Whether it’s a call for service request or pro-active community relations, we are working every day to deliver the best and highest quality public safety available.”
The department also opened its first thrift shop through its Cocoa Community First non-profit which is designed to fund all the community relations programs offered by the agency.
“The partnerships we share in our business community are priceless,” said Chief Cantaloupe. “Without them we couldn’t provide the type of community outreach we see in our city. The non-profit is a huge part of that partnership and we hope it will allow us to reach more people.”
The department’s community oriented approach to policing was so successful in 2015, it was featured by the Korean Broadcast System as a model for law enforcement effectiveness around the globe.
ABOVE VIDEO: Women in law enforcement are a rare breed. While more common these days, they must still work twice as hard to make it in a “man’s world.” Meet Cocoa Police Officer Amanda Torello. She is one of only five female sworn police officers at the Cocoa Police Department. For Officer Torello, it’s always been a calling.
The department was also internationally recognized by PETA as a “Compassionate Police Department” for saving three pit bulls that were trapped in a storm drain.
Video of the rescue reached more than 30 million views on social media pages.
Chief Cantaloupe also launched new programs, including PredPol, also known as predictive policing.
The program is based on call history and uses data involving types of calls, times and locations to predict when crime is most likely to occur and where. Officers use the data to put themselves in those areas for high visibility patrols in order to deter crime.
In 2015 the department upgraded its communications center, provided security for major events including the city’s Mardi Gras, craft fairs, Octoberfest, 4th of July, concerts among others, accepted delivery of a new mobile command post and continued working to upgrade the fleet of police vehicles and radio systems.
In addition the agency continues to hire and recruit new personnel. In 2015 the chief promoted a new sergeant who becomes the only active female sergeant among the ranks and only the second in department history.
In addition, five officers with more than 100 years of combined experience retired.
The Cocoa Police Department currently has 69 sworn personnel and 24 full time civilian personnel in addition to two part time booking officers, 5 reserve officers and 1 auxiliary officer. It operates on a budget of $10,028,258.
A complete report including statistical data won’t be available until the second quarter of 2016 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement releases its 2015 Uniform Crime Report.
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