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Notes from Huntsville Police Department Community Leaders Meeting

9/17/2014

 
July 30, 2014 at South Precinct

 1.  Officer Marcus Hendrix spoke about the Safe Streets Initiative. This included an emphasis on speeding in neighborhoods. Ironically most of the drivers cited for speeding are the residents themselves. That was the case with the speed checks on Lily Flagg Drive.

 2.  Officer Hendrix then described the Blossomwood Initiative. He explained the criteria for future neighborhood initiatives include: high home ownership statistics (home owners have a vested interest in safe neighborhoods.), a baseline of crime statistics, and schools access for neighborhood meetings.

The Sandhurst neighborhood was last year’s Initiative.  Some crime stats (2013 vs 2014) for the Blossomwood Initiative were impressive:

  • Burglaries – down 40%
  • Thefts - down 58%
  • B&E Auto - down 50%

The challenge for the Blossomwood home owners is to maintain and sustain this success.

3.  The HPD is now focusing their Safe Streets effort on the Golf Road area as well as Green Mountain, Lily Flagg, Chaney Thompson, and Mt. Gap Roads. A 58  year old male was cited for traveling 76 mph in a 25 mph zone recently. He resides in the neighborhood.

4.  The HPD is working more closely with pawn shops to identify suspects who try to sell stolen lawn mowers, etc.  In line with this effort, the HPD asks all citizens to report all thefts and criminal activity.

5.  The HPD recently were able to make the residents of the Cambridge Court Apartments very happy by reducing criminal activities near them. These apartments are located off Logan Drive near the Memorial Parkway.

6.  Officer Ryan Burch also spoke of the importance of the Safe Streets Initiative. He cited a recent call by residents to the HPD that resulted in the arrest of 3 suspects in the Blossomwood neighborhood. But be sure to call the non-emergency number (256-722-7100) or the emergency number 911  (if a crime is in progress). Do Not Call the Community Relations Officers. They will probably not be at their desks and can’t respond to a call.

7.  Officer Burch mentioned that some citizens are not reporting automobile break-ins because they are embarrassed to say they left their car unlocked and lost their GPS or other items left in the open.  The HPD recovered a stolen I Pad but had no record that the owner reported it stolen. The HPD identified the owner who then made a report of theft so that the HPD could make a case against the suspect who had the I Pad. Please report all thefts – even if the value of the item is small, e.g., that 10 year old lawn mower that was taken out of an open garage. 

8.         Captain Harris closed the meeting by saying the HPD is now proactive and not reactive in the fight against criminal activity. He again asked us to report all suspicious activity and all thefts and to keep the HPD informed.  He said the HPD is replacing its cars with Ford Taurus vehicle. Some will have lights on the roof and some will not! Also the department will soon receive SUVs.

9. The next Community Leaders Meeting will be on October 15, 2014.



Huntsville 2013 Crime Stats - Provided by Huntsville Police Department

2/18/2014

 

NEWS RELEASE 

HUNTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
815 Wheeler Avenue

Huntsville, Alabama  35801  

Lewis Morris
Chief of Police
(256) 427-7001


Dr. Harry Hobbs
Communications Relations Officer
(256) 427-7043


2013 Crime Stats Show Declines in Huntsville

Huntsville, Alabama (February 18, 2014) FBI crime statistics released this week show overall crime in Huntsville followed a national trend and decreased for the first six months of 2013. Huntsville statistics for the entire 2013 year show crime dropped in most major categories, including a 14 percent decline in robbery, 12 percent drop in burglary, and a reported decrease in rape in 2013. There were one percent drops in larceny, auto theft, and aggravated assault.

Overall our crime statistics show we remain one of the safest cities in Alabama and in the country,” said Police Chief Lewis Morris. “It also shows that our Community Watch and public safety programs are making a difference in the vigilance of our citizens.” In addition to a drop in property crimes, police also worked to recover about 27 percent of stolen property and about 80 percent of stolen cars.

Chief Morris, however, says there is still work to do. Homicides were up last year, rising from twelve murders in 2012 to 25 in 2013. Police have successfully solved and made arrests in 80 percent of the cases and attribute the majority of the homicides to street level drug crime. Huntsville’s murder rate still remains well below other comparable cities, but Chief Morris says one homicide is one too many.


“The majority of the homicides are connected to a small network of known drug offenders, and we have been working to crack down on the dealers,” said Morris, who reported a 24 percent increase in drug arrests last year. He says a related statistic is the 73 percent increase in assault on police officers.

“When you see an increase in officer assaults, in homicide, and then drug related arrests,” you get a pretty clear picture of where you need to focus your efforts,” said Chief Morris.  “Our drug task force is working on the root cause of the problem, and that is the trafficker.”

HPD says citizens can help by calling the police department tip line with any information on suspected crime, particularly drug activity. Police credit the city’s highly active, 164 Community Watch organizations, as key eyes and ears in their respective neighborhoods. “It’s all about working together for a safer and better Huntsville,” said Chief Morris. 
 

STAC K-9 Sadie and Upcoming Fundraiser

1/29/2013

 
Picture
Press release from our STAC Supervisor
 
On January 16, 17, and 18, 2013,  Agents with the Madison-Morgan County  HIDTA Task Force (STAC) working with the United States Postal Inspectors conducted a joint operation to slow the trafficking of drugs through  the U.S. mail service.  STAC K-9 Sadie (pictured) worked
to identify  numerous packages which contained a total of more than 43 pounds of marijuana.  Agents will continue to follow up on these packages and arrests may be pending.  The  Madison-Morgan HIDTA Task Force will continue to work with the U.S. Postal Inspectors in a effort to interdict the drugs which are shipped by mail, and to prosecute those  who commit these crimes.

Sgt.  Dewayne McCarver
HIDTA Task Force Commander
Madison-Morgan County
Strategic Counterdrug Team

Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser 

Huntsville South will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast Saturday, March 2nd, from  7:00am - 9:30am at Applebee's on South Memorial Parkway. Pancakes,  sausage, milk, juice & coffee will be served.  This event is a  fundraiser that benefits our organization.  Proceeds will be used on various upcoming south Huntsville projects.  Tickets are $5.00 per  person and
can be purchased in advance from any Huntsville South Board  member.   Feel free to request tickets via email or you can purchase tickets  online.

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Huntsville, AL 35815
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