By Felix Hoover

For YourNewsColumbus.com

Posted 06-05-09

 

 

Folks from the West Side and neighboring communities filled the gymnasium at Westgate Recreation Center for a meeting with Police Chief Walter Distelzweig and other ranking supevisors in the division.

 

The meeting was one of several organized by the police division to give and receive information about how to best serve neighborhoods, and thus the city.

 

Although efforts were made to focus on neighborhood policing, many of the questions from the audience dealt with the city income-tax measure to be decided in a special election in August and what will happen if it fails. In recent days the city has said it could lose 300 police officers and 300 firefighters if the tax is defeated.

 

Distelzweig said he could speak only to the consequences should voters reject the half-percent increase.

 

He said the police division will be looking at every position, using information from the public meetings and community surveys as some of the tools for deciding how personnel and other resources should be allocated.

 

Many of the people at the meeting are members of Block Watch groups who wanted to know what they and other residents can do to help police battle crime.

 

One person's question about "how far does citizen's arrest go?" drew a prompt response against vigilantism.

 

"Your safety is of the utmost importance, don't go out and jeopardize your safety," Distelzweig said.

 

Suspicious drug-related activity can be reported anonymously, but it's more helpful if there's someone to talk about what is observed, he said.

 

"Theft from autos is probably the biggest problem citywide, it's going wild now," Commander Suzanne Curmode said.

 

The public can look out for open garage doors, close windows at night and watch out for their neighbors, she said.

 

Curfew enforcement and vacant properties are some of the things to be addressed this summer, Distelzweig said.

 

Deputy Chief Gary Thatcher said the public can go online for crime information by neighborhood. He's in charge of technology, which includes Twitter.

 

Another citizen's meeting is to be held this month at Marion-Franklin Recreation Center.