Historical November–December 2017 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On Tuesday, October 17, a special neighborhood wide security meeting took place at the New Cote Brilliante Church. SDCC co-chairs Mark Gorman and Ken Burton anchored the meeting. Aldermen Frank Williamson and Heather Navarro (D-26 and 28), Steve Ortbals, neighborhood police officer, Mark Alexander of the Washington University Police, and Julie Stone of METRO also made remarks.. Brandon Sterling, executive director of the SDCC helped to facilitate the discussion and had worked to set up and publicize the meeting. Mark Gorman recapped the situation.
In two weeks, we experienced 7 armed robberies, several of which were accompanied by car jackings. Three suspects had been apprehended while riding in one of the stolen vehicles.
These crimes occurred during a time of reduced manpower. About 25% of the force had been deployed to the sites of protests.
The police department has responded to these crimes by putting more officers in our neighborhood. Officer Ortbals said that newer cars are more difficult to steal because of their keyless entry. One has to have the entry device. Perpetrators will demand that at gunpoint. Ortbals said this recent spike was not normal for this area. Our neighborhood is basically safe.
Some of the crime has been caused by men from E.St. Louis who use METRO to get here and then take the vehicles they steal back across the river.
The aldermen and security co-chairs spoke of things neighbors could do to create a safer and more responsive environment.
A key facet would be block organization. Gorman said every block or pair of blocks should have an e-mail list of residents who could be contacted quickly. Marj Weir noted that former Ald. McGuire had done that for 6000 and 6100 Westminster and it is utilized often.
She said she would be willing to help block units set up lists..
In a number of areas, blocks units needed to be formed. Ald. Navarro said that she would be doing that on her home blocks of Pershing and she would be glad to assist other blocks. Participants agreed that neighbors should get to know one another and be able to communicate when necessary. Other matters were brought up in Q and A. One was the issue of cameras which can help to identify suspects. Wash U has some and so do some private parties.
The security committee would like to establish where they all are. Adequate lighting is important. LED lights are being installed which will aid visibility.
If trees interfere with lighting, residents should contact the Citizens Service Bureau to arrange for trimming.
Residents should also turn on their own porchlights regularly.
A resident from 5800 DeGiverville mentioned shooting from cars on that block.. Stone of METRO said they are working to better coordinate security at stations and platforms.
A question about the “blue lights” was answered by WU’s Alexander: the blue lights are call buttons which are equivalent to 911 phone calls and go directly to the police of whichever jurisdiction they are located.
On WU properties, the calls go to WU police, and if on a city street, to the city police. Anyone who needs help or wants to report an incident should feel free to use the blue light call buttons.
This meeting was well-attended and positive. People from throughout the neighborhood were present and included at least one victim and members of another’s family. Long-time neighbors, black and white and asian, younger families and students were all well represented.
All those present as well as all neighbors are invited to attend the monthly security meetings. Other ideas to be discussed at the monthly security meetings include a possible new texting service, which would function somewhat like an amber alert, but just to our neighbors.
The meetings are normally held the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm in the Council office, 6008 Kingsbury. Because there is a special election this November, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 14.
Original photograph caption
Neighbors attend October seventeenth security meeting.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2017.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2017_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
