Cactus Village Community

NEIGHBORHOOD, CITIZEN’S RESPONSIBILITY by Sgt. Wamsley

Jul 27, 2003

NEIGHBORHOOD, CITIZEN?’S RESPONSIBILITY

By Sgt. Steve Wamsley
Cactus Park Precinct

Recently I was asked by Don Gerard to write an article on citizens?’ ?‘Responsibility To Their Neighborhoods?’, from a police officer?’s perspective. Many times citizens will call the Phoenix Police Department and request us to do a myriad of things which they could handle themselves. Now granted, the Phoenix Police Department is responsible for addressing the needs of the citizens of this city whenever and however we can. Given the limited resources (as every business deals with), high demand for service, and the amount of police officers available, these requests can sometimes not be handled in a timely manner. Or, given the priority the complainant feels we should give their personal requests.

One of the questions I would pose to you is; Who us ultimately responsibly for keeping your neighborhood safe? Who has more to lose if blight issues surrounding your neighborhood devalue your home become the acceptable instead of the exception? If the alleys, which are the responsibility of the homeowner (that always shocks people) and not the City of Phoenix, are stacked up with garbage and lawn trimmings, who will suffer in the long run? When citizens turn their heads to a drug house and let them operate in anonymity, who will suffer the loss of the quality of life they have been accustomed to? The answer to all of these of course is the citizens who live there every day.

It isn?’t possible to put a police officer on every corner. Studies have shown this doesn?’t work anyway. The City of Phoenix Police Department cannot solve all of the problems the neighborhood?’s face. We can assist you with some of these issues, but the responsibility has been, and always will be, the homeowner.

Becoming involved in a Block Watch, Proactive Neighborhood Patrol, maintaining your own property, and reporting properties with blighted conditions, or drug houses to the proper agencies goes a long way.

Organize a neighborhood cleanup, or help someone who can?’t do it themselves. Studies have shown that over and over again the nicer a neighborhood looks, the higher the property value, the lower the crime rate.

Please become involved in not only your own property, but also your surrounding neighborhood. Believe me, neighborhoods that maintain their properties are contagious. 4Just as a blighted house can spread to others if not addresses.

Call us when you need us, but please keep in mind, we can?’t do it all. . . ☻