11-19-2002 CC RPT 12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DATE: 11-19-02 ITEM NO. 12 Public Safety Officers of the Month Officer Carlos Flores and Officer Joe Flores In the summer of 2001, several residential neighborhoods in a South Arlington neighborhood began experiencing a rash of vehicle burglaries, thefts and narcotic activity in thc area of Cello Sausillito and Cello Tempico. The Police Department also noted an increase in calls for service to the location and several anonymous tips on possible drug dealing. Over 20 vehicle burglaries had occurred and several residences were broken into resulting in the loss of expensive property. Officer Joe Flores and Officer Carlos Flores met with the residents to obtain first hand knowledge to discuss the problems and solutions. In addition, the residents were very concerned about the narcotic activity that was occurring in the neighborhoods and pot~tial impact on families and children. Once both officers discovered what thc tmdcrlying issues were, they assessed the problems and began working to impact crime. Officer Carlos Flores met with the owners ofm'o problematic residences and discussed in detail the issues that were occurring at the specific locations. The property owners were s~mpathetic to the neighborhood residents and became involved in the Safe Streets Now Progrmn. Both locations were rentals and the propm'ty owners had also been having difficulty with the ~enants. A Neighborhood Watch program was instituted mtd both officers adopted the neighb,xhood through the Neighborhood Beat Officer (hBO) Pro~am. The South Arlington Neighborhood Watch Association quickly began taking ownership and responsibili~ with the Police Department for crime and problems impacting the quarry of life in the neighborhood. Code enforcement becan~einvolved atthe request of the Police Department. The Police Departraent began a directed enforcement program in thc target area. Officer Cmlos Flores gathered intelligence information mhd discovered that eno of the problem residences was housing several parolees. In addition, surveillance was conducted on the rentals to identify ongoing criminal activity., in late September 2001, a parole compliance check was conducted on one residence that resulted in the ma'est of several subjects for possession of stolen property, narcotics and parole violation. The property owner was able to evict the renters from the second location with guidance fi:om the Police Deparmaent. The directed enforcement resulted in an additional twenty-five 25) arrests for various misdemeanor and felony crimes. Since the arrests and eviction of the tenants there have not been any thefts or burglaries in the area. In addition, there has been a decrease in calls for service. On Saturday, June 1,2002, the South Arlington Neighborhood Watch Association held their first neighborhood block picnic. Officer Carlos Flores arranged for the Home Depot to donate materials and instructional assistance tbr the nei_uhborhood children to build small wood proj<ts; a canine demonstration; METRO Team display; and Air Unit fly-over. Special guest Mayor Ronald Loveridge spoke to the group, expressing his support for the neighborhood and the Police Department. The involvement of Officers Joe and Carlos Flores with the South Arlington Neighbo~ood Watch Association is one of the ~eatest examples cfa Police Corm,nm~ity partnership in problem solx4ng. The Officers proactive approach, mixed with their educational assisUmce to the ueigi~borhood, ted to an extremely successful project. Their actions were exemplary and should be used as an example for others to follow. The Riverside Police Department is proud to nominate Officers Joe and Carlos Flores as Public Safety Officers of the Month. 12