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V.I. Police Department Continues Community Outreach

June 9, 2007 — A small but robust group of 15 citizens offered words of encouragement to V.I. Police Department leadership alongside requests for police substations, more comprehensive recruitment programs and better service during a town hall meeting Friday evening at the Bertha C. Boschulte auditorium.
Eschewing the stage, Police Commissioner James McCall arranged chairs in a wide semicircle on the floor, just a few feet away from the audience. In a continued effort to create relationships among officers and the people they serve, McCall was joined by his Special Assistant Eugene Alcindor, Lt. Melvin Venzen, Lt. Joseph Gumbs, Acting District Chief Milton Petersen, Crime Prevention Bureau Director Kenneth Blake and various officers.
The first to address the panel, resident Deanna Rogers wanted to know what the department was doing to rehabilitate young offenders. While the commissioner stated that rehabilitation falls within the purview of the Corrections Department, he did offer that crime-prevention programs are active and geared towards keeping children out of the system to begin with.
Blake agreed, saying, “We do have some very good crime-prevention programs – but only when their kids get in trouble will parents bring them.” He hoped that by attending these town hall meetings, along with hosting the weekly COPP (Community Oriented Policing Program) on Saturdays at 11 a.m. on Radio One (1000 AM), he could expose these opportunities to more people.
Petersen concurred, noting that simple arguments now escalate quickly to violence and threats of violence, as the youth are exposed to rash methods of settling difficulties. He cited video games, television, popular music and the actions of those around the children. “We have programs to try and tap into the kids early,” he said.
Community activist Jason Budsan asked about the West End police substation, citing past struggles and lack of funding for the Bordeaux/Fortuna Emergency Service Center. He also called for recruitment of more quality officers. McCall stated that launching the substations is on the department’s front burner, with the ideal scenario being that police, fire and emergency responders would be present at each facility.
Currently plans are in the works for a substation at the East End Plaza facility across from the new Red Hook dock. Also planned is a larger facility to serve the West End.
Problems with recruitment have resulted in short-staffing and officers have been forced to run from assignment to assignment, with very little face time for citizens who are in need of attention, McCall noted. Gumbs, who is part of the Law Enforcement Supervisors Union, added that the process of hiring is “antiquated” and burdened with bureaucracy.
Once a potential officer turns in an application, it could be three to four months before he or she receives any response, and by that time the person may already be committed to an employer. Gumbs feels that recruitment of new officers should become a priority, and that all applications should be processed immediately, not in batches, as is now the case.
Venzen, upon hearing from one audience member who recounted problems with loiterers who subtly threaten those who dare to report disturbances that they cause, made a commitment to meet with the affected parties and address the situation. One of the purposes of these town meetings is to allow the people to put faces on the officers who are assigned to their areas. “People will feel that they can come and talk to us about anything,” Venzen said.
Resident Carol Lotz-Felix recounted a trying attempt to report a crime that discouraged her to the point where she did not even bother to obtain a case number, as she felt that nothing would ever be done. A three-page letter to the former commissioner went unacknowledged, she said.
Lotz-Felix wanted to know what was being done to restore the people’s willingness to come forward and report crimes. “In order for change to come, the community has to change,” she said. McCall invited her to meet with him later so that he could examine the particulars of her case and offer assistance.
Gumbs let the audience members know that if they are dissatisfied with the service provided by an officer, they may reach that officer’s supervisor at the appropriate Zone Command right away. If the supervisor is unavailable or contact is discouraged, they may then seek out the officer’s Zone Commander from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A citizen’s complaint form may be filed for further investigation and follow-up.
Suggestions from the floor included the institution of a 24-hour “tip line” with an easy-to-remember phone number, dinner workshops and a greater partnership between the Departments of Labor and Personnel and the VIPD to address staff shortages.
A retired police officer, known as “DeWindt,” said that this is a good beginning. “Don’t be discouraged by low turnout. Everything new takes time.”
McCall assured everyone that he was not counting heads, because he had a greater goal. “By reaching out at regular town hall meetings, we will begin to feel more comfortable with each other and develop a level of trust,” he smiled.
Blake added, “This trust you’re talking about starts from the top.” Petersen saw McCall as an example, recalling times when the commissioner rode along with pleasantly surprised officers on patrol and mentioned that when he saw McCall greet someone at a police station downtown with, “Good morning, are all your needs being taken care of today?”, he began to do the same himself, giving assistance and guidance when needed.
“Customer service, professionalism and compassion,” he said. “Change starts one person at a time.”
To report criminal activity anonymously, call Blake at the Crime Prevention Bureau at 776-1525.
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