Police and citizens band together to fight crime

The Criswell Park neighborhood was the site of a community National Night Out Tuesday evening.  The Alachua Police Department coordinated the effort with local reidents to send the message that they won't tolerate criminal activity. 

Citizens living in the Criswell Park area in conjunction with Alachua Police used National Night Out (NNO) to help stomp out crime in their neighborhood.  Just across the street from a hangout known as “the tree,” local police and citizens gathered at Criswell Park Tuesday evening to send a message that they won’t tolerate criminal activity.

There seems to be no question that Criswell Park was a strategically selected location for this year’s NNO event which is designed to raise awareness of preventative ways of reducing crime and drugs.

Alachua Police Department (APD) Detective Carrie Lund said, “This area has a high rate of crime and we want our citizens here to know that as police officers, we can help them.”

The Tuesday evening get-together included grilled hotdogs and snacks.  For the young and young at heart, Christ Central Ministries brought along the popular Silly Bandz and a balloon artist who created elaborate flowers, swords, hats and everything in between.  Joining in on the evening’s campaign were several familiar faces including former Alachua mayor Jean Calderwood, as well as current Mayor Gib Coerper and commissioners Orien Hills and Ben Boukari, Jr.

Led by APD Chief Joel DeCoursey and City Manager Traci Cain, area residents took to the streets and made a symbolic walk around the block, including the ‘the tree.’

DeCoursey said the walk was to serve as a symbolic gesture to the community that neighbors were united with law enforcement in fighting crime in the area.

The quadrant of the City of Alachua immediately surrounding ‘the tree’ does indeed have a high crime rate when compared to that of other areas of the city.  With roughly 30 crimes reported in the last three months, the neighborhoods around the local hangout have about twice as many crimes reported as any other quadrant of the city’s core area.

For years, ‘the tree’ has been regarded as a drug haven, but many who gather there argue that a few bad apples have ruined the bunch.  In recent discussions over the hangout’s future, some people have said it’s the only place they have to go and it’s a place they enjoy meeting with friends, but that they aren’t engaging in criminal activity.  

Historically, however, ‘the tree’ has been the magnet for those committing crimes throughout the city.  On occasion, crimes are reported at ‘the tree,’ but more commonly, it’s the place police have found those they believe to be responsible for crimes committed surrounding the hangout.

Shelisia Jenkins, who helped to organize Tuesday evening’s NNO cookout and neighborhood walk said she is hopeful that her neighbors will begin to push away the criminal elements in her community.

“This event is about bringing people together and showing them that our police are approachable, and to allow them to get familiar with the officers.”

Jenkins, who grew up in that neighborhood, said many of the people responsible for the crime in the area know she’s always watching and not afraid to call the police if she sees something suspicious.  And that’s exactly what she wants her neighbors to do as well.

Lund was careful to note that the area surrounding ‘the tree’ might have a higher than average crime rate, but it’s not the only place crime occurs.

“Crime happens in every neighborhood and any of Alachua’s neighborhoods can participate in the NNO campaign.”

Anyone interested in becoming involved in similar crime watch programs can register online at nationaltownwatch.org or contact the Alachua Police Department at 386-462-1396.