Public Safety Walks: Enhancing Community Engagement

Yesterday evening, Tommy Wells took residents of PSA 106 on a tour of alleys and other public safety hotspots in our neighborhood. This was the fourth such tour in Ward 6 that the councilmember has conducted, and the turnout was spectacular, perhaps more than 50 people.

Public safety depends on community involvement. Residents must understand the parts of their neighborhood that are at risk for crime and be vigilant to help prevent it. Tommy's walk-throughs enhancing MPD's community policing efforts by ensuring that average citizens participate in public safety initiatives. Police cannot be everywhere, so if neighbors are aware of high-risk areas, they can either avoid them or monitor them closely in order to report suspicious activities.

Involving residents in crime fighting efforts helps everyone. An engaged community deters crime and improves the standard of living for all. Tommy's efforts set the standard for community-wide public safety efforts, and I believe that councilmembers in other wards should use his initiatives as an example to replicate.