Anderson Police Department Foot Patrols Effective
Anderson Police Department has undergone multiple changes in administration this year, but Chief Seth Daniels is serious about the position and the department.
Daniels said the hardest part of taking over as chief back in May was delegating duties amid so much change throughout the department.
“The position has a lot of paperwork on top of the day-to-day requirements,” said officer Adam Miller. “Seth’s done a great job of updating the department, equipment, and training while keeping up with the responsibilities.”
The department recently received updates by way of new uniforms, radios, laptop computers and in-car printers.
Six officers provide 24-hour coverage to the city — by car, bicycle, and afoot.
Daniels said drugs and theft present the biggest nuisances to Anderson, especially thefts from vehicles, but the city has seen a significant decrease in all of these since implementing foot patrols earlier this year.
“You can see, hear, and smell things on foot that you couldn’t in a patrol vehicle,” he said.
Daniels also initiated a building check program to provide peace of mind to local business owners. Officers visit local businesses every night to ensure the building’s doors and windows are secure. Initially, officers would leave a card at the business to notify owners of the safety precaution, but that became a drain on paper.
“We were doing 25-40 checks a night, so we stopped leaving cards but the building checks are ongoing,” Daniels said.
Anderson officers unanimously reported an apparent unity within the department following recent training on the new reporting system, as well as increased motivation and preparedness.
“There hadn’t really been any training for this yet when I took over. Now everyone is confident with data and evidence entry,” Daniels said.
“Honestly, I loved the department before, but now it’s better than I ever thought it could be,” said officer Chris Sutherland. “I look forward to coming to work.”
Daniels said he plans to begin a monthly Breakfast with The Chief, where residents can meet with him at a local restaurant and voice concerns, suggestions, or questions they may have.