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Small group in Childs Park ready to stand up to crime

About 10 people are ready to revive a crime watch after years of having none. They'll seek recruits at a first meeting Monday.

By ALEX LEARY
Published September 25, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Sitting in back of the Childs Park recreation center, Greg Pierce heard a familiar refrain: We have to do something about the dope dealers, thieves and thugs.

"I just shook my head and said, "God, I used to be like that,' " Pierce said. "When the signup sheet came by, I just had to pass. I couldn't sign up for one more disappointment."

Pessimism runs deep in Childs Park, and people talking that recent night about starting a neighborhood crime watch were keenly aware of past efforts that fizzled for various reasons, not the least of which was fear of retaliation.

Yet despite the obstacles, a group of community leaders are willing to give it another try.

Pierce took a pass, but about 10 people have pledged to begin a neighborhood crime watch. Backers hope several others will join the core group at an organizational meeting Monday night at the recreation center, at 4301 13th Ave. S. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

Louise Peterson, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, said the idea grows out of frustration, not only with crime but of what she views as a poor police response.

"We're sick and tired of it," she said. "We can't even go out at night past 6 o'clock."

Only a few days ago, she said, a friend of hers was nearly carjacked. Neighborhood crime watch is a fairly simple concept. Residents learn from police how to make their homes more secure and watch out for one another and report suspicious activity. Block parties and crime prevention programs are staged. Valuables are marked to discourage theft and help police return stolen property.

In some areas, "citizen patrols" are conducted in which residents walk or drive through the neighborhood to report questionable activity.

Crime watch is nothing new in St. Petersburg or, for that matter, the United States. Childs Park is notable, however, because it is home to some of the city's worst problems, and a crime watch has not existed there in at least a decade.

In May, youths who had gathered at the park in the 5-square-mile neighborhood southwest of downtown clashed with police in apparent protest of the shooting of 19-year-old Jarrell Walker by a Pinellas sheriff's deputy.

Some community leaders said the police need to do more to reduce drug dealing and street crime.

Out of that grew the idea of restarting the neighborhood crime watch.

"You get tired of the same thing," said Mildred Reece, a member of the community group, who is leading the effort. "Maybe if we put these signs up, it will help a little."

You've probably seen the signs in other neighborhoods. Against a white background is a badge with POLICE at the top in bold and "neighborhood crime watch" underneath. Two people stand in the center, arms linked.

As Reece knows, a sign alone will not deter crime. For the program to work in Childs Park, it will take a dedicated group of individuals who will meet regularly. The level of involvement will be discussed Monday. "In order to defeat crime, you have to have cooperation," said Officer Johnny Harris, who coordinates crime watch for the Police Department.

One of his messages at the meeting will be that there are ways for people to communicate discreetly with police about drug dealers or other problems.

"We try to put them at ease," Harris said. There are crime tip numbers to call, he said, and residents can directly contact their community police officer.

Fear of retaliation was partly why the crime watch died out a decade ago. "People were afraid to talk," said Mattie Wright, a property owner who was involved in the former program.

While some groups conduct crime walks, Reece does not envision the group on patrol. That's the job of the community police officers in Childs Park, she said.

These days she sees fewer of these specialized officers, whose job is to engender trust as much as make arrests. Without them, she said, how can crime truly be defeated?

It's a complaint shared by neighborhood leaders across St. Petersburg, who say community police officers are being drawn away for more patrol-like duty. Police Chief Chuck Harmon has responded that his goal is to address problems citywide but that he remains committed to community policing.

Greg Pierce's pessimism is fueled by this perceived lack of law enforcement.

"I can't tell you the last time I saw a police officer," he said. "The sad (fact) of it is, we're not BayWalk or Midtown. If you're not in those locations, no one wants to see you and no one wants to hear from you."

A decade ago when a crime watch existed, people lost interest because the efforts did not produce results, he said. He's not sure why that would change now.

Pierce, who is still involved with the neighborhood association, said it is disheartening when the community police officer or city representative does not show up for meetings. "We're not seeing a commitment or support," he said.

Still, he wishes the new crime watch well.

[Last modified September 25, 2005, 02:15:40]