Source: San Diego 6 News

The Chula Vista Police Department, Target Corp. and community partners of the Safe City Project were awarded the California Crime Prevention Project of the Year Award Thursday in Sacramento, Chula Vista police reported.

The award recognized Chula Vista's Safe City project, a joint effort between police, business and community leaders to improve the North Fourth Avenue corridor in the city, said Chula Vista police officer Bernard Gonzales.

The award was given to the project's representatives this morning at the 34th California Crime Prevention Officer's Association Training Conference, Gonzales said.

"This project is community involvement at its finest. When business members and police unite with the goal of making the community better, it is an absolute win-win for everyone,"said Vanessa Coffeen of Farmers Insurance, who is also a Safe City Project representative.

The project was started in 2006 and is modeled after the Safe City project in Minneapolis, Minn. that was started by Target Corp, Gonzales said.