Monday, November 05, 2007
Support for Community Policing from an Unusual Source
The City Council has been getting a variety of emails that support community policing, which is a hot subject in the current budget discussions as you will see from the posts below. I include this sample letter mostly because I have to admit, I did not even know that there was a Presbyterian Governing Body for Thurston County located in Lakewood! But it is also a good letter, and a good example of the sort of specific feedback we are receiving these days.
November 5, 2007
To: Lakewood City Council Members, City Manager & Chief of Police
From: Susie Zych, Office Manager, Olympia Presbytery
Dear Respected Officials of Lakewood:
We recently heard there has been conversation to stop the services of the Lakewood Neighborhood Police Program (NPO) & (CSO). We are deeply concerned that cutting these community services would encourage the continued gang and drug activity in the Tillicum area.
The Presbytery of Olympia moved to Tillicum from Lacey 4 years ago. During our time in Tillicum (we are housed at the old Community Presbyterian Church building) we have experienced at least 5 significant episodes of vandalism. Because of the damage we have installed extra outside lights, have a state of the art security system, upgrade our door locks, as well as installing a camera in our front door because of harassment to our staff that opened the door to needy folks. We have wonderful neighbors who watch our property as well. But that certainly is not enough.
Officer Mike Miller was instrumental in suggesting ways to protect our building as well as ourselves. Because of the time he spent with me I was able to protect our building as well as ourselves.
We want to be good neighbors but in this neighborhood we feel compelled to keep our doors locked when a staff person is alone in the building. Knowing that our panic buttons will bring the police in a timely manner is reassuring. Knowing that I can call Officer Mike if I suspect gang activity is reassuring. In light of the growing crime due to the drug situation it seems dollar foolish to cut such increasingly needed services.
We want Tillicum to be the final home for our Presbyterian Governing Body and want all who come to our beautiful center to feel safe. Please do consider the continued funding for these programs.
Sincerely,
Susie Zych, Office Manager
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November 5, 2007
To: Lakewood City Council Members, City Manager & Chief of Police
From: Susie Zych, Office Manager, Olympia Presbytery
Dear Respected Officials of Lakewood:
We recently heard there has been conversation to stop the services of the Lakewood Neighborhood Police Program (NPO) & (CSO). We are deeply concerned that cutting these community services would encourage the continued gang and drug activity in the Tillicum area.
The Presbytery of Olympia moved to Tillicum from Lacey 4 years ago. During our time in Tillicum (we are housed at the old Community Presbyterian Church building) we have experienced at least 5 significant episodes of vandalism. Because of the damage we have installed extra outside lights, have a state of the art security system, upgrade our door locks, as well as installing a camera in our front door because of harassment to our staff that opened the door to needy folks. We have wonderful neighbors who watch our property as well. But that certainly is not enough.
Officer Mike Miller was instrumental in suggesting ways to protect our building as well as ourselves. Because of the time he spent with me I was able to protect our building as well as ourselves.
We want to be good neighbors but in this neighborhood we feel compelled to keep our doors locked when a staff person is alone in the building. Knowing that our panic buttons will bring the police in a timely manner is reassuring. Knowing that I can call Officer Mike if I suspect gang activity is reassuring. In light of the growing crime due to the drug situation it seems dollar foolish to cut such increasingly needed services.
We want Tillicum to be the final home for our Presbyterian Governing Body and want all who come to our beautiful center to feel safe. Please do consider the continued funding for these programs.
Sincerely,
Susie Zych, Office Manager
