The special foot patrol was successful so it’s been removed. So explained Mr. Hugh Donnelly at the November W.H.N. general meeting.
He stated that “impact crime” against a person (robbery) or property (burglary) was decreased 12.2% from February to – October of ’73.
As of Nov. 1, ’73, then, the foot patrol was moved to other spots.
Citizens were encouraged to call police quickly, and when their suspicions were aroused to give accurate information when reporting a crime, and to participate in citizens’ organizations.
Another member of the panel entitled “Juveniles, Police, and Our Neighborhood” was Lt. Rheling of the Juvenile Division who shared his department’s dealings with both the recent homocide problem in the city high schools, and the problem of runaways.
Quoting that “truancy is the cradle of delinquency”, he explained the work of the five city truancy centers.
Mr. Harold Player, Director of the community Cooperative Services Project, stated their goal of linking the private citizen groups with the public agencies which are both dealing with juvenile offenders.
A work program truancy centers, victim reparation by the offender, and home detention assignments are all innovative_ programs attempting to prevent repeat-offenders.
Audience questions covered police harassment, curfew ordinances, parents’ legal responsibility for their children, and police training.
The WHN members also considered and approved some proposed by-laws changes.
An impressive account of the year’s activities from the ’72-73 board members was read.
Included were monthly board meetings and representation at SDCC meetings, a Christmas Lighting Contest December 72, a special January meeting to encourage block leaders, the Flower Sale with its $150. profit given to the clinic, the Bar-BQue on May 13, with its $156.28 profit to be spent on neighborhood beautification (perhaps the planting of Crown Vetch on the railroad right-of-way).
The two other general meetings also dealt with specific neighborhood problems.
October 22, ’72, Clyde Miller, Superintendent of Schools for St.Louis, spoke, reopening dialogue with the community concerning the public schools in the area.
“Trash and Dogs” was the topic in March.
Eighty-four stray dogs were subsequently picked up as the board kept in touch with Rabies Control.
Members were encouraged to sign up for committee work so that WHN could be more effective in the coming years.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1974.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1974_02.pdf, printed page(s) 7.
