Dozens of people at an east Tampa meeting urge authorities to keep the pressure on criminals after a 12-day sweep ends.
By TAMARA LUSH
Published May 20, 2003
TAMPA - Rodney Sesler grew up in Jackson Heights, left home to join the Army and returned to his neighborhood 20 years later.
Now 43, Sesler says he sometimes feels less safe on his own block than he did during his days in Desert Storm.
Which is why Sesler applauds the city's initiative - dubbed "Operation Commitment" - to rid east Tampa of drugs and criminals. Police, code enforcement and drug counselors are halfway through their 12-day sweep.
In a town hall-style meeting Monday night to update residents on the progress, Sesler and others pleaded with police and city officials to keep pressure on the criminals after the initiative ends.
"As soon as it's over, those drug dealers are going to be right back out there," he said. "We have to stop it somewhere."
City Council member Kevin White, who represents east Tampa, convened the meeting at the St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. It drew about 150 residents. Mayor Pam Iorio and Chief Bennie Holder attended, along with other officials.
In the first eight days of the sweep, police have arrested 246 people. Code enforcement officers have written 400 violations. And more than 800 grams of cocaine and marijuana have been seized.
Holder said that in the past, police targeted a neighborhood in one- or two-day sweeps, then moved on. This time, counselors and code enforcement officers are lingering in the neighborhood to help.
"Crime is not just a law enforcement problem," he said during the two-hour meeting. "It takes the whole community."
For the most part, the residents at the meeting were thrilled to have a police presence in their neighborhood, which is plagued with drug dealers, prostitutes and vacant lots filled with trash.
But many residents had some very specific suggestions.
They said the city should trim many of the larger trees; build a bigger recreation center in the Sulphur Springs area, where there are more than 2,300 kids; and boost the street light wattage.
"Crime and darkness go hand in hand," said Cheryl Prince.
The Rev. Richard Woodbury also urged residents to do their part.
"If you clean up debris, criminals will flee," he said. "You can't wait for the city to do everything. It's our neighborhood."
