Crime Free Multi-Housing and Problem Oriented Policing

The Riverside Police Department Crime Free Mutli-Housing Team The Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team was created as the lead unit in the department's Community Oriented Policing Strategy. The team acts acted as a liaison with other city departments, Federal and State agencies, community groups, and other specialized police units in its efforts to find long-term solutions to persistent community problems. Traditional policing methods focus on short-term solutions.

The Team formed an Apartment Owners' Association in an effort to assist apartment owners in their efforts to improve the living conditions of their tenants and the surrounding neighborhoods. The Team has been responsible for training other agencies in the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving concept and routinely appears at meetings of Neighborhood Watch, civic groups and business organizations.  In January 2000, the team became the Crime Free Multi-Housing Team.  

The unit is comprised of a sergeant and eight officers who are assigned to specific areas within the city. The area POP officers assist the Area Commanders by being responsive to the needs of the citizens and elected officials.


The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
Keeping Illegal Activity Out of Rental Property

The History of Crime Free Multi-Housing

The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is a state of the art, crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on apartment properties.  This program was first successfully developed at the Mesa Arizona Police Department in 1992 and has since spread throughout the United States and Canada.  The program has been implemented in 43 US States, 4 Canadian Provinces, and in over 1, 700 cities and is implemented in Japan, Finland, England, Puerto Rico, and is growing rapidly. 

What is the Riverside Crime Free Multi-Housing Program?

This program is designed to help tenants, owners and managers of rental properties keep drugs and other illegal activies off their properties.  The program uses a unique three-part approach which includes:

  • Phase One - An eight hour seminar presented by the police department and other city agencies.

  • Phase Two - Certifies that the rental property has met the security requirements for the tenants safety.

  • Phase Three - A tenant Crime Prevention meeting will be conducted for full certification.  Managers will be granted the use of the Crime Free Multi-Housing signs for display on their property.  Management will also be granted the use of the program logo in all advertisements.

What Will I Learn?

Prevention and Applicant Screening

  • Benefits of applicant screening

  • Tips to strengthen rental agreements

  • How to become a pro-active manager

  • Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

Drug Nuisance Abatement

  • Warning signs of drug activity

  • Actions you must take if you discover your tenants or their guests are conducting illegal activities on or about your property.

  • The role of the police

  • Crisis resolution and the eviction process

What Are the Benefits?

  • A stable, more satisfied tenant base

  • Increased demand for rental units with a reputation for pro-active management

  • Lower maintenance and repair costs

  • Increased property values

  • Improved personal safety for tenants, landlords and managers

  • Peace of mind that comes from spending more time on routine management and less time on crisis control.

  • More appreciative neighbors

  • Will It Work?

Will It Work?

Police departments, sheriff's offices and other law enforcement agencies are implementing this program nationwide.  The Riverside City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, Mayor, Police and Fire Departments have all given it their full enthusiastic endorsement.

This voluntary program was designed to assist you in obtaining and maintaining a safe and tranquil quality of life for you and your tenants.

What Will It Cost?

The City of Riverside is offering this training, certification and program signs, free of costs!

Classroom education consists of presentations from the Riverside Fire Department, the Riverside Police Department's Gang Unit, Narcotics Unit and Crime Free Multi-Housing team.

How do I Get Involved?

For information or questions about the program, please contact Michelle Brannon at 951-715-3429 or email her at MBrannon@riversideca.gov