Historical December 1979 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Often when crime subsides in a particular neighborhood the populace becomes relaxed and careless. This very sense of relief can itself cause an increase in property and people related crimes as residents’ sense of urgent need to band together decreases.
There is no final and immediate solution to residential burglary and aggravated assault, but one preventative measure is the
Crime Blockers program.
Crime Blockers was started by the police department to help citizens help themselves. How can this be done? An individual is trained by police to observe and report any suspicious activities or incidents of crime in his/her neighborhood. This is accomplished by scheduling a one-and-a-half hour training session under police instruction. Every adult resident of the Metro area is eligible and should be a Crime Blocker.
In the manual for the Crime Blocker a quote from an urban expert expresses the fundamental reason for participating in such a program: “The public peace of cities is not kept primarily by the police . . . necessary as the police are. It is kept primarily by an intricate, almost unconscious network of voluntary controls and standards among the people themselves. Where the keeping of public sidewalk law and order is left almost entirely to the police, such places are jungles. No amount of police can enforce civilization where the normal, casual enforcement of it has broken down.”
This statement underscores the dependence of personal well-being upon cooperation with each other. The police department needs our support to effectively protect our lives and property. The
Crime Blockers program is the acute senses (eyes, ears) the police department needs to apprehend violators of our rights.
Why take the training session? It is necessary to become proficient in the proper identification process needed to aid the police and to obtain a special ID number, which is used when calling in an emergency situation. This number also assures anonymity because only officials of the law enforcement agencies will retain the confidential list of names.
The officer assigned to investigate the complaint is not informed of the Crime Blocker’s name.
When the Crime Blocker calls in a complaint, the number is the only form of identification needed. The police respond to the call quickly, assured of the caller’s special training.
If additional information is required, the police will call the Crime Blocker rather than come to the house or apartment.
If any block unit, neighborhood association or individual is interested in the program, contact Seventh District Public Affairs for further information, the schedule of training sessions, or to arrange for an officer to speak at one of your meetings.
Original photograph caption
Original whistle illustration beside Crime Blockers article. The Paper, December 1979, page 7. Artist not credited.
Originally published in The Paper, December 1979.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1979_12.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
