March 19, 2008
Want to help fight crime? Show up at this problem-solving workshop
Petersburg’s Bureau of Police will host a joint police/community problem-solving workshop (PACT: Police And Community Together) April 12, 9am to 4pm, at Tabernacle Community Life Center for residents in Wards 7 (Webb), 6 (Coleman), 5 (Mickens), and 4 (Moore). Breakfast and lunch will be served, so RSVP by March 28 is required — call 863.2726. Click here for a copy of the flyer.
The long/short of how this workshop will work: attendees will be split into groups based upon their area of residence. Each group will be provided crime statistics specific to their area, and based upon those statistics attendees will prioritize issues for problem-solving. Problem-solving will involve the collaboration of attendees, the police, and other city agencies as needed.
Brenda - quick Question, have you heard anything like this being planned for any of the other Wards? I didn’t know if this was just an initial roll-out or…
Thanks!!
Will inquire for you.
BTW, I’ve attended similar workshops in other places I’ve lived, and they are highly productive.
Hey Chuck — the answer is: yes, a similar workshop for the rest of the city will be held later this summer (date to be determined). It was noted that the areas for the April PACT meeting are located in what the police have designated as the Northwest Precinct; the remaining areas pertain to what is designated as the Southeast Precinct.
I suspect the Chief is slicing and dicing sections of the city in order to be able to concentrate on whatever crimes/problems are in each area.
I bet it makes for a better focus than if it was done city wide all at once.
Thanks Brenda!! It does sound like a very promising first step to at least identify problems…errr opportunities in the area. Journey of a thousand miles and all that.
I tried looking on the petersburg-va.org site under the police dept. part for crime statistics - the last reported was from Dec. 2007 (is that due to lack of police chief?).
Side note/pseudo rant - It’s a pet peeve when websites (especially gov’t) ones have out of date information like old/not current data and citizen information a la “The Fifth annual Neighborhood Watch Banquet will be held on Friday October 17, 2003. Regimental Club (NCO) Main Ballroom, 6:30 PM until 10:00PM.” COME ON! You can’t mean they haven’t updated that website in over 4 years.
Chuck, thanks for the Side note/pseudo rant. I have that issue also. Been thinking about the same thing.
“COME ON! You can’t mean they haven’t updated that websie in over 4 years.”
Well, even if they have, in a case like that, it would mean they missed something. I have suggested to myself to send an e-mail to the contact and let them know about it. However, not having enough time to keep up with my own calendar, it remained a thought.
Still sounds like the best way to handle that type of thing. Any other possibilities anyone?
Oh, I’m sorry. As quick as that, I got away from the intent of this thread. I must really love rants, ravings and controversy. Better take a chill pill.
Yes, I am glad the chief is stepping up the move to get more citizens involved with focusing on the problems… errr, opportunities in the area, because we really need to stop some of the bullsh__… errr
errr, crime in our community. Again, I rant, but ranting against violent criminal activity is something that I will solicit support for in the coming days ahead. See you at the problem-solving workshop, errr opportunity producing workshop in April.
The RTD covered this event (as did NBC12 and CBS6, but they don’t have the stories on their webpage…grumble….). Click here to read the RTD article.
Great RTD Article about this:
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/tricities.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-13-0331.html
Can’t wait for one for our area!!