In December of 2017, the Newport News Police Department received notification from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) that the Department’s Community Crime Prevention Program had earned recertification as a Certified Crime Prevention Community Program – one of only 12 jurisdictions in the state of Virginia. Last Wednesday, March 7, members of the DCJS came to Newport News Police Department Headquarters to present the recertification award. The goal of the DCJS’s Community Crime Prevention Program is to publicly recognize and certify localities that have implemented a defined set of community safety strategies as part of a comprehensive community safety/crime prevention effort.
“Recertification guidelines are very comprehensive and multi-faceted,” said Lt. J.P. Smith, who oversees all community programs for the Department. The 26-page certification and recertification manuals outline requirements including goals and objectives for all programs, a gap analysis, core community safety elements and optional community safety elements.
“I’m very proud of the daily work our Community Programs Division does with our School Resource Officers, Community Resources Officers and throughout the entire Division. They work very close with our citizens and take great pride in building lasting relationships that most definitely help reduce crime in our city,” said Michael Grinstead, Acting Chief of Police.
For more information on crime prevention and community safety programs provided by the Newport News Police Department, visit
www.nnva.gov/police.