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OVERVIEW
A dedication patrol is a public event designed to:
remember and memorialize a loss for family and friends
generate public awareness of a traffic safety problem
give law enforcement an opportunity to connect with the community and victim's family
WTSC expects that TZMs will coordinate at least one dedication patrol per year.
Coordinating a successful dedication patrol requires advance planning, beginning at least six months prior to the event. This section addresses the key components of a dedication patrol, along with recommendations on strategies and timelines.
PLANNING A DEDICATION PATROL
Identify Victim Family: More than 6 months prior to patrol
Choose a victim family based on the issue the task force wants to address: Impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, pedestrian safety, etc.
To find potential candidates, check with the prosecutor's office, victim advocates and law enforcement agencies.
Select an "innocent victim" - the victim's actions were not a contributing factor in the crash.
Research the victim's background: Does the victim have past criminal convictions or other negative history that would distract from objectives of the dedication patrol?
Wait at least one year from the time of the crash to involve a family in a dedication patrol.
The crash has to have been adjudicated before planning a dedication patrol.
Contact Potential Victim Family: 6 months prior to patrol
Meet with the family to explain the purpose and details of a dedication patrol.
Give the family time to consider participating. Don't ask for or expect a commitment to participate on the first meeting. Let the family know when you will follow up with them.
Follow up with family as promised.
Select Date and Location: 4-5 months prior to patrol
Select the date as early as possible after receiving a commitment of participation from the family; The local family may invite friends and family from out of the area to attend the event.
Work with the family to select the date for the event, in coordination with scheduled HVE patrols as necessary.
Choose a location that can fit enough people: Plan for family, friends, law enforcement, and media in attendance.
Work with the hosting agency to select the location as soon as the family has selected a date.
Hosting Agency Expectations: The hosting agency will generally be the agency having jurisdiction over the location where the crash occurred. There may be exceptions, such as when a larger agency offers to host on behalf of a small agency that doesn't have the capacity to host the dedication patrol, or when a local victim was involved in a crash outside the region.
Involve the command staff in the planning of the dedication patrol early in the process and confirm the agency's full commitment.
The hosting agency:
helps to select a location for the event. Consider a library, community center, church or other public space.
provides refreshments.
commits to having as many officers as possible attend the dedication and participate in the HVE patrol.
Flyer/Rack Card:
Begin developing the flyer as soon as the family confirms participation.
Work with family to select photos.
Using content provided by the family, write a short bio for the victim. It should let the reader get to know the victim as a person, not just a traffic statistic.
Get the law enforcement report for the victim's crash and verify that any content about the crash included in the flyer is accurate.
Get approval from the family prior to printing
Based on recommendations from dedication patrol planners, print 300 copies of the flyer.
Hand out flyers at the dedication.
Distribute flyers to officers to hand out on traffic stops.
EXECUTING A DEDICATION PATROL
Agenda:
Develop an agenda for the dedication patrol. A typical dedication patrol lasts approximately 20-30 minutes and includes:
Briefing - conducted by HVE supervisor (8-10 minutes)
Law enforcement statement - typically delivered by command staff of the hosting agency - provide command staff with talking points prior to the dedication. (5-7 minutes) Sample talking points
Family statement - This is optional, and the family can decide at any time to give a statement or withdraw from giving a statement (5-7 minutes)
TZM or task force spokesperson statement (5-7 minutes)
Distribute agenda to participants
Law Enforcement:
Request that law enforcement agencies county-wide provide at least one officer to attend the dedication and participate in the patrol.
Media:
Distribute a press release prior to the dedication patrol. (sample media release) For daily news outlets, send release 3 days prior to the event. For weekly newspapers send the release 1 to 2 weeks prior to the event. Adjust press release distribution as appropriate based on your relationships with your local media.
Contact local media staff directly to invite them to the dedication.
The media may want to contact the victim's family. Check with the family regarding their level of interest in speaking with the media and how they would prefer to be contacted prior to distributing the press release.
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