The FOP is once again actively updating their "BLUE SHIELD" Program for businesses in Portsmouth. This program is in reference to the Blue Shields you see on the windows and doors of most of the businesses you visit in Portsmouth during your daily travels. The decals are provided to the businesses and contain an identification number in the center of the decal, which is stored in the Portsmouth 911 system. |
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| This information contains the 1st and 2nd person to be contacted in case of an emergency at that particular business and is maintained by our dispatchers in CADS as well as in a manual back up file. This expedites the notification/response time of a responsible party for our officers responding to a business location in police/emergency situations.
This Blue Shield Program has been a function of the Portsmouth FOP for more than 40 years and is completely handled and maintained by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Ret. Police Sgt. Jerry Myers. To give Jerry a well deserved retirement from the many responsibilities it takes to run this program, it is being taken over and managed by Retired Police Lt. Rick Williams, a Lifetime FOP member. The FOP wanted to share this information with the entire Police Dept and its employees so you would be familiar with the Blue Shield program and its value to the Police Department as well as all emergency services, dispatchers, civic leagues and, of course, our businesses.
Currently, there are more than 1,200 Blue Shields in our file system. It is most important to have this information updated on a regular basis and to add our NEW businesses to the program. Rick will personally visit new businesses to invite them to participate in the program. With more than 1,200 businesses to visit, this will take time. Rick Williams will have a folder in Operations Support Center if you have any questions or have new businesses in your neighborhoods or beat areas that do not have a Blue Shield. Please feel free to leave Rick a note, and he will include them on the top of the list for a visit.
The FOP feels that this is also a public relations opportunity for the Police Department, the City, and its businesses to get to know one another a little better by introducing ourselves to our newest businesses in Portsmouth.
There is no cost to the business for this program, however, the FOP does ask for a donation to cover the costs of the Blue Shields, mailing, maintaining and servicing the program.
We hope you will help promote this valuable program for the FOP and the Portsmouth Police Department. |
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