Safety is a cornerstone of thriving neighborhoods, and it is about more than just the absence of crime. It is also about the opportunity for residents to build relationships with each other, vibrant public spaces, accessible social supports, infrastructure that supports resiliency in times of stress, and a shared trust between government and its constituents that allows for partnership at all levels. The City’s Neighborhood Affairs Division, in partnership with Tallahassee Police Department, the Tallahassee Fire Department and other City departments, works with neighborhoods to build partnerships that proactively enhance crime prevention, disaster response and safe community spaces.

The Plan for Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) program helps neighborhoods to better plan for and respond to hurricanes and other disasters. Neighborhoods can partner with Tallahassee Police Department to implement a Neighborhood Crime Watch to proactively foster a safe environment. The Neighborhood Public Safety Initiative (NPSI) addresses public safety in targeted neighborhoods through a focus on Crime Prevention and Education, Community Beautification, and Community Empowerment and Volunteerism. Neighborhood First is a resident-led process to develop comprehensive neighborhood plans to address safety and other community concerns.

PREP (Plan for Readiness and Emergency Preparedness)

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the City is actively preparing. Citizens play a vital role in surviving and recovering from a disaster, so residents should also make and review their emergency plans and preparations.

Neighborhood Public Safety Initiative

The Neighborhood Public Safety Initiative (NPSI) is a citizen-based program that seeks to address public safety through a focus on Crime Prevention and Education, Community Beautification, and Community Empowerment and Volunteerism. A key premise of the NPSI is that active community participation leads to safer neighborhoods. The NPSI is a collaborative effort of the local Public Safety Collective. The Public Safety Collective’s current members include the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, FSU Police Department, FAMU Police Department, TCC Police Department, Capitol Police, the State Attorney’s Office, Big Bend Crime Stoppers, and the Tallahassee Fire Department.

This initiative will also be supported by several City departments, including Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Growth Management, and Community Beautification and Waste Management. Through this collaboration, the NPSI will encourage participating neighborhoods to actively engage in the creation of safer communities.