Ideas For Neighborhood Action
Meet the Community Coordinator Sergeant 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.
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".
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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!
Do a Neighborhood Clean-Up
Contact Metro Beautification Commission For Information: 862-8218.
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.
Look at Maps of Crime for Your Area
Why did crime occur in these places?
Talk to your officers about these crimes. Plan a strategy together.
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).
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!
