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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-1998 ICPD Reports/Memos IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT 410 E.A.ST WAfiHIINrGTON STREL~T, IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 019) 356-5275 · FAX ~ 019) 356-5449 Media Release 06/18/98 7:14 AM In an effort to find out how better the Iowa City Police Department can serve the community a survey was distributed the first week in June. Officers delivered the surveys to homes, businesses and handed them out at neighborhood watch meetings. The residents and businesses of 8 randomly selected neighborhoods were asked to complete a questionnaire and mail it back to the police department. There were three questions on the surveys; · Regarding you geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be address'rog? (List in order of importance.) · How could the police department better serve the community?. · What message would you like the police department to hear? Approximately 20 % of the surveys were returned to the police department. The returns were summarized and distributed to each of the Watch Commanders. The Watch Commanders will make the results available for officers to review. Summaries of the survey for media personnel are available upon request fi-om Sgt. Steffen. Sgt. Jim Steffen. IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY OAKLAND AVENUE Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Report of drug dealers living and selling drugs in the Longfellow School area. A problem already known to Police -- out of concern it is disconcerting to have such criminals nearby. Too many stop signs placed just to discourage people from other neighborhoods from driving through here, especially the two on Sheridan at the comer of Oakland, which are often ignored and thereby increase risk to cars and pedestrians. Lowering the speed limit to 20 miles per hour and putting up school crossing signs would be more effective and would decrease pollution from cars. I am a senior citizen, live independently, have wonderful neighbors and feel quite safe in this environment, of course can not predict the future or even tomorrow. Safety and protection of children in the area and Longfellow School area are always a concern of mine, and the same concem for eldedy and the less fortunate, ie disabled. How could the police department better serve the community? More frequent neighborhood patrols. Monitoring Sycamore Mall after shops close there, as well as other large shopping areas at night, even if private lots. (I felt very insecure at the Mall when I saw the kind of men hanging around there the few times I was there. I hesitated to go to my car until I felt it safe to do so.) Having better lane markings on dark stretches toward Wal-Mart, Burlington east of Riverside, Mormon Trek North f¢om Melrose. Often cracks in cement are only guidelines. College Street between Linn & Gilbert should be parallel parking on both sides. It would be helpful for senior women, especially to have suggestions on how to cope with intruders once inside one's house and how to cope with repairmen there to make repairs, but who stealthily enter closed rooms and areas where they have no right to be. I find repairmen are very impertinent today and insist on doing what and going where they choose regardless of what they are told. Some are brazen thieves. They could become dangerous if challenged. I have been extremely busy with urgent matters. This is a tardy reply. Is the south end of Maggard Street the location of a drug dealer's place of bushiness? ~°A passerby mentioned it. =.:c- ~ "'~ r'- I realize the traffic and road marking matters are not strictly a police matter to solve, but become one when there are accidents. Some areas mentioned may have had some improvements made since I drove through them. They are especially bad on dark rainy nights. The only suggestions I have at this time would be to see more police visibility in the area, to give children the impression of support from the police department. I fully realize there are neighborhood areas requiring more patrolling than the Oakland Avenue area, however, visibility is important. I certainly have no complaints regarding police service and protection. What message would you like the police department to hear? Generally the Iowa City Police Department is conscientious and responsive. I appreciated their attention when I had problems. Compassion and let people know you care about them. IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY 1400 block Prairie Du Chien Road Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Wants a stop light at Dodge / Prairie Du Chien Road Speeding cars Door to door solicitors No newsletter in quite some time Speeding on Prairie Du Chien Road How could the police department better serve the community? Appreciate newsletter - likes hearing about scares - likes the visibility of patrol cars in the area. Try to stop and talk to the children so they know you are there to always help them - they are our future (from an 80 year old). What message would you like the police department to hear? Thanks for the survey. Keep attention focused on gangs, feels aggressive acts may reduce future problems. I think the department is doing a very good job. I know it is sometimes very difficult. They are doing an OK job. IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY ABBEY