Public Safety Meeting Report
Tuesday's standing-room only meeting at the Southeast District police headquarters -- the largest such meeting in the District's history -- was an opportunity for residents and police officers alike to share concerns and exchange the latest information. Despite the atmosphere of grave concern, community residents and police alike expressed a sense of partnership to end violent crime in the neighborhood.
According to SEPD, the number of robberies in Canton has "overwhelmed" detectives. This is in part because the force is understaffed in part due to a lack of qualified applicants.
The husband of the woman who was assaulted recently at the corner of S. Streeper and Elliot was in attendance, and he reported that his wife remains very traumatized by the incident. Police were able to respond to the assault in four minutes and took a description of her assailant: a black male between 30 and 40 years old. The Elliot Street robbery may also have been committed by a black male, although police determined that a credit card stolen from the scene was used by a white male on Pulaski Highway not long after the crime was committed. The Fleet Street Shell station attendant who was the victim of the robbery there was so traumatized by the experience that she has quit her job.
Community-Police Partnership Opportunities Explored
The following suggestions were made to help make Canton safer:
The current parking situation is a contributing factor to public safety concerns, as residents often have to park far from home; the risk is increased if they are distracted from their surroundings while talking on a cell phone. The police recommended that if you are attacked while using a cell phone, you should leave it on to help police track the criminal.
Painted parking spaces would probably not help reduce the parking crush, according to a representative of the Mayor's office, because the lines would have to be far enough apart to accommodate the largest vehicles, such as SUVs, and would therefore limit the number of spaces available on a street.
According to SEPD, the number of robberies in Canton has "overwhelmed" detectives. This is in part because the force is understaffed in part due to a lack of qualified applicants.
The husband of the woman who was assaulted recently at the corner of S. Streeper and Elliot was in attendance, and he reported that his wife remains very traumatized by the incident. Police were able to respond to the assault in four minutes and took a description of her assailant: a black male between 30 and 40 years old. The Elliot Street robbery may also have been committed by a black male, although police determined that a credit card stolen from the scene was used by a white male on Pulaski Highway not long after the crime was committed. The Fleet Street Shell station attendant who was the victim of the robbery there was so traumatized by the experience that she has quit her job.
Community-Police Partnership Opportunities Explored
The following suggestions were made to help make Canton safer:
- Form an alliance with your neighbors to monitor for suspicious activity.
- Keep your block clean and well lit.
- Join and participate in neighborhood associations such as the Canton Community Association's block watch program.
- Join the Paws on Patrol to walk through the neighborhood (you are welcome to join the walks even if you don't have a dog).
- Get to know the police officers who patrol your neighborhood. Always include your name and telephone number when reporting suspicious activity.
- Keep your outside door or porch light on all night.
- Park considerately to leave as much room for your neighbors as you can.
- Develop a block-watch system on your block to keep people informed and aware.
The current parking situation is a contributing factor to public safety concerns, as residents often have to park far from home; the risk is increased if they are distracted from their surroundings while talking on a cell phone. The police recommended that if you are attacked while using a cell phone, you should leave it on to help police track the criminal.
Painted parking spaces would probably not help reduce the parking crush, according to a representative of the Mayor's office, because the lines would have to be far enough apart to accommodate the largest vehicles, such as SUVs, and would therefore limit the number of spaces available on a street.
posted by Canton Community Association at 12:04 PM
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