Dive Brief:
- Republic Services has joined forces with the Hernando County, FL Sheriff’s Office to help officer’s keep on the lookout for crime in neighborhoods.
- Haulers will “patrol” the streets while driving their collection routes, by staying alert for anything suspicious- people, cars, burglaries and drivers who may be impaired.
- Deemed “Operation Clean Streets,” Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that the program gives Republic employees a platform to be heard and their concerns acknowledged, while keeping the community safe at the same time.
Dive Insight:
The idea for “Operation Clean Streets” originated with Fred Glass, a Republic Services supervisor. He was interested in finding ways to make the community safer, so he reached out to Sheriff Nienhuis to come up with a solution. The program will act as an “information loop” of sorts, said Denise Moloney, a spokesperson for the Sheriff.
Haulers have established neighborhood crime watches with local enforcement before. In June 2014, Waste Management partnered with officials in Sarasota, FL to implement a similar program called “Waste Watch.” In June, 2013, Antioch Police in California requested help from Republic waste workers in the area. The department was short-staffed and so the “We’re Looking Out For You” program was born as a way to combat crime. All of the strategies operate under a similar premise.
