GREEN INITIATIVES

Town of DeWitt Highlighted Department of the Month

Dewitt Police Department

Conserving Resources

The list below outlines the multiple ways the Department attempts to conserve resources:

Specific garbage/recycle containers for general trash, returnables and recyclables.

Thus far we have eliminated 75% of our printed forms and have created 30 forms in an electronic version.

The two main police reporting systems are CYNLEADS and TRacS. Both are wireless and all reports are stored in a database. They are only printed if a specific copy is requested, thus saving us tens of thousands of copies per year reducing the cost on multiple fronts:
     a. Costs of maintenance agreements are
     b. The amount of paper that has to be purchased is reduced

     c. Reduces wear and tear on equipment such as the copies

     d. Increases time for clerical staff to work on other projects

A total of seven (7) motion light sensors have been installed at the Police Department to conserve energy.

A yearly Departments goal is to increase the efficiency of Department operations.

Two waterless soap dispensers were installed to reduces the use of paper towels.

Weather stripping has been installed on exterior doors in the Department.

A policy was implemented that restricts the idling of all police vehicles.

The Department is exploring the acquisition of flashlights that do not utilize a common battery which would eliminate the cost and disposal of the present batteries.

Automatic flushers have been installed in men’s locker rooms on urinals with lower water use.

A new more efficient coffee maker was purchased with airpots. This allowed for coffee to be hot, longer, resulting in 50% less coffee being purchased.

Automatic towel dispensers have been installed to reduce waste of paper.

All employees that work in administration, clerical, and investigations were asked to use ceramic mugs for coffee and other beverages throughout the day to greatly reduce the use of paper cups.

In 2010, we moved to digital daily activity reports and eliminated the use of paper activity reports for all officers.

Methods for Reducing Fuel Consumption
o Increase use of electric carts, SMART carts, Segways, bike patrols, motorcycles, and/or additional foot patrols.
o Purchasing patrol vehicles with smaller, more fuel efficient engines(V8 to V6).

o Assigning two officers per vehicle when and where feasible.

o Downsize to mid-size sedans for investigators and administrative support staff.

o Reduce or restrict officers return trips to headquarters (all reports are completed in the field using mobile data terminals).

o When more than one officer attends training off-site, officers are required to ride share.

o Restrict training opportunities to in-house or in-county training.

o Maintaining proper air pressure in the tires of all patrol vehicles.