Press Releases

Local Neighborhoods Stand Up to Crime

Salinas Community and Police Officers Step Up Neighborhood Watch Efforts

SALINAS, CA – June 25, 2009

Salinas residents are taking back the safety of their neighborhoods—block by block. Already this year, residents have seen a 67% increase in the number of gun-related gang crimes in the city. Working together with the police department, community members are standing up to local crime by organizing Neighborhood Watch teams on their blocks.

“We used to get requests to form new Neighborhood Watch groups once or twice a month,” said Salinas Police Commander Dan Perez. “Now we’re flooded with calls. Just in the month of May we did ten workshops, with more scheduled, that train residents on how to put together a Neighborhood Watch that works for their area. We’ve also been working with local businesses to start a Business Watch in Old Town Salinas.”

The recent increase in Neighborhood Watch efforts is due both to community demand and proactive police efforts to form new groups in every part of the city. “Police officers are walking door-to-door to talk with residents