LANE Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) I would say there are no urgent concems. So far it has been a quiet neighborhood. The houses and lawns are well kept. Perhaps the sidewalks should be checked for those sections which have raised or sunk. New street light on Abbey was really needed. Burry is till a very dark street. Street lights are too far apart. Neighbors need to clip back of their trees better. Drivers (especially teenagers) speeding in the neighborhood. Drivers fail to stop at intersection of DolarVAbbey - many children plan in or near these streets. Cars block fire hydrant access (2331 Abbey). Cars frequently run stop at West High School exit (Melrose). Speed of cars on neighboring streets Monitor park areas. Monitor for speeding on traffic, o c... Extra patrol reference patrol from Dolan Place. I live in a safe neighborhood. I am happy with the protection and preser~--e-see;o, --- with the Iowa City Police Department. _: Brighter and more street lights. -~," "~ . How could the police department better serve the community? I think regular patrol checks through the area, at different times during the day and night, would be helpful. Why don't police use stun guns or tranquilizer bullets instead of lethal bullets? I'm afraid that someone I know and love will be accidentally shot. I'm afraid that gangs are unstoppable. More patrolling of neighborhoods. In one year at current address, I have seen one patrol car on one occasion. Random checkpoints to identify DUI's. Intentionally drive through our neighborhoods. The drug/gang element downtown worries me. I also think some people hesitate to go downtown because they don't like the look of some folks on the pad mall. Can anyone sing and ask for $'s in the mall? Be more visible, patrol neighborhood areas as much as possible, more policemen if necessary. More Neighborhood Watch Newsletters - current about 2 per year. Would like more like 4 per year. 06/23/98 Don't know who to call when they see graffiti. Walking bridge over Riverside & Newton on the bridge abutment - graffiti has been there for years - Who's responsible for getting rid of it. Aisc the electrical pole on Mormon Trek & Benton seems to have a lot, but I don't know who to call. What message would you like the police department to hear? When the development on Mormon Trek is more nearly completed, I think there will be traffic problems resulting. This is especially true since Mormon Trek changes from four lanes to two shortly after the intersection with Abbey Lane. I think the Police Department should use it's influence to get Mormon Trek four- lane all the way to Highway 1. Eventually also, a traffic light will be needed at Mormon Trek and Abbey Lane. Think you're doing a great job! I've been stopped enough as a driver that I feel your presence everywhere! If you stop everyone as much as you've stopped me, you are really busy. Continue to police bars, etc. Protect pedestrians downtown. Enforce speed limits, etc. in residential neighborhoods. Great job at controlling cdme in general ~ Thanks! Doing a good job. Please continue minimal use of force-guns. Concentrate on neighborhoods with problems and downtown areas. Don't worry - be happy. I think you do well. I'm sorry you don't get the positives you deserve. Very happy with the Police Department. Should triple in size. Son just finished driver's ed and they all talk about not driving through University Heights because of speeding tickets. Wouldn't it be nice if Iowa City had enough police that the kids would say that about our department. 06/23/98 IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY TAYLOR DRIVE Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Drugs Loud stereo's in automobiles How could the police department better serve the community? Sounds to us (wife and me) that you are now on the right track on the Taylor Drive and Broadway situation What message would you like the police department to hear? There should be more of you on the streets of iowa City. Forget the library expansion and hire more cops. IOWA GIT```/ POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY N. MT. VERNON DRIVE Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Very satisfied - Quiet neighborhood Speeding traffic Speeding that occurs after school. Mt. Vernon Drive is a very wide street and a bus route. It seems to draw speeders from Washington to Rochester Avenue. Also, no one seems to obey the stop signs on Princeton at Mt. Vernon Drive in either direction. Quick response to emergency The only problem I really see is every school day when City High gets out, are the teenagers speeding down E. Washington from 1st Avenue. Speeding on Washington Street (east of 1st Avenue) Safety issues on First Avenue - so many children bike (drivers' courtesy to bicyclists) Bike patrol downtown Ped Mall a great idea - courteous (I've watched them interact with groups of kids) Safety issues at high school & junior high Speeding & Teen parties - neither is a serious problem in this neighborh(;~d at this time. Drag racing/speeding on Washington Street hills Loud stereo music .- Dogs left out all day that bark all day. Speeding ~--': .