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On behalf of all the employees of the Mountain Home Police Department, welcome to our website. We trust as you review the information contained on the many pages that your questions are answered and that you learn more about the type and level of service being provided in this outstanding community. It is our goal to provide a multifaceted law enforcement program that results in a high level of confidence in our professional law enforcement endeavors. In striving for excellence, we will work in partnership with the community we serve and encourage community involvement to meet our goals. The Mountain Home Police Department already has an exceptional history of “Community Policing.” Two magnificent examples of such partnerships are the Cadet and COP (Citizens On Patrol) Programs. Over the past 30 months, your Police Department has undergone a steady and continual transformation from good towards great. Our level of responsiveness has increased, as have our levels of service. Our calls for service are up significantly (59%) and so is our self-initiated activity (traffic stops are up 105%). Just as impressive, is the fact that four out of five motorists stopped receive a warning for their violations and not a citation! So as you can see, our officers are not heavy handed and their use of discretion is still alive and well. Also important to note is the fact that crime is down! 2009 data reveals crime is down 26.57% from 2008 and more telling, 14.23% from the 10 year average. The number of complaints received is down, as are the number of times we utilized force to make an arrest or handle a problem. While we can always improve, I am confident from the data and the anecdotal evidence of my frequent interactions with many of you at community events and functions, we are doing better, much better. Your police department is highly cognizant of whom we serve and we are continuing to reach for the goal of treating everyone we meet with dignity and respect, regardless of who they are or what they have done. While I emphasized the following philosophical underpinning upon my arrival, I continue to stress them every day and I ask all of our employees remember and model the four “P’s” of Public Service. They are being: Positive - No one likes to be around negative people. Being positive is contagious. Always strive to be positive in every interaction and as a result those around you will be impacted in a positive way. Professional - We are public servants 24/7, 365, both on and off duty and our behavior should exemplify that fact. We have sworn to live by a code of ethics and to represent the profession with the highest values and ideas. Productive - As stewards of taxpayer monies, we are obligated to make the most of what we have been entrusted with and to always be mindful that we have a mission to accomplish. Partnering with those we serve is one of the best means of reaching those goals Progressive - The world around us is always changing and the manner in which we think and deliver services should always be changing as well. It is our priority to search for innovative ways to both foresee problems that might arise and proactively address problems that present themselves. My door is always open, so feel free to stop by or simply pick up the phone and give me a call. Many of you still ask when we talk, “So Chief, how are you liking Mountain Home?” My answer is always the same, “I love it!” I usually follow with the question, “What’s not to love?” The residents of this community are outstanding. They serve and give back every chance they get. That should not be surprising, since many of them are either current or retired military servants and continuing to serve our community in other ways is just part of what makes them and our community special. Mountain Home is truly a great place to live, work and raise a family. Together we will strive to ensure you continue to feel that way as well! Sincerely,
John
Walter
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