tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post9209022023835634432..comments2024-03-28T15:34:48.727-07:00Comments on Redmond Neighborhood Blog: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in Redmond's Overlake area; and Audubon ElementaryBob Yoderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17538345340147926309noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-485581331425169493.post-7323165200771927352010-09-07T16:21:08.370-07:002010-09-07T16:21:08.370-07:00I applaud the Police Department’s efforts to keep ...I applaud the Police Department’s efforts to keep us informed; but I believe they should update their methods of communicating with Redmond residents. Is a meeting the best way to meet the objectives? I don’t think so; e-mail, the city web site, and blogs such as this one, should be used to expedite delivery and improve the quality of information about these serial crimes. The number of people who will attend the meeting is much smaller than the number who could learn about the problem via the other methods listed.<br /> <br />Providing basic crime prevention information is not the best way to create a partnership between the police department and the residents when there is an ongoing and serious crime problem. Citizens need the same type of information that the patrol officers and detectives need; it must be timely and specific to be most valuable. Rather than send an invitation with generic information, the invitation should include specifics about the criminal activity so that the information and tips from the public can be from a well-informed perspective. <br />For example, if I live in a neighborhood where these crimes are occurring and I know the specific information about time of day, day of week, suspect and vehicle description, type of property taken, method of entry to the residence, etc., I am much more likely to call the police with information about activities I observe that correlate well with those facts. While it is necessary and prudent to withhold information about the victim’s identity, the other details should be made available to the public. What is the risk?<br /> <br />A couple of years ago there was a report of someone in a white van in the neighborhood who was stopping and talking with young girls. Because the information was specific, I heard about this suspect description from multiple sources; friends, neighbors, PTA representatives, etc. Everyone was on the lookout for this vehicle. Better and more timely information disseminated to the public will result in better information to the police to assist in the apprehension of the criminal; and that should be the objective of this communication.Howard Fraziernoreply@blogger.com