THE CITY OF MERIDEN IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND REPRESENTSA DIVERSE, URBAN COMMUNITY OF APPROXIMATELY 60,242 RESIDENTS (48.9% ARE WHITE, 38.8% ARE HISPANIC AND 7.1% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND 5.2% OTHER). WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE MERIDEN POLICE'S NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE UNIT (NIU) WILL INCREASE SUPPLEMENTAL PATROLS IN DESIGNATED AREAS OF THE CITYWHERE THERE HAVE BEEN HIGHER LEVELS OF CRIME OR MINOR OFFENSES AND DURING COMMUNITY EVENTSN AREAS OF THE CITY IN COLLABORATING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND THE PUBLIC, TORESPOND TO EVOLVOMG COMMUNITY NEEDS AND UPHOLD THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MERIDEN RESIDENTS. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE: PREVENT, CONTROL AND SUPPRESS STREET CRIME, PARTICULARLY IN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODWHERE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS PREVALENT. PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RECOVERY IN AT RISK NEIGHBORHOODS.