October 19, 2010 > Meet the Cop: Lt. Christine Orrey Meet the Cop: Lt. Christine Orrey By Meenu Gupta Photo Courtesy of Hayward PD Hayward Police Department, Patrol Bureau Watch Commander Lt. Christine Orrey began her career with the department in January of 1986 as a Police Assistant and became a Police Officer in April 1987. While in high school, she decided to make a career in law enforcement. "I started out as a Police Explorer for the Hayward Police Department when I was a teenager," said Lt. Orrey who was also a Cadet with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department. "The biggest challenge we face right now is the declining economy. We are facing the same budget restrictions that everybody is facing. With necessary resources, personnel and equipment, it is possible to solve a far higher number of crimes and prevent more crimes than with limited and inadequate resources," said Lt. Orrey. "Hayward is fortunate that our citizens passed Measure A; it prevented us from laying off police officers and other valuable City employees," she added. A firm believer in new and heightened security measures being enforced throughout the City, she highly recommends community's participation in Neighborhood Alert program. The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMH) is a free certification program that promotes safer neighborhood by helping owners, managers and residents of rental property to keep drugs, illegal activity and crime off their property. Anyone who works with housing is encouraged to participate: property owners, managers, assistant managers, leasing agents, office staff and maintenance staff. "The program is a great form of communication between neighborhoods and the police departments and it enables the Police work in partnership with the community," said Lt. Orrey. "Those who aren't members of the Neighborhood Crime Watch program can also help by just being good eyes and ears. Police can't be everywhere and we rely heavily on the citizen's to be vigilant." "We, however, do not ask them to take any action other than to call us or report us what they have seen," she added. Those interested in becoming a member of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program may contact Crime Free Program Coordinators Mary Fabian Crime Prevention Specialist, Northern District Office at (510) 293-1043 and Gale Bleth, Crime Prevention Specialist, Southern District Office at (510) 293-7151. To access the training registration form visit www.ci.hayward.ca.us and click Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.