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Meet the community coordinator sergeant (CC) for
your Patrol sector
Set up a meeting with the officers that patrol in
your area. They usually like to know the people they
are protecting. Invite them to your regular
neighborhood meetings. Don't forget that there are
three shifts of officers. (Stay up late and invite
the 3rd shift for coffee!) Ask if you can attend
police roll calls to introduce yourself and what you
are doing.
You can also have Asst. Chief or the Chief to come
to a committee meeting (depending on schedules).
Their presence usually increases the number of
neighbors participating in your meeting and helps
them to know you also.
Have regular meetings with your "CC" and several
officers. This could be every two or three months.
Talk about ongoing problems. Report things you've
seen and ask for their perspective on crime in your
area.
Set up a "Neighborhood Tour" for your officers, so
they understand the history of your area and your
relationship to police. Also have them meet block
captains, church pastors, community center
directors, and others working to improve things.
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Organize Your Neighborhood
Have Block Captains for as many blocks as you can.
Meet with them occasionally to find common problems
and needs (and to have a little fun!)
Set up a phone tree or newsletter to get out
information.
Encourage people to report suspicious activities to
one central person, who can then get it to the "CC".
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Get Out And Go Door To Door
Take important information to your neighbors. Most
people want to know how to report crime anonymously
and what details to report to the police. Draw these
up with your CC and distribute "Suspicious Activity
Forms" to help people report crime.
Schedule a time for neighbors and police to go
door-to-door together, leaving information about
crime or about your next meeting.
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Problems On A Landlord's Property
Ask landlord to sign "Trespass Waiver" so police can
arrest trespassers.
Inform the landlord in writing of illegal or
suspicious activities. (Help the landlord find other
tenants.)
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Encourage Neighbors To Keep A "Neighborhood
Diary"
Keep records of crime problems, along with dates and
times as well as descriptions of the people and cars
involved. (Especially about specific drug houses,
etc.)
Keep records of who you report these incidents to,
as well as the date, time and what you talked about.
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Get To Know Other Agencies And Groups
Compare notes with other residents to find problems
throughout area.
School principals and social workers
Juvenile Court probation officers
Ministers, Rabbis, etc.
Staff of community centers and youth-serving
agencies (Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, etc.)
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Do A "Neighborhood Audit" Of Problems
List streetlights out, vacant lots, trashy alleys,
damaged street signs, etc.
Present to Codes, NES, Public Works, Police, Metro
Beautification at Community Mtg.
Have them report on their progress at another
community meeting.
Work with the various Department personnel. Build a
relationship with them!
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Do A Neighborhood Clean-Up
Contact Metro Beautification Commission For
Information: 862-8218.
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Hold Special Neighborhood Events
Nashville's Night Out Against Crime.
Other party or event, combining fun and food and
anti-crime organizing. Involve teenagers, community
centers, other. (Invite celebrities, local news
anchors, radio personalities, etc.)
Hold a Memorial Service in the community, or special
prayer vigil on a problem street corner (Involve
police and area churches).
Take cookies or banana bread to neighbors at
Christmas, along with information about your group
and fighting crime. Use other holidays as well.
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Look At Maps Of Crime For Your Area (Contact the
Metro Police Department)
Why did crime occur in these places?
Talk to your officers about these crimes. Plan a
strategy together.
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Contact Others Who May Be Concerned About Crime
Churches, businesses, community centers, schools,
and day care centers (list available at
Neighborhoods Resource Center).
Listen to them; help them know how to report crime;
invite them to a meeting.
Look for unlikely or "invisible" allies (One group
was upset about stray dogs and found the
letter-carriers' union to be an ally).
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Plan A Calendar For The Year
Schedule several big meetings with topics of
interests (speakers, etc.).
Plan a couple of "door-to-door" campaigns.
Don't forget to have fun!
Publicize your meeting well!
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