1 NEWFIELDS POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY SURVEY December 2011

2 Background Survey designed to help the department understand the perceptions and needs in the community Results will be used to enhance policing services Provides a baseline for future surveys Partnered with Glengyle Research and the UNH Survey Center

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5 Survey / Response Rate Paper survey (census) via US Mail – Total of 723 surveys mailed Sent one survey to each household in Newfields 445 households via US Mail rural route Sent one survey to each PO Box 278 Newfields Post Office Response rate – We received 220 surveys – We excluded one from our analysis since it was blank – from a club – Total 219 surveys back – Response rate 30.3%

6 Respondent Demographics Do you own or rent your home? Gender What is your age? n = 216 n = 206 n = 211

7 Respondent Demographics How many adults (over the age of 18) live in your household? Average: 2 n=207 How many children (under age 18) live in your household? Average 1 n=208

8 Do you feel safe in Newfields? 97.3% of the respondents feel safe or very safe in Newfields n = 216

9 Do you think crime in Newfields has increased, stayed the same, or decreased over the last 12 months? n = 201

10 Have you limited, changed, or curtailed your activities in Newfields because you are concerned about crime? n = 214

11 How concerned are you about: Your personal safety Day Time n = 213 Night Time n = 213

12 How concerned are you about: Your children are safe Day Time n = 197 Night Time n = 198

13 How concerned are you about: Children exposed to drugs Day Time n = 204 Night Time n = 205

14 How concerned are you about: People using drugs Day Time n = 211 Night Time n = 211

15 How concerned are you about: People dealing drugs Day Time n = 209 Night Time n = 208

16 How concerned are you about: Theft / burglary at your residence Day Time n = 212 Night Time n = 214

17 How concerned are you about: People Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Day Time n = 211 Night Time n = 208

18 How concerned are you about: People speeding Day Time n = 212 Night Time n = 213

19 How concerned are you about the following issues in Newfields? Annoying car horns/stereos/alarms Cars not yielding to pedestrians Illegal dumping/littering n = 210 n = 212 n = 213

20 How concerned are you about the following issues in Newfields? Inadequate street lighting Internet/Computer crimes Parking/traffic problems n = 206 n = 208 n = 209

21 How concerned are you about the following issues in Newfields? Pedestrians crossing roads outside of crosswalks Screeching tires or misuse of vehicle power Speeding cars n = 208 n = 212 n = 214

22 How concerned are you about the following issues in Newfields? Stray/barking dogs Trespassing on your property Vandalism/graffiti n = 210 n = 212 n = 209

23 Have you had any contact with the Newfields Police Department in the past three years? n = 213

24 Were you treated professionally and with dignity and respect during your contact with the Newfields Police Department? n = 175

25 How do you rate the service the Newfields Police Department provides you? 93.4% of respondents rated police service as Excellent or Good n = 211

26 Do you believe the town should provide 24 hour police coverage? Currently the budget allows for 20 hours per day. (7:00 am – 3:00 am) n = 208

27 A tax increase may be required to provide 24 hour police coverage. How much per year would you pay towards 24 hour police coverage? n = 120

28 Do you believe the town should start putting funds aside for expanded space for the department? n = 209

29 Do you believe the police department should be accredited to help reduce risk and insurance premiums? n = 194

30 Are you aware the Police Department will check your home when you are away?

31 Are you aware the Police Department works with local churches to supply food, cooked meals, clothes, and holiday gifts for area residents?

32 Are you aware of the Police Department’s “Helpful Hands” program? Helpful Hands provides assistance to residents during emergency events (storms, power outages, other emergencies).

33 Would a child in your household be interested in a Police Department sponsored youth development program providing positive experiences to help young people mature and prepare them to become responsible and caring adults?

34 Additional Comments Total – 108 open ended comments received