G.A.P.S.

Bridging the Gaps Against Crime

When the Mayor appointed me as your Chief of Police for the City of Gulfport, the message had to be clear... crime affects us all. In an effort to move this department forward in addressing all quality of life and criminal issues, the Gulfport Police Department adopted the COMSTAT style of policing, which was designed and developed in New York City. Simply stated, this system enables police to easily identify established and emerging crime locations and trends for efficient law enforcement.

To further expand the effectiveness of this proven new system, I am proud to announce that the Gulfport Police Department has designed and implemented the Gulfport Alternative Policing Strategy, known as "GAPS", which holds department heads and patrol supervisors accountable for issues faced by the GPD pertaining to criminal activity and quality of life.

GAPS promotes "thinking outside the box". It encourages self initiated actions, uses today's technology to track and monitor crime, and embraces and requires sharing of vital information.

The GAPS Program is truly "bridging the gaps" against crime and with the continued support of the citizens we will all benefit from the style of this policing.

Alan Weatherford

Chief of Police

The GAPS Mission:

To reduce crime and violence... and enhance the quality of life for all Gulfport Citizens.

How GAPS Works

The City of Gulfport is divided into two police districts with assigned district captains. These district captains work with the Criminal Investigation Division and Patrol Divisions to address concerns. All the crime fighting responsibilities have been placed under the two district captains, and new resources have been provided to them to accomplish their mission.

A new crime analysis unit utilizes state-of-the-art crime tracking software which tracks crime and notifies the law enforcement management of spikes in certain crimes as they occur in the city.

GAPS is based on these principles:

  • Accurate, timely intelligence, which is communicated to all daily and direction patrols.
  • Rapid deployment, which is coordinated and focused on crime patterns and trends.
  • Relentless follow-up and assessment, including debriefing perpetrators arrested for felonies, re-interview victims and witnessess.
  • Effective Tactics, which must be flexible and adapted to the shifting crime trends.

The key to success of our approach is the collective effort of our staff in the weekly GAPS meetings involving the Chief, Deputy Chief, Bureau Commanders, all district captains, patrol supervisors, detectives, narcotics officers, and task force officers, regarding crime strategies.

During this informative meeting, crime trends of the previous week and month are reviewed. Offenses are discussed and strategies outlined to deal with any trends or patterns.

Using computer generated crime maps of each district, reported crimes and problem areas displayed on a large screen. District captains working with police personnel make residents aware of the crimes that take place in their area and are able to take proactive measures to reduce and deter them.

Cooperation and involvement by the citizens with police is essential. Accountability by police is paramount.

Concerned About Crime? Get Involved....

Community Policing has become the foundation of the Gulfport Police Department since 1989 and has offered many avenues for our citizens to get involved.

Community Watch

Citizens participate in detecting and preventing crimes. They are trained in the recognition of suspicious or criminal activities and how to report them.

 

Gun Safety Classes

The goal of this program is to reduce the number of gun related accidents and educate the community about gun laws, safety, and individual responsibility. Fees are nominal. Senior citizens discount are offered.

 

Law Enforcement Explorer Program

The GPD was granted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America to organize the Explorer Scout Program. This program is open to both males and females 14 to 20 years of age. These young people are introduced to the laws and responsibilities of those who enforce them.

 

VIPS (Volunteers In Policing Service)

VIPS or Community members volunteering their time and skills help supplement and support GPD officers and civilian personnel by allowing them to concentrate on their primary duties. Volunteer roles may include performing clerical tasks, assisting with search and rescue activities, and other support type roles.

 

Presentations

The GPD offers a variety of presentations available to the public including Drug Awareness, Gang Awareness, Theft Prevention, Drunk Driving, Con Artists and the Senior Citizen, Holiday Safety, Seat Belt Safety, Shoplifting, and Child Safety.

For additional information, call us at (228)868-5703 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Partners With Police

Partners With Police was designed by Chief Weatherford and his staff to place key GPD managers in a different area of the community every Thursday afternoon. Citizens are made aware of the upcoming meeting through the media and flyers distributed throughout the neighborhood.

These meetings allow citizens to interact with the Chief and all of the department’s management team face to face, addressing concerns of crime or just quality of life issues. This information is compiled and followed up on in the weekly GAPS meetings by the Chief of Police and his staff so that the front line officers are aware of the issues.

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