Public Safety Group - May 15

 A City That Works - May 15, 2008
Public Safety Discussion Group at the Einstein Medical Center

This neighborhood group varied between 12 and 15 participants at different points in the discussion. Of all the issues concerning public safety, this group focused primarily on citizens' relationship with the police. The relationship between fear for personal safety, the capacity to trust and rely upon a dependable police force, and crime and neighborhood cooperation were all interwoven thoughout the discussion.  

What does this goal mean to you?

• “My family and I can leave our house and feel we won’t be harmed before we leave the front yard.”

• “It means, for my family and neighbors, not to worry about being harmed.”

• “It means to be able to go to sleep at night and not to have to worry that my grandson could be killed.”

• “I would not have to avoid going places and doing things out of fear.”

• “It means being able to relate to ALL police without fear and/or mistrust.”

• Success would mean actually being able to see improvement in safety.”

• “It would mean that a female leaving work at 1am, who has to take public transportation, not having to be as afraid or even more afraid of the police than thugs who would mug her.”

• “It means for our children to be able to play safely without drugs, guns or harm.”

• “Police would respond in a proper and reasonable amount of time and be accountable to all citizen: The police would especially accountable for their mistakes”.

• “It would mean that there would be more opportunities for people to be safe and more opportunities for offenders to have options for appropriate activities (jobs, training, activities, etc.) instead of criminal activities.”

• “Kids can got to playgrounds and feel and be safe.”

• “It would mean that there would be a decrease in unsafe areas (abandoned buildings, for example) and an increase of safe opportunity centers for youth and young adults.”

Performance measures (What success would look like)

• During the course of the current administration, there needs to be a reduction of founded crimes in playgrounds by 100 percent.

• There needs to be a 505 decrease of murder rates in the high homicide areas over the next year.

• The ability and time needed to identify suspected criminals needs to be increased by 70 percent in the next year.

• There should be continuous evaluations of the police by neighborhoods and communities with a reported 25 percent improvement rating incrementally every three months over a two year period.

• There needs to be an 80 percent decrease in founded crimes in schools over the next year.

• There needs to be an 85 percent increase in centers of opportunity for youth and young adults in high crime/low income areas by next summer.

• The police need to be able to be 100 percent accountable for their response time.

• All students identified with drug and alcohol problems need to be enrolled in job skills training as part of their rehabilitation (100 percent).

Customer-service standards

• Police should do their job and not ignore problems.

• Probation officers should do their job and be publically accountable.

• Police Internal Affairs should go out into the community and observe police activities, especially police interaction with citizens.

• Police are held to a nine-minute response time or there should be redress.

• Police should have sensitivity and competence in dealing with citizens who have mental health issues.

• In emergency situations, citizens should have access to immediate follow-up.

• Citizens should have increased ready access to supportive services of all types.

• “GET THE GUNS OFF THE STREETS!!!”