This past week, Q-line asked: The Santa Monica Police Department recently created a new community policing program that aims to improve communication between Neighborhood Resource Officers and the city’s various neighborhoods. Do you feel the program has made a difference? Have you come to know who your Neighborhood Resource Officer is? Here are your responses: “THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PROGRAM IF IT is implemented properly and problems get addressed and followed through on. I live between Wilshire and California, between Fourth and Lincoln. I have no idea who our contact police officer is or how to contact him or her directly.”
“THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE IS the residents who live within a neighborhood, keeping an eye on their neighbor’s safety. Recently, Santa Monica police arrived just minutes after a large disturbance was noted taking place in an alley. The police had received several telephone calls within minutes after the disturbance was noted — neighbor helping neighbor. For my purpose, every Santa Monica police officer is my Resource Officer and I am pleased to have them.”
“WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ARE policemen walking the beat again around town, like they used to, and still do in a lot of other cities. That way, they could be more pro-active instead of reactive ….”
“YEAH, I LIVE IN THE PICO CORRIDOR which borders Pico to Ocean Park, Fourth Street to Lincoln. And we have yet to even meet a Neighborhood Resource Officer. I think what the SMPD has done is a big joke, stating that they have a program and that there is an officer who is chosen for one specific area and that he is supposed to make his faith visible and be presentable to the community. Well, I’ve lived here 30-plus years, on Grant Street, and have seen no such officer or community relationships yet. Like I said, this is a big joke and a slap in the face to the people of Santa Monica, to you guys because the police department has said that this program has been in effect for more than six months, possibly a year, I think. And still yet I haven’t met one police officer. In fact, there are still police officers today harassing the youth and harassing the community kids in my community, which sits in the corridor I mentioned before, just for being who they are. So, if you ask me, this program is a joke, and SMPD is a joke.”
“IF THE SANTA MONICA POLICE Department expects to get a great pat on the back for what they have done with their community policing policy, it’s a joke. It’s a straight slap in the face to the residents of Santa Monica, meaning that it’s a joke of a lifetime. We have fire captains who have 30-plus years, 20-plus years on the Santa Monica Fire Department who are getting arrested for lewd acts. We have long-term officers who are suing the police department. And oh yeah — does [police Chief Tim] Jackman think he can come in here and make a difference in one or two years? He’s got another thing coming. Joke, joke, joke, joke.”
“NOW, I DON’T KNOW WHO MY Neighborhood Resource Officer is. I think that there should be some kind of an introduction of them or maybe an article in the Daily Press about who they are and what neighborhoods they’re in charge of. One thing I have noticed, though, I’ve just seen more police cars in the area which before, I hardly would ever see a police car around the area I live.”
“MADE A DIFFERENCE? TWICE I CALLED the person who is supposed to be our Neighborhood Resource Officer and left my name and my personal number and I’ve never had a return phone call from this person. So, not making a difference, not helping at all. I’ve reported graffiti, I’ve reported transients, no response.”
“I’VE NOT MET MY NEIGHBORHOOD Resource Officer. I don’t know what they do, I’ve never heard of them before. As to whether the program has made a difference, I honestly don’t know what difference any police-oriented program can do because our crime rate, as far as I can tell, is approaching zero. I’ve never lived in a community with such a low crime rate as this. And on top of that, we have the best police department I think I’ve ever had in a community. I don’t know. If it works, don’t fix it.”
“I SUPPOSE THE POLICE RESPONSE TEAM is dangerous because our Resource Officer is rarely seen. Even worse, Pico Neighborhood is dumped with these two unsolved murders, too many drugs, gang activities, instead to go after Sunset Park and solve burglaries ….”
“YES, WE’VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS with the Santa Monica Police Department’s Community Resources people and we’ve found it to be very helpful, not only in telling us more about the program and more about how to make best use of the SMPD, but also tips about securing our premises and helping to avoid crime in the area, reporting graffiti, and anything else that’s going on. I think the neighbors felt much more secure after meeting with the representatives. Scott Pace is our Resource Officer and he’s articulate and very, very knowledgeable, as is Lauralee Asch, the community relations officer. I think the program is terrific and I hope that it will be maintained and expanded. That’s what community policing is all about, in my humble opinion.”
“ANY PARTICIPATION FROM THE SANTA Monica Police Department with the public is a great bridge to promoting a safer community, especially the Pico Neighborhood. Certain groups have an inherent distrust of the police. These Neighborhood Resource Officers help to promote a trusting reliance on law and order. Over 30 years ago, the police department neighborhood watch was promoted by Sgt. Richard John Cola [sic] and civilian Mike Cveyich. It’s nice to see the fruits of their efforts have helped to promote a safer community. Thanks for the police department’s constant sacrifice.”
“WHILE WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY policing efforts and love our Neighborhood Officer, our neighborhood is increasingly under attack by burglars. We are anxious and fearful. Something needs to be done. It’s a disconnect to think that all is well in Santa Monica when my block experienced three burglaries last week and at least one this week with two on the adjacent street this week as well.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 20, 2008. Read the original PDF.