The Swatara Township Police Department and the Penn State School of Public Affairs are teaming up to conduct a study of the Swatara Township Police Department’s community policing initiatives in an effort to determine if they have any impact on crime and/or the Fear of Crime in the community. 

Fear of crime has a corrosive effect on individuals and entire communities. Research done on behalf of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Department of Justice has identified that fear reduction should be one of the priorities within the overall police mission.

This issue is of great concern to the Swatara Township Police Department. Not only do we want our citizens to be safe from crime we want them to feel safe.  Community policing has proven to be one of the most effective tools for reducing the fear of crime and in also in building trust and positive relationships in the community.

The survey will provide both researchers and Police with valuable data about the fear of crime in the community.  Armed with this information, the Police Department can factor fear of crime survey data into its overall community oriented policing strategy.  The over-riding purpose for obtaining this information is to reduce citizen’s fear of crime, improve the quality of life for all residents, and enhance public safety.

Since the Borough is new to being policed by the Swatara Township Police Department, the data they provide will be helpful to the Police Department in determining how effective our Community policing initiatives are in reducing the fear of crime and/or if they actually reduce crime.

We want to encourage all residents and business owners in the Borough of Paxtang to complete the survey.  A follow up survey will be conducted sometime next year to compare data. 

On behalf of the members of the Swatara Township Police Department we thank all citizens in advance for providing us with this valuable input which we pledge to use to enhance the delivery of Police Services to all residents of the communities we police.