Increased the visibility of patrol officers and vehicles throughout the City through the extension of the take home vehicle program for officers living within the city limits, funded through grants and investigative cost recovery. Awarded official recognition as a federally funded Weed and Seed site effective October 1, 2002 which will provide additional community policing resources to the gateway area, Skycrest, and North Highland neighborhoods. Conducted 5 citizen police academy programs attended by 150 citizens who learned about their police department and the criminal justice system. Created the monthly Blueline CPD newsletter to inform citizens about their police department, distributed via print version and electronically through PolicEmail, an automated mailing list. Awarded 4th year funding under the Victims of Crime Act grant to enhance victim advocate services. Improved our ability to address crime related to homelessness through the Police Homeless Outreach program funded through a federal Neighborhood Policing Initiative grant. Through June 30, 2002 officers working in the program have made 3567 assessments and 961 referrals to shelters and other social service providers. Utilized monies received through a federally funded congressional earmark to enhance Project Next Step by providing additionally technology-related equipment to provide better service to the citizens of Clearwater. Partnered with the State Attorney’s Office to create the COMPASS program, which allows for the more effective handling of juvenile related cases in established community policing neighborhoods. The program was funded through federal grant monies. Reinstated the Police Service Technician program for the City library providing security for the patrons of the library during the construction of the new facility. Deployed the department’s new mobile command center as the primary element to "Project Next Step" expanding the department’s community policing outreach and providing centralized command capabilities for special events and catastrophic incidents. Expanded the Volunteer Program by 25 volunteers thereby freeing up sworn employees to handle more calls for service and providing additional visibility throughout the City. Through the Traffic Initiative, raised seat belt compliance to over 70%, which earned a first-place award from Buckle-Up Florida. Additionally, the number of traffic fatalities was at its lowest rate in 15 years ultimately resulting in safer streets throughout the City. Partnered with Directions for Mental Health to create the Child Development-Community Policing program to assist children who have witnessed violence or traumatic events in an effort to reduce or alleviate the effects this violence can have on children. Spearheaded a public/private partnership project to create the Garden Avenue Park in the Old Clearwater Bay Neighborhood providing a needed resource for the children of the area. Established a specialty assignment of Corporal within the Patrol Division improving supervisory coverage in the field and providing a better response to citizens throughout the city during peak shift hours. Further enhanced the department’s Hispanic Outreach Program by hosting a Public Safety Expo at St. Cecelia Church, participating in a day camp program for Mexican children, partnering with St. Leo College and Pinellas County Schools to offer Spanish classes for law enforcement officers, and was refunded through federal grants to provide a civilian interpreter and victim advocacy programs for our Hispanic Citizens. fCreated a County Wide "Beds Line" in conjunction with Pinellas Cares ("211") to track the availability of shelter beds throughout the county enabling officers from any agency to quickly place homeless individuals. Indicted five (5) individuals from the Clearwater area on federal drug trafficking charges through the federal Weed and Seed Task Force. Eight individuals under prior federal indictments were sentenced to an average of eight years each. Subsequent to the September 11 terrorist attacks the Department participated in the Regional Domestic Security Task Force by assigning a detective to the task force. In the weeks following the incident, the department responded to 210 suspicious substance incidents. The Chief of Police chairs the Law Enforcement Equipment subcommittee of the task force.