Community-Police Relations Foundation receives Citizen Involvement of the Year Award from Citizens’ Crime Watch

Community-Police Relations Foundation receives Citizen Involvement of the Year Award from Citizens’ Crime Watch MIAMI, FL AUGUST 16, 2022 - Al Eskanazy, Chairman & CEO of Community Police Relations Foundation (CPRF), received the Citizens Involvement of the Year award at the 47th Annual Citizens’ Crime Watch Awards on Friday, August 12. The award ceremony included dinner, dancing, and a silent auction.

The award ceremony recognized outstanding residents, students, school advisors, principals, and law enforcement. “I am honored on behalf of all CPRF members to receive an award that highlights the importance of community-police relations. Working with community members allows police and prosecutors to effectively reduce crime, protect communities, and ensure justice. Without this trust, police work becomes much less effective. CPRF members and I believe that it is important to maintain partnerships in our neighborhoods to promote stability and security by strengthening the bond between residents and our uniformed police officers,” said Al Eskanazy, Chairman & CEO of Community-Police Relations Foundation.

“Al Eskanazy is a great supporter of enhancing and improving the relationship between the police, community, and at-risk youths. The Community Police Relations Foundation members and Chairman, CEO Al Eskanazy earned this prestigious award by working with law enforcement in building trust and improving community interactions,” said Major Carmen M. Castro, Miami-Dade County Police Department.

In the wake of recent incidents, the relationship between many communities and law enforcement has been strained, impacting mutual trust and safety. CPRF members have made it their mission to change this paradigm and improve the perception of police officers within our communities by taking proactive and innovative steps allowing police officers to positively interact with the communities they serve in non-law enforcement contexts. These interactions have helped to build trust and familiarity, which is essential to addressing neighborhood problems and reducing crime.

About Citizens’ Crime Watch Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County (CCW) is a nonprofit countywide crime prevention program established in 1975. The program is funded by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, grants, and donations. When neighborhood watch is fully operative, you and your neighbors become the “eyes and ears” of the local police department, telephoning the police at the first hint of suspicious activity. CCW organizes neighborhoods of single-family homes, condominiums and town houses throughout Miami-Dade County and its Municipalities.

The program teaches members techniques to reduce the risk of being victimized at home, in their vehicles and in public places. It also trains members to the importance of recognizing suspicious activities; evaluate them and how to properly report them. Citizens learn about the local police department needs and establish a working relationship. They create a phone chain to communicate with neighbors in times of urgency.

The Neighborhood Crime Watch program is for residents in our community who want to prevent crime from happening in their area. About Community-Police Relations Foundation Community-Police Relations Foundation was created in 2018 to improve relationships within communities by facilitating positive interactions with uniformed police officers. The goal is to reassure our communities that law enforcement officers are striving to keep our communities safe. CPRF operates at the community level from Miami to New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

In the last four years, the Foundation has supported numerous initiatives to create a unified and harmonious relationship between law enforcement and the communities served. Initiatives include food for individuals and families in disadvantaged neighborhoods, mentorship for school-age youth, police officers' participation in youth sports, awarding scholarships for graduating students, mental health training for law enforcement officers and spouses, supporting the fight against human trafficking and child abuse, preventing animal cruelty, and funding holiday festivities. To learn more about CPRF, visit www.cprfcharity.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @cprfcharity.