Q & A: Cottonwood Neighborhood Officer Brandon Clark

Cottonwood Officer Brandon Clark is responsible for the CW9 neighborhood, which is a mostly unpopulated area around State Route 89A, Zalensky Road and Cornville Road, east of the Verde River.

Originally Published: November 21, 2019 8:51 p.m.

The Cottonwood Police Department has created a Neighborhood Officer Program that divides the city into nine distinct “neighborhoods.”

The objective of the Neighborhood Officer Program is to identify community issues, concerns, problems and crime trends which have long term quality of life issues.

The Neighborhood Officer will act as a liaison between the Police Department, the community, and a variety of city agencies as necessary to address problems and reduce criminal activity.

The Neighborhood Officer responsibilities:

• Take primary “ownership” and identify and address crime issues within their assigned neighborhood.

• Assist with public education, crime prevention, and neighborhood specific problems and help with coordination of other city services.

• Track neighborhood problems and crimes that affect the overall quality of life in a neighborhood and require repeated police response.

You can contact your Neighborhood Officer via email on the Cottonwood Police Department’s web page under “Find Your Neighborhood Officer.”

Cottonwood Officer Brandon Clark is responsible for the CW9 neighborhood, which is a mostly unpopulated area around State Route 89A, Zalensky Road and Cornville Road, east of the Verde River.

What steps will you take to learn about the neighborhood to which you are assigned and what will you do to make sure the people in this neighborhood know you? Officer Clark: My neighborhood is undeveloped and is currently 99% desert. Once and if 89 and Vine is developed, there may be more commentary.

How much time will you be able to invest into interfacing with your assigned neighborhood on a weekly basis? What are your priorities with how you use your time in the neighborhood policing program?

Officer Clark: Pending calls for service, I patrol the area for trespassers.

What do you want the people and businesses in the neighborhood to which you are assigned to know about you?

Officer Clark: I’ve been employed with the Cottonwood Police Department since 2011 and enjoy interaction with the community.

What are the most obvious needs you see about the neighborhood to which you are assigned? What is your plan to help this neighborhood meet those needs?

Officer Clark: More development.