ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The City of Rockford recently extended the Resident Officer Community Keeper program (ROCK) and officers feel the program is a great way to get closer to the community.
“They’re my neighbors have become my friends, like they’re my friends and my neighbors,” said ROCK Houses Police Program Resident Officer Patrice Turner.
Three ROCK houses are located throughout the city, one is in District One while two are in District Two. Turner has been in charge of the program for six years now and she feels she has connected law enforcement closer to the community.
“It’s a healthy way to build positive relationships between police officers and civilians or community members,” said Turner.
People often go to the houses of these officers with questions and complaints. Turner said that this works out well.
“I never doubted that it would work because when you think about it is probably the grassroots style of policing is probably the way things were done way back when policing began,” said Turner. “I always knew that it would work out. I had a feeling it would work out and it is, and it’s just great to see it.”
ROCK Houses hold community programming events, like Pumpkins With the Police and Fresh For Learning.
“I think we plan to go in the direction of even more community programming,” said Turner. “I think it’s working out. We’re able to reach a wide variety of people in a positive way, and I think we’ll continue to do that through more community programming. So I’m really looking forward to that.”
Turner mentioned ways these houses can keep people safer just by being there.
“You know, may speed up to the stop sign or yield sign, but then they’ll slow down when they see the squad car,” said Turner. “You know, assuming that someone’s inside or just knowing that a police officer is on fire because a squad car is there. So just that alone, I see changes [in] some negative habits in the area.”
For more information on ROCK Houses program click here.
