LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA

LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
http://www.leepac.org/

What is LEEPAC?

Local building permit and zoning processes can be effective crime prevention tools. Concerned about the impact of unchecked growth in their communities, crime prevention officers in Northern California formed the Law Enforcement Environmental Planning Association of California (LEEPAC). In contrast to fire departments, law enforcement agencies rarely have had an opportunity to review plans for new development and recommend design changes to make the projects less vulnerable to crime.

LEEPAC evolved from a 1989 meeting of crime prevention officers who gathered to examine this problem and share ideas about a solution. First addressed was the proliferation of convenience stores and mini-marts and their inherent risks. LEEPAC developed a set of standards for these businesses covering such issues as minimum lighting, positioning of check-out stands, security of alcohol, and posting on the property against open alcohol containers. Many member agencies are now using these standards as conditions for approval for new convenience stores and mini-marts within their jurisdictions. LEEPAC has since developed a standards manual to address all types of land use. This collection of concepts and alternatives directly addresses many urban security problems. Developers, design professionals, and the public now have the ability to reduce criminal opportunity at the initial planning stages of a development.
Why Join LEEPAC?

As a crime prevention decision maker ask yourself this:

* Are you getting the most from your city and police planning processes?
* Are you participating fully in city and county procedures to help reduce the likelihood of negative-impact land uses?
* Are you working to condition land uses so that they do not reduce the quality of community life in your city, or negatively impact police services?
* Are you aware that you can take existing land uses that are causing a negative impact on the community back before the Planning Commission to amend operational conditions to lessen these impacts?
* re you aware that you can accomplish all of this at no cost to your department by having the applicant/developer pay as they go through the planning process?

Through involvement in LEEPAC and the process, you can:

* Enhance the quality of life in your city, and make police staff hours available for proactive police work.
* Work with the public to prevent problems, as opposed to correcting problems retroactively.
* Get more positive “bang for the limited bucks” received by police and city services as annual funding.
* Encourage your Crime Prevention Bureau to participate through involvement in LEEPAC, by sharing problems, information and experiences with the membership, and in formalized training programs. LEEPAC active membership also includes private consultants that can assist you with the process or specific problem areas.

If you want to learn more about LEEPAC, or would like to attend a future meeting or training seminar, please contact:

Jeff Rodrigues
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
711 G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-2736
jrodrigues@leepac.org