Get Involved

Neighborhood Watch logo

Our Mission is Law Enforcement Excellence and Public Service through Partnership with our Community.

If you would like to become more active in the safety and security of your community, please check out the following programs.

The Business Safety Watch Program is a cooperative effort between the Suffolk Police Department and local merchants to prevent business-related crimes within the City. Members join together to report all suspicious activity at any location. The Special Operations Section provides specialized presentations to businesses and their employees. Please contact the Special Operations Unit as 757-514-7861 for additional information or if you would like to set-up a Business Watch in your area.

The Suffolk Police Department's Citizen Police Academy will provide community members with an inside look at local law enforcement. During the academy, students will be introduced to our Community Policing Program, C.I.R.T Unit (Critical Incident Response Team), and participate in a firearms safety demonstration. Other topics include: police ethics, discipline policy and philosophy, communications, drug enforcement and education, marine operations, criminal and traffic law. A ride - along is included.
The academy is designed to give citizens an overview of our department's policies and procedures. The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to the traditional police academy, but the bi-weekly sessions are not designed to make the participant a police officer.
Police employees including patrol officers teach academy classes. Partner agency representatives teach certain subjects. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with the Chief of Police and staff members. They are encouraged to ask questions and express their concerns to police employees. The Suffolk Police Department hopes there will be a greater awareness and understanding of law enforcement's role in the community through the education provided by the Citizen Police Academy.
For more information please contact the Special Operations at 757-514-7861 or download an application.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is a program in which a Crime Prevention Officer will come to your home or business to conduct a security survey at no cost. These surveys are conducted by police officers that have received specialized training in crime prevention. The officer can offer valuable suggestions on how to decrease your chances of being burglarized or robbed.
The assessment is an effective tool to make home and business owners aware of the areas in which they are susceptible to criminal victimization and provide information that can be used to address the shortcomings. If it is determined that public action is needed to improve the safety of a neighborhood, the Department will notify the appropriate City or State agency regarding these improvements. Contact Special Operations at 757-514-7861 to speak with an officer and schedule a security survey.

The National Night Out campaign is a unique crime/drug prevention event involving citizens, law enforcement, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials. It is designed to:
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, the neighborhoods celebrate National Night Out with a variety of events and activities such as:
- Block parties
- Cookouts
- Visits from Police Officers and community leaders
- Flashlight walks
- Contests
- Youth programs
For more information, please contact Special Operations at 757-514-7861.

Neighborhood Watch is a valuable tool to ensure the safety and security of a neighborhood. Members of the watch collectively monitor the properties of their neighbors and report suspicious activity to the police. If you would like someone to make a presentation on Neighborhood Watch to your neighborhood association or Civic League, please contact Special Operations at 757-514-7861.

Our citizens are the eyes and ears of the Suffolk Police Department. If you see something unusual or suspicious in your neighborhood call the Police Department's Non Emergency Number at 757-923-2350, then press 0. Be prepared to provide the Communications Operator as much information as possible including descriptions of people or vehicles, locations, address numbers or anything else that might be helpful. If you witness a crime taking place, dial 911. Be sure to report all crime in your community.

If you see Graffiti in your neighborhood, please help us by reporting it at 757-514-7860. If the graffiti is on public property, we will work together with local agencies to promptly clean it up. If it on private property, we can contact the owner to provide information on clean up options. While we may not be able to get rid of it, your report can help us stay updated on the types of graffiti that is occurring in our City.