That's the message New Mexico State Police Sgt. Jonathan Salazar, who works from the police station in Edgewood, is trying to deliver. He said there is an increase in patrols by deputies from the Santa Fe County Sheriff Department.

The Edgewood Police Department has officers patrolling the area seven days a week as well and has been in effect for over a year now. Salazar is concerned that his officers don't have as much contact with residents these days, he said.

"Before, we were the Edgewood police department," he said. "We're not taking calls as much as we did in this area, (but) we're still out there to service the community … we're still handling calls, but outside of Edgewood."

Calls for service have dropped from four calls a day to just two or three calls a week, he said. Instead, the state police are patrolling Interstate 40 more often, or working on safety belt enforcement programs.

One of those programs is where an officer dresses in civilian clothes and sits on a street corner, acting as a spotter. When he or she sees someone without their seat belt on, the officer radios a patrol car and the person who isn't wearing their seat belt is pulled over. The officers also often find motorists have broken other laws — such as possessing drugs or having an open container — in the process, he said.

They've done the operation six times in six months he said, often working with other law enforcement agencies in the area. He said he looks forward to working with Edgewood's new police chief, James Daniels.

Daniels, who said he has experience working as a public information officer, has started on a few projects of his own, including updating the police Web site, http:// www.edgewood-nm.gov/chiefcorner1.htm, with local information. He's also trying to contact people in Edgewood as well as law enforcement agencies.

"I'm trying to figure out what the concerns are in the area," he said. "Who is in the area, who to depend on to call. Hopefully they know they can call on us."

He is also readvertising for two vacant positions in the department because he would like to increase the pool of applicants. Daniels added that he may be interested in hiring some new recruits to go along with the group of veteran police already on the force.

"With a recruit, you're teaching them fresh," he said. "You get that 'This is my department' feeling."

He's also working on getting radio equipment and radar guns for all the police cars, he said.

The Edgewood Police dispatch is handled out of a regional center near Santa Fe. Dial 1-800-742-1144 or 505-428-3740 (for emergencies dial 911).

The police office, which houses state and Edgewood police, is available during business hours at 281-5715 and the state police number in Albuquerque is 841-9256