Crime Prevention

Community Services Unit

The Department offers numerous crime prevention services through its Community Services Unit (CSU). To find out which crime prevention officer serves your area, please visit the CSU page.

Bike Patrol

Police officers patrolling on bicycles can enhance community-police relationships and crime prevention in areas such as sports parks, neighborhoods, shopping centers, special events and playgrounds.

House Checks

House Checks are available to citizens who notify the Police Department that they are going out of town for a specific period of time. Patrol officers will increase patrols around these homes. This is a free service and must be set up in advance by contacting the Police Department at 757-259-5140, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. You may also submit your request using our online Police to Citizen (P2C) system.

Drug Take-Back

Typically twice each year, the James City County Police Department partners with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to hold a prescription drug take back program. Through this program, citizens can turn over potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction. The program is anonymous and no questions are asked. The rate of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is increasing, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The drug take back program aims to combat these problems.

There are multiple controlled substance public disposal locations in our area. To find the location closes to you, use the DEA search tool.

You may also safely dispose of medication at home following guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA also provides instructions for how to dispose of sharps (injectables).

McGruff the Crime Dog®

McGruff the Crime Dog® is a symbol for crime prevention and he helps build relationships between the police and children while encouraging everyone to “take a bite out of crime!”

If you would like to have McGruff make an appearance at an event, please contact us.

Other Resources for Kids

• CIA Kids
• McGruff® Word Search

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is a "team" approach to fighting crime in which the James City County Police Department works hand in hand with you and your neighbors to reduce crime in your community.

Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve.

In order to reach this goal, we want you to become better acquainted with your neighbors while our Community Services Officers show you how to protect yourself, your neighbors and your property from crime. Statistics and criminals alike verify that when neighbors organize, the opportunity for crime is drastically reduced.

The Business Watch program provides a method by which the business community and the James City County Police Department can work more closely together to prevent or solve problems in business parks, malls, shopping centers, individual businesses, etc.

The program is predicated on the same concept as the very successful Neighborhood Watch Program where neighbors watch out for neighbors. Business Watch participation enhances involvement with neighboring businesses and offers many benefits to businesses, residents, and the Police Department.

We also provide instruction on numerous topics to business, homeowner groups, civic groups, etc. in the prevention of robbery, shoplifting, bad checks, burglary, fraud, credit card fraud and employee theft. We also provide instruction or presentations on home safety/security, business security and personal safety. To enroll in our Business Watch program, please complete our online enrollment form.

Business Keyholder Information

Providing up-to-date information assists police, fire and medical personnel in their response and on any necessary follow up actions that need to be done.

Please submit a keyholder information form to let us know who we should contact in the event of an emergency at your business after hours, or to update your keyholder's contact information.

A keyholder should be able to arrive quickly at your place of business to provide first responders with access to the building for the purpose of protecting property and safety. We recommend designating more than one keyholder to ensure that someone will always be available to help us protect your business.

Home & Business Security Surveys

The James City County Police Department will conduct a free, on-scene security survey of your home or business. We will also provide suggestions and information on how to keep your home or business safe.

Lighting Surveys

Lighting Surveys can be performed upon request for local businesses or residents. The proper use of lighting is one of the most important aspects in dealing with public safety and crime prevention.