National Night Out is Tuesday and to prepare for this major safety awareness event, Patch caught up with San Diego police Capt. Chris Ball who heads the department's Northeastern Division.

The 104-square mile division—the city's largest, by far—includes Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Carmel Mountain Ranch and several other communities with 78 patrol officers.

Read on to see why Ball thinks RB has a low crime rate, what he says residents shouldn't do and how the recent killing of veteran Detective Donna Williams in Rancho Peñasquitos has affected the department.

Q: What role does Neighborhood Watch play in Rancho Bernardo's low crime rate?

Ball: Whether it's Neighborhood Watch, which is incredibly strong in the Rancho Bernardo area, or just the ownership people take in their homes ... and their community that is critical to the well-being of the community anywhere. I don't think it's anymore evident than in Rancho Bernardo.

It's the community that determines the level of crime a whole lot more than the police department does. Police departments nationally react more to crime than they provide prevention. That is not to say that patrol has no impact.

Q: What is the one safety tip you want all residents to know?

Ball: The one safety tip that I would say is take care of your family, be responsible for your home and take care of your neighbors. If everyone does that, you're making sure your house is secure, you're locking your door, locking your window, locking your car at night. 

If you know your neighbors are on vacation and you see that moving van move in on a Sunday afternoon, call the police department. Call. I can't count the number of times in my career [people said] I thought about calling the police department, but I didn't want to [bother you]. You're not bothering us by calling.

If you think you should call, call. ...If everything's fine when we get together, we haven't lost a thing.

Q: How has policing changed in the last three to five years with the city's budget crisis?

Ball: We certainly don't have as many officers as we had before. We now have a telephone report unit. ...If you have no suspect information and no evidence that is apparent, then we can take that report over the phone.

Though we may not have as many officers, there are some efficiencies that we have built in the system. Report some crimes online. That's making us a lot more efficient.

Q: How will the department be involved in National Night Out and what safety tips do have for participating residents?

Ball: [Officers] can be visible out in the communities. Take a flashlight if you have kids with you. Monitor those children closely.

I would say stay in well-lit areas. Be reasonable, which people in Rancho Bernardo are.

Q: How did the death of Detective Donna Williams affect officers, and what advice do you have for residents who are concerned about this alleged crime happening in their neighborhood?

Ball: That was a tragic anomaly. That is not the norm for any community in San Diego, most certainly not the norm for that community. If there are people out there that have concerns, if there's any way we can help to allay those concerns, they can call. More than willing to help.

That sort of thing is tough. ...There are many scenes involving children, sometimes suicide, homicide. And although this is what we do as a profession, to say that it does not impact some of our officers is not the case. It does impact some of our officers. Some more than others.

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