Park Avenue Neighborhood Meeting on March 17, 2009 – Brief Meeting Minutes
Meeting started at approximately 6:35pm – 26 neighbors, 1 Safe Streets representative, 1 CLO (TPD) attending
Neighborhood Patrols, with guest speaker, David Cantlin, Safe Streets Neighborhood Patrols Coordinator
Neighborhood patrols are eyes and ears of TPD. Patrollers must complete Academy and become certified before they can participate in their neighborhood’s patrol. (See note below on next session.) Patrollers drive or walk throughout the neighborhood. Patrol vehicles have large magnetic signs on their doors, which say “Neighborhood Patrol.” Foot patrols have bright orange vests, which say “Neighborhood Patrol.” All patrollers work in teams, carry cell phones, notepads and neighborhood phone trees / phone lists. Patrollers document and report suspicious activity to TPD. This results in crime reduction and better response from TPD. TPD responds better when 911 calls are received from certified neighborhood patrols.
Neighborhood Reports (crime and other activity from the past month)
Break-in and robbery near corner of 63rd & G Street. Entry made through back door.
Attempted break-in or vandalism thwarted in-progress by neighbor near 61st & Park. Three young males in teal Honda were
about to throw a rock through back of home but were stopped in-progress.
Several concerns were voiced regarding junk vehicles and neighbors “parting-out” vehicles in their yards.
Suspicious vehicle appeared in alley near 64th & Park Avenue.
Graffiti recently appeared near 64th in the alley East of Park Avenue.
Many complaints voiced about suspicious activity, noise and more coming from 5614 S G Street. Neighbors want to write a
collective letter to owner, THA and Code Enforcement about the renters (and their “friends”).
Report from CLO? (Don Williams, CLO of Tacoma Police Department)
Officer Williams presented crime statistics for February 2009 (4400 calls for service). Nearly 14,000 calls citywide, for month.
House and house in back at 507 S 57th St (Yard Girls), closed for Meth. Residents have now moved out and owner is returning.
5614 S G Street is still in the process of being closed down, gang-type activity, under-age drinking, source of vandalism & graffiti, possible drug-related activity. Eviction in process but tough since property is owned by known slumlord. Owner is no longer returning calls. THA funding is currently under review in an attempt to get funding cut for renter.
What can we do? Keep on eye on neighborhood, monitor problem homes & suspected drug homes, continue to report activities to 911 and use “House Watch” forms to track vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers and suspect descriptions, submit “House Watch” forms to neighborhood group, block captains, Safe Streets, and so on.
Homes and owners, etc. can be tracked on govME.com. This is the city’s info-based website.
Neighborhood Patrol Report
Neighborhood patrols began this month. Patrols are taking place at various times during the day and the evening.
More patrollers are needed. This will allow us to increase our patrols throughout the day and evening.
Suspicious individuals and suspected drug and/or prostitution witnessed in Saar’s Marketplace parking lot.
Park Avenue Neighborhood Blog & Facebook - (please be careful what you post on the internet because it is NOT secure)
Don’t forget to check the blog, http://parkavenueneighborhood.blogspot.com. This will be used for general posting of announcements, patrol reports and activities. You do not need to register to read the blog.
Park Avenue Neighborhood is now on Facebook, it is accessible by neighbors only. It is used for communication
with your neighbors and may also give you a chance to know them better. To find us on Facebook, search for Park
Avenue Neighborhood and register.
Action Plan
1. Our phone tree is very important communication tool. Don’t forget to use it! Distributed updated phone trees.
2. Distributed revised Calendar of Events for 2009.
Announcements
Community Based Services is coming to our neighborhood. Kick-off is April 22nd at Stewart Middle School.
Extreme Neighborhood Makeover: Tacoma Edition is coming in May to our neighborhood. Date TBA.
From Darren Pen, Safe Streets
Neighborhood Patrol Academy is scheduled to begin April 7th but may be postponed to May based on enrollment.
Park Avenue Neighborhood needs your financial support. Group leaders have currently been paying all expenses themselves.
