Police hail Midvale Park residents' crime-fighting efforts
Tucson Citizen
Midvale Park, once a solid middle-class, relatively crime-free community on the city's Southwest Side, had been going downhill for at least 10 to 15 years, police say.
But that has been changing over the past year as more residents have taken a harder line on crime and have begun cooperating with police to fight such things as graffiti, burglary, theft, gang activity and drug stash houses, said Rene Gomez, a Tucson police lead police officer assigned to patrol in Midvale Park.
In recognition of their efforts, 14 members of the Midvale Park Homeowners Association are to be honored at their monthly meeting with letters of recognition signed by police Chief Richard Miranda. The letters are to be given this evening.
''Ten years ago that was a neighborhood headed downhill with graffiti, potential gang problems, burglary problems, stash houses,'' said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a police spokesman.
Monthly meetings used to draw about 10 people. Now it's common for 80 residents to attend, Gomez said.
Residents have become more watchful and are calling police when they see suspicious activity or know of criminal activity, Gomez said.
The lesson the rest of Tucson can learn from Midvale Park is that if residents get to know each other, band together against crime and cooperate with law enforcement, they can help reduce crime in their neighborhoods, Gomez said.
Those to be given letters of recognition are Joe Miller, Lucia Vindiola, Carol Romano, Janie Caldwell, Victor Cruz, Cecilia Vindiola, Anna Rivera, Brenda Johnson, Peter Rico, Susan LaMar, Tomas Montoya, Irma Montoya, Sarah Miller and Martin Bernal.
Joe Miller, the Midvale Park Neighborhood Association's president, said he is pleased to be recognized, but more so to see the others recognized.
Among the crime prevention steps Midvale Park has pursued are getting a grant from the county for $500,000 to improve street lighting, seeking city money for neighborhood park improvements and reviewing on a monthly basis crime statistics and police analysis of the numbers.
The sprawling community has 4,952 households, with an estimated 20,000 people in a community that covers some 2 to 3 square miles, Miller said.
By DAVID L. TEIBEL
Tucson Citizen
Midvale Park, once a solid middle-class, relatively crime-free community on the city's Southwest Side, had been going downhill for at least 10 to 15 years, police say.
But that has been changing over the past year as more residents have taken a harder line on crime and have begun cooperating with police to fight such things as graffiti, burglary, theft, gang activity and drug stash houses, said Rene Gomez, a Tucson police lead police officer assigned to patrol in Midvale Park.
In recognition of their efforts, 14 members of the Midvale Park Homeowners Association are to be honored at their monthly meeting with letters of recognition signed by police Chief Richard Miranda. The letters are to be given this evening.
''Ten years ago that was a neighborhood headed downhill with graffiti, potential gang problems, burglary problems, stash houses,'' said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a police spokesman.
Monthly meetings used to draw about 10 people. Now it's common for 80 residents to attend, Gomez said.
Residents have become more watchful and are calling police when they see suspicious activity or know of criminal activity, Gomez said.
The lesson the rest of Tucson can learn from Midvale Park is that if residents get to know each other, band together against crime and cooperate with law enforcement, they can help reduce crime in their neighborhoods, Gomez said.
Those to be given letters of recognition are Joe Miller, Lucia Vindiola, Carol Romano, Janie Caldwell, Victor Cruz, Cecilia Vindiola, Anna Rivera, Brenda Johnson, Peter Rico, Susan LaMar, Tomas Montoya, Irma Montoya, Sarah Miller and Martin Bernal.
Joe Miller, the Midvale Park Neighborhood Association's president, said he is pleased to be recognized, but more so to see the others recognized.
Among the crime prevention steps Midvale Park has pursued are getting a grant from the county for $500,000 to improve street lighting, seeking city money for neighborhood park improvements and reviewing on a monthly basis crime statistics and police analysis of the numbers.
The sprawling community has 4,952 households, with an estimated 20,000 people in a community that covers some 2 to 3 square miles, Miller said.
By DAVID L. TEIBEL
