Gateway National Recreation Area 2017 Law Enforcement Survey

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Expiration Date: May 31, 2019

Gateway National Recreation Area

2017 Law Enforcement Survey

NOTE TO REVIEWERS * Italic type indicates what the interviewer will say.* Non-italic type indicates directions for the script

Introduction

GATE On-site Survey / Interview Guide

“Hello, my name ( _______) and I am an Explorer with the US Park Police. Could I have a few minutes of your time to participate in a survey we are conducting for Gateway National Recreation Area [specific location in park]. This short conversation will take about 7 minutes to capture your experiences and concerns during your visit today here at GATE (Park Site). Do you have time now?”

If NO - interviewer will ask the visitor to consider taking the survey later.

If NO – and not at all interested, interviewer will say, “Thank you and have a nice day.”

If YES - interviewer will ask if the answers can be recorded on paper.

Before we begin, I would like to let you know that this survey has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget. I am also required to tell you that a Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and that you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it has a currently valid OMB control number. The control number for this collection is 1024-0224. Secondly, your participation is voluntary and your name is not required to participate in this survey. Finally, if you have any questions about this survey, you can contact Lt. Reaves 718-338-3988. Can we begin?

Paperwork Reduction and Privacy Act Statements: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to tell you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have to respond. The National Park Service is authorized by the NPS Research Mandate (54 USC 100702) to collect this information. We will use this information to evaluate visitors’ experiences and understanding of safety measures within the areas managed by Gateway National Recreation Area Park Police. Your responses are voluntary and anonymous. Your name and address have been requested for follow-up purposes only. At the completion of this collection all names and personal information will be destroyed and in no way be connected with the results of this survey. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Burden Estimate: We estimate that it will take about 7 minutes to complete this questionnaire. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to the Social Science Program Chief, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO, 80525-5596; nps_nrss_social_science@nps.gov (email).

Park Site: ______________________________ Date: ___________________ Time: ______________

Age: _________________ Gender: ______________

1. We would like to know a little about you experiences today. Would you please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree or strongly disagree with each of the following statements.

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Neither	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Don’t Know/ Not Sure
During my visit today, I felt safe in the park.						
I assume U.S. Park Police are nearby to help if there is an incident in the park.						
Signage and lighting in the park are adequate.						
I enjoyed my park visit and would come back.						
During my visit I’ve had positive contacts with members of the U.S. Park Police.						
During my visit I observe U.S. Park Police checking this area frequently.						
I would like to see an increased U.S. Park Police presence						
I knew this was a federal park.						
The methods I observed used to patrol the park are adequate.						
During my visit I observed crimes that I didn’t report.						

2. Which number do you think you would you call if you needed police assistance in this park?

 718-338-3988 U.S. Park Police dispatch

 911 – Emergency Line

 Local NYPD precinct

 Other __________________

 None of the above

3. During your visit, did the signs posted provide adequate safety information?

 YES

 NO - Please specify

4. Please tell me how safe you felt in the park today?

• Very safe

• Somewhat safe

  

• Neither safe nor unsafe

• Somewhat unsafe

• Very unsafe

5. Have you ever used the U.S. Park Police web site?

 NO

 YES

If YES - how satisfied are you with the amount of information the website provided? (select one choice)

 Very Dissatisfied

 Somewhat Dissatisfied

 Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied

 Somewhat Satisfied

 Very Satisfied

6. How comfortable do you feel interacting with a U.S. Park Police officer? (select one choice)

 Very uncomfortable

 A little uncomfortable

 Moderately comfortable

 Very comfortable

 Extremely comfortable

7. How clear are you about the kind of problems or incidents that should be reported to the U.S. Park Police? (select one choice)

 Very unclear

 Mostly unclear

 Moderately clear

 Mostly clear

 Extremely clear

8. Have you had any contact with the U.S. Park Police in the past?

 Yes

 No

Please provide the date / time frame_____________________________________________________

9. If YES, were you treated professionally, with dignity and respect?

 Yes

 No

Please Specify_______________________________________________________________________

10. If you called the U.S. Park Police for any reason within the past year, how quickly did they respond? (select one choice)

They responded faster than I expected

The time it took was about right

 They response was slower than I expected

They never came

11. Within the past year, if you requested assistance has the U.S. Park Police been responsive to your needs?

 Yes

 No

12. Would you hesitate to call the U.S. Park Police for assistance?

 No

 Yes (Please explain)____________________________________________________

13. Overall, how well do you feel the United States Park Police is keeping the park safe? (select one choice)

 Excellent

 Good

 Fair

 Poor

 Very Poor

14. What do you think should be the policing priorities of this Department? (Please rank the TOP THREE – 1 being the most important)

___ Responding to Emergency Calls

___ Service Calls and Assistance

___ Promoting Police-Community

___ Crime Prevention

___ Traffic Regulations & Enforcement

___ Public Order Maintenance

___ Drug & Alcohol Enforcement

___ Encouraging Voluntary Compliance of Laws & Regulations

___ Education

___ Problem Solving

___ Other:___________________________

15. Over the last 12 months - Do you think crime in the park (select one choice)

___ Increased

___ Decreased

___ Stayed the same

16. Have you limited, changed, or curtailed your activities in the park because you are concerned about crime?

 No

 Yes (Please explain) ____________________________________________________

Would you like to provide any other comments?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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