Several members donated to Park Avenue Neighborhood’s operating fund, Bounty Food Bank and Bethany U.M.C.’s heating fund.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
Meeting ended at 8:10pm
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Neighborhood Patrols
Why neighborhood patrols?
TPD cannot be everywhere at the same time.
Only # officers are on patrol at any one time throughout the entire city.
Crime is reduced in patrolled neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Patrol is
trained patrollers.
Washington State Patrol-screened patrollers.
being the eyes and ears of TPD (and neighborhood).
teams of 2 or more (never alone).
visibility / notice to criminals they are being watched.
awareness of criminal activity for TPD, patrollers and neighborhood.
successful crime reduction.
Neighborhood Patrol is NOT
using guns or weapons.
vigilantism.
confrontation.
a solo act.
Neighborhood Patrol Tools
Eyes & ears
Car, truck or van
Cell phone
Flashlight
Binoculars
Notepad / house watch form
List of police and other emergency phone numbers
Neighborhood phone tree
How do you get involved in our Neighborhood Patrol?
Enroll in Neighborhood Patrol Academy.
Call Safe Streets at 272-6824 to register.
Classes are held at Tacoma Police Department Headquarters.
Next series begins 4/5/2009, from 7-9pm.
Once your training is complete, you can be part of our neighborhood patrol.
TPD cannot be everywhere at the same time.
Only # officers are on patrol at any one time throughout the entire city.
Crime is reduced in patrolled neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Patrol is
trained patrollers.
Washington State Patrol-screened patrollers.
being the eyes and ears of TPD (and neighborhood).
teams of 2 or more (never alone).
visibility / notice to criminals they are being watched.
awareness of criminal activity for TPD, patrollers and neighborhood.
successful crime reduction.
Neighborhood Patrol is NOT
using guns or weapons.
vigilantism.
confrontation.
a solo act.
Neighborhood Patrol Tools
Eyes & ears
Car, truck or van
Cell phone
Flashlight
Binoculars
Notepad / house watch form
List of police and other emergency phone numbers
Neighborhood phone tree
How do you get involved in our Neighborhood Patrol?
Enroll in Neighborhood Patrol Academy.
Call Safe Streets at 272-6824 to register.
Classes are held at Tacoma Police Department Headquarters.
Next series begins 4/5/2009, from 7-9pm.
Once your training is complete, you can be part of our neighborhood patrol.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Proper Use of Phone Tree
TELEPHONE TREE
One of the most important parts of your NEIGHBORHOOD’S SECURITY is to know and stay in contact with your neighbors.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Call 911 for a neighbor if you see them in danger.
2. Call your neighbors (using the PHONE TREE) when you see suspicious activities at a neighbor’s home when you suspect they are not home.
3. Call 911 and your neighbors (using the PHONE TREE) when you see suspicious activities at a neighbor’s home when you know they are not home.
4. More callers + more witnesses = BETTER POLICE RESPONSE.
5. Less urgent problems can be reported to the block watch / neighborhood coordinator for action with South End Neighborhood Council (SENCo), Safe Streets and Park Avenue Neighborhood.
6. Telephone neighbors and tell them of suspicious activities in their neighborhood.
7. CONFIDENTIAL: The telephone tree is a confidential document provided only to the people on the telephone tree. DO NOT give the telephone tree to anyone else.
The telephone tree is one of the most important tools for preventing and stopping crime in your neighborhood. Your neighborhood’s telephone tree becomes even more effective by helping your tree grow block by block.
One of the most important parts of your NEIGHBORHOOD’S SECURITY is to know and stay in contact with your neighbors.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Call 911 for a neighbor if you see them in danger.
2. Call your neighbors (using the PHONE TREE) when you see suspicious activities at a neighbor’s home when you suspect they are not home.
3. Call 911 and your neighbors (using the PHONE TREE) when you see suspicious activities at a neighbor’s home when you know they are not home.
4. More callers + more witnesses = BETTER POLICE RESPONSE.
5. Less urgent problems can be reported to the block watch / neighborhood coordinator for action with South End Neighborhood Council (SENCo), Safe Streets and Park Avenue Neighborhood.
6. Telephone neighbors and tell them of suspicious activities in their neighborhood.
7. CONFIDENTIAL: The telephone tree is a confidential document provided only to the people on the telephone tree. DO NOT give the telephone tree to anyone else.
The telephone tree is one of the most important tools for preventing and stopping crime in your neighborhood. Your neighborhood’s telephone tree becomes even more effective by helping your tree grow block by block.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 2009 Meeting Announcement
Our monthly meeting is set for next week, Tuesday, March 17th from 6:30 - 8:00pm.
This month's meeting continues our focus on stopping the rising crime in our neighborhood. Our Neighborhood Patrols have already begun so come to our meeting to learn about this program and learn how you can be involved in our neighborhood patrols.
Our Community Liaison Officer (CLO) from Tacoma Police Department will be attending our meeting.
Join us Tuesday at Bethany United Methodist Church, 5634 S Park Avenue, Tacoma 98408.
Monthly meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
For more information, email parkavenueneighborhood@gmail.com.
Park Avenue Neighborhood is a proud supporter of Bounty Food Bank so don't forget to bring paper goods, cleaning supplies, toiletries and canned food donations.
And, don't forget to bring cash for Bethany U.M.C.'s heating fund.
This month's meeting continues our focus on stopping the rising crime in our neighborhood. Our Neighborhood Patrols have already begun so come to our meeting to learn about this program and learn how you can be involved in our neighborhood patrols.
Our Community Liaison Officer (CLO) from Tacoma Police Department will be attending our meeting.
Join us Tuesday at Bethany United Methodist Church, 5634 S Park Avenue, Tacoma 98408.
Monthly meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
For more information, email parkavenueneighborhood@gmail.com.
Park Avenue Neighborhood is a proud supporter of Bounty Food Bank so don't forget to bring paper goods, cleaning supplies, toiletries and canned food donations.
And, don't forget to bring cash for Bethany U.M.C.'s heating fund.
February 2009 Meeting Minutes
Meeting started at approximately 6:30pm – 39 neighbors, 2 Safe Streets representatives, CLO (TPD) attending
Safe Streets reps (Darren & Wanda) presented banner for neighborhood and 2 sets of magnetic Neighborhood Patrol signs
Neighborhood Reports (crime and other activity from the past month)
Home break-in 200 block of S 60th, in the afternoon, TV, videogame console and more stolen
Home break-in 400 block of S 58th, in the afternoon, suspect possibly seen leaving scene
Vehicle break-ins in alley between 58th & 59th, West of G Street, in evening between 1am & 4am, again (2x in past 6 wks)
Suspicious man walking neighborhood on weekends, checking on homes and knocking on front doors. Tall, slender, casually-
dressed, good looking black male, aged 20-30 years old.
Speed Watch Report
Speed watch ended this week.
Worst streets are S Park Avenue & S 64th Street.
Will consider another later this year.
Report from CLO? (Don Williams, CLO of Tacoma Police Department)
Officer Williams presented crime statistics for January 2009 (4746 calls for service), number is up 9.7% over 2008
House behind 507 S 57th St (Yard Girls), closed for Meth.
5614 S G Street being closed down, gang-type activity, eviction in process but tough since property is owned by known slumlord.
What can we do? Keep on eye on neighborhood, monitor problem homes & suspected drug homes, continue to report activities to 911 and use “House Watch” forms to track vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers and suspect descriptions, submit “House Watch” forms to neighborhood group, block captains, Safe Streets, and so on.
**Better descriptions = better police action. Officer Williams explained how a better description allows an officer to
stop and talk to investigate a subject [that meets the description].
Questions were raised about using web-based neighborhood surveillance cameras to assist neighbors and TPD.
Neighborhood Patrol Report
Neighborhood patrols will begin this month. Keep an eye out for vehicles with the signs roving throughout our neighborhood.
Phone Tree
This is a vital resource for the neighborhood. This is the best way to tell your neighbors of recent crimes and suspicious
activities. Reviewed guidelines for proper use of phone tree.
Park Avenue Neighborhood Blog & Facebook
We now have a blog, http://parkavenueneighborhood.blogspot.com. This will be used for general posting of announcements, patrol reports and activities. You do not need to register to read the blog.
We are now on Facebook, look for Park Avenue Neighborhood. This can be used for communication by our
neighbors. Keep in mind, nothing on the internet is secure. Please be very careful what you post.
Action Plan
1. Phone tree discussed and distributed to neighbors.
2. 2009 Innovative Grant, neighbors agreed we should pursue signs for neighborhood saying “You are entering Neighborhood Watch area.”
3. Flyer distribution will be expanded to other areas. More volunteers agreed to help.
4. March meeting will kick-off expansion of neighborhood patrol with return of David Cantlin, Safe Streets Neighborhood Patrol Coordinator.
5. Neighborhood brochure presented and distributed to neighbors.
6. Distributed and reviewed suggested Calendar of Events for 2009.
From Darren Pen, Safe Streets
Neighborhood Patrol Academy continues
Several members donated to Bounty Food Bank and Bethany U.M.C.’s heating fund.
Meeting ended at 8:15pm
Safe Streets reps (Darren & Wanda) presented banner for neighborhood and 2 sets of magnetic Neighborhood Patrol signs
Neighborhood Reports (crime and other activity from the past month)
Home break-in 200 block of S 60th, in the afternoon, TV, videogame console and more stolen
Home break-in 400 block of S 58th, in the afternoon, suspect possibly seen leaving scene
Vehicle break-ins in alley between 58th & 59th, West of G Street, in evening between 1am & 4am, again (2x in past 6 wks)
Suspicious man walking neighborhood on weekends, checking on homes and knocking on front doors. Tall, slender, casually-
dressed, good looking black male, aged 20-30 years old.
Speed Watch Report
Speed watch ended this week.
Worst streets are S Park Avenue & S 64th Street.
Will consider another later this year.
Report from CLO? (Don Williams, CLO of Tacoma Police Department)
Officer Williams presented crime statistics for January 2009 (4746 calls for service), number is up 9.7% over 2008
House behind 507 S 57th St (Yard Girls), closed for Meth.
5614 S G Street being closed down, gang-type activity, eviction in process but tough since property is owned by known slumlord.
What can we do? Keep on eye on neighborhood, monitor problem homes & suspected drug homes, continue to report activities to 911 and use “House Watch” forms to track vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers and suspect descriptions, submit “House Watch” forms to neighborhood group, block captains, Safe Streets, and so on.
**Better descriptions = better police action. Officer Williams explained how a better description allows an officer to
stop and talk to investigate a subject [that meets the description].
Questions were raised about using web-based neighborhood surveillance cameras to assist neighbors and TPD.
Neighborhood Patrol Report
Neighborhood patrols will begin this month. Keep an eye out for vehicles with the signs roving throughout our neighborhood.
Phone Tree
This is a vital resource for the neighborhood. This is the best way to tell your neighbors of recent crimes and suspicious
activities. Reviewed guidelines for proper use of phone tree.
Park Avenue Neighborhood Blog & Facebook
We now have a blog, http://parkavenueneighborhood.blogspot.com. This will be used for general posting of announcements, patrol reports and activities. You do not need to register to read the blog.
We are now on Facebook, look for Park Avenue Neighborhood. This can be used for communication by our
neighbors. Keep in mind, nothing on the internet is secure. Please be very careful what you post.
Action Plan
1. Phone tree discussed and distributed to neighbors.
2. 2009 Innovative Grant, neighbors agreed we should pursue signs for neighborhood saying “You are entering Neighborhood Watch area.”
3. Flyer distribution will be expanded to other areas. More volunteers agreed to help.
4. March meeting will kick-off expansion of neighborhood patrol with return of David Cantlin, Safe Streets Neighborhood Patrol Coordinator.
5. Neighborhood brochure presented and distributed to neighbors.
6. Distributed and reviewed suggested Calendar of Events for 2009.
From Darren Pen, Safe Streets
Neighborhood Patrol Academy continues
Several members donated to Bounty Food Bank and Bethany U.M.C.’s heating fund.
Meeting ended at 8:15pm
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