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