-:.. Failure to stop at stop signs Regular neighborhood patrols, especially late in the evening. Offer neighborhood seminars on vadous aspects of cdme prevention and schedule them at the Rec Center or some place where there will be enough room to accommodate larger groups. How could the police department better serve the community? Patrol area more often Officers in patrol cars look unfriendly Routine presence in area Place increased resources to control gangs involved in crime and drug distribution Outreach programs for kids and parents - issues of civility, mutual respect Neighborhood beat - familiar faces, like in the old days, conversations Neighborhood "town meetings" - communication of issues and solutions Community Policing - continue developing rapport, especially in specific hot spot areas, such as SE (Broadway) area, downtown Doing a good job already Continue to work on improving community visibility. Work with BIC to increase emphasis on bicycle safety. What message would you like the police department to hear? Seems to be more young children in neighborhood so speeders present larger problem. Overall very happy with Police Department. I would like to be able to approach an officer without being intimidated. I haven't had to do this, but would like to know it's possible. Each officer act as if a member of the community look and act friendly. Citizens and police are not enemies, yet I believe some police feel it's "us against the public". All things considered, I think they're doing a good job. We appreciate you and want to work with you for the benefit of all. The changes you have instituted are the dght ones - just need to continue. They are appreciated for all the good that they do for our community. You're doing a good job and we appreciate your efforts! IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY BANCROFT Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Gang related activities Drug trafficking Gun control Drug trafficking / weapon availability Gang activity and potential for violence Speeding traffic . How could the police department better serve the community? By explaining their fome in order to provide more constant and dependable protection. Providing information to our neighborhood that insures our safety, as well as aids us in helping remove the problem citizens. Have more police for continued visibility and frequent patrolling in neighborhood. What message would you like the police department to hear? Help us get rid of the gang members and drug users and sellers in our areal!! The neighborhood around Taylor - Davis - Sandusky continues to deteriorate. Although with increased patrols has at least temporarily quieted. In the past this was a quiet family neighborhood. Now there is visible drug activity, loitering, unkept property, group activity at Wetherby Park and lots of cruising sometimes at high rates of speed. It is rumored that there are high volumes of guns/weapons on Davis Street. Fo~' the first time in over 20 years I have lived here, I fear for the safety of children and adults alike. I would like to see the police stay very visible in this area, enough that patrol officers are known to the children and families that live here. IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY MIAMI DRIVE Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Gangs - members, violence, graffiti (By the way -- it's the foolish who say the extra-length patrolling after the gang problems around Taylor and Broadway was a waste and unnecessary. The majority appreciated knowing they were protected and looked after. Increase in gangs Drug availability Speeders - noisy cars Street storage - parking How could the police department better serve the community? Don't back down (or look like it) to minority voices such as homosexuals, animal rights groups, angry fathers, etc. Being too polite can be misconstrued as backing them or being bullied. What message would you like the police department to hear? I wish the media would stop giving the PD such a poor image. I guess that's what happens when society as a whole refuses to submit to authority. Also, on a totally different subject, DARE is blown way out of proportion. The department spends and has spent enormous, unsolicited funds to create a project that tickles ears and given warm fuzzies. I'm n.ot saying "ditch" the whole thing; just a major down scale to eliminate excess spending, i.e., overtime pay for officers, pizza parties, pencils (junk), renting rooms, etc. Personally, I think $20/hr (or however much they make) is a little too high of pay for an officer to stand at a school crossing. Doing a good job. IOWA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY UNKNOWN WHICH LOCATION Regarding your geographic neighborhood, what do you feel are the concerns the Iowa City Police Department should be addressing? (List in order of importance) Roaming bands of youth with seemingly nothing to do. Stopping youths from urinating on my bushes Cars speeding down the street Safety and security How could the police department better serve the community? Get out of the patrol cars once in a while Be more visable in the neighborhood Please continue to patrol any and all areas that seem necessary. Enfome the laws and regulations on the downtown plaza and surrounding area so it is safe and enjoyable for the Iowa City residents. I can appreciate the bicyclists wishing to have the motorists' respect their use of the public streets. Likewise, they should respect the motorists and obey the same traffic laws. What message would you like the police department to hear? The department from top to bottom needs moro training. Raise requirements for entry and retention. We have no criticism of the Iowa C~y Police Department.