Oakland Mills Community Police Events:

The Oakland Mills Community Policing office was established to provide Oakland Mills residents and merchants with the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with a police officer dedicated to Oakland Mills. The Howard County Police Department utilizes community policing offices throughout the county as part of the community-oriented policing philosophy that emphasizes cooperation between police and community members and problem solving.

The community policing office is staffed by a dedicated Howard County officer who is responsible for communicating with community members about crime and safety, addressing citizen concerns, attending community meetings, participating in community events, providing an active police presence in Oakland Mills and conducting enforcement. The officer, known as a neighborhood community resource officer, frequently conducts foot and bike patrols in Oakland Mills and patrols the area in a marked police car. Additionally, the community policing office coordinates Neighborhood Watches and hosts an annual celebration each August for National Night Out. Residents are encouraged to visit the community policing office and introduce themselves to the neighborhood community resource officer.

Howard County officers who also patrol the Oakland Mills community regularly utilize the community policing office to meet with residents and conduct police business. Although the office is not staffed 24 hours a day, residents can expect to see police in the office during days, evenings and weekends.

Oakland Mills Community Policing Office
5820 Robert Oliver Place Columbia, MD 21045
www.hcpd.org

Oakland Mills Neighborhood Community Resource Officer
PFC Russell Burris
rburris@howardcountymd.gov
Office: 410-313-5805
Note: In case of emergency, do not call the community policing office. Call 911.

Suggested Readings:
"Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You"
"Graffiti and Your Neighborhood"
"Holiday Crime Prevention Tips"
"Suspicious Mail & Package"

ALERTS...To help prevent residential break-ins throughout the county, it is important that we REPORT any suspicious activity and any concerns immediately to the Howard County Police. Suspicious activity or signs of warning to alert police about include, but are not limited, to the following:

• If someone knocks on your door it is always smart note to answer unless it is someone that you know, if however, someone appears at your door and says they have the wrong house...alert police
• If there is an unusual car driving around/parked by your house...alert police
• If something makes your “hair stand up"...alert police

IMPORTANT TIPS:

• If you are away, make sure your home looks as if you were there.
• Don’t let newspapers or door hangers gather.
• Know your neighbors and look out for one another.
• Keep your doors/windows/garage doors locked.
• Survey your home in the evening and see if there is adequate lighting on all sides.
• Be aware and report suspicious activity.