How Boca Police’s VIPER VANTAGE Benefits Businesses And Community

Written by: Boca Raton Police Chief Dan Alexander

Boca Raton Police Services Department’s new VIPER VANTAGE is an aggressive citywide interactive multi-generational initiative of the department’s VIPER program that features new programs, services, partnerships, and communications channels to promote a collective communitywide participatory “crime prevention” mindset and everyday approach to safety.

Promoting consistent messaging of “Together Let’s VIPER-IZE Crime”, components engage and enlist neighborhoods, corporations, small businesses, schools, universities, retailers, entertainment venues, restaurants, hotels, etc. in the strategic VIPER mission. The integrated VIPER VANTAGE communications/branding program, emphasizes, educates, and promotes that crime prevention does not rely on one single VIPER component (Visibilty, Intelligence, Partnerships, Education, Resources), but rather a cumulative results-driven interactive and participatory program of all components to keep Boca safe.

Initiative components include, but are not limited to:
· VIPER Shield Signage-posted at city entrances to remind those coming in that Boca Raton is a VIPER Shield Community…warning that crime will not be tolerated within the city.
· VIPER Branded Crime Prevention Signage-posted at parks, public spaces, surveillance sites.
· VIPER Branded Police Cars-logo posted fleetwide.
· VIPER Alerts-daily e-alert service that updates subscribers on the latest crime news within a radius (up to a mile) of any selected location.
· FDLE Offender and Predator Email Alerts-frequent e-alert service that updates subscribers when sexual offenders and child predators move into their neighborhoods.
· New Interactive Website-featuring frequent crime news updates; crime surveillance videos; increased interaction opportunities; social network connection to FaceBook, MySpace, and Twitter; a virtual crime view program; a VIPER Kids page; event calendar; and video messages from the Police Chief.
· New VIPER Kids Program-to engage Boca Raton’s youngest generation in safety awareness, with http://www.bocaviperkids.com/, a youth-oriented website with separate domain from main site; a VIPER Ambassador Mascot; and VIPER Visits from police officers and mascot for safety awareness programming that includes posters, bookmarks, coloring sheets, etc.
· WATCH YOUR BAG BOCA!™ -awareness campaign designed to encourage those who live, work, play, and visit the City of Boca Raton to take a more active role in personal and community safety. Highly visible reminders — via window clings; posters; street signage; and transit, print, and movie screen ads — focus on protection of personal property, from shopping bags, handbags, and briefcases to backpacks, and gym, baby, and grocery bags.
· Community Partners-comprised of businesses, residential communities/HOAs, schools, nonprofits, and individuals committed to championing VIPER as message promoters, safety communicators, advocates, and ambassadors. They post Community Partner decals, posters, and window clings; distribute brochures; provide display space; host crime prevention sessions/talks for employees, tenants, customers, and members; become a VIPER Video surveillance site; participate in Watch Your Bag Boca!; link website to http://www.bocaviper.com/, provide in-kind services, etc. Partners receive an official certificate, Community Partner Pin, logo on VIPER website, invitations to VIPER-related events, etc.

To learn more or register for VIPER services/programs, visit http://www.bocaviper.com/.


Boca Raton Police Chief Dan Alexander, a 19-year law enforcement veteran, is supported by a sworn force of 198 officers, 96 civilian employees, and a volunteer corp serving a population of more than 86,000. VIPER is a crime prevention program of the Boca Raton Police Services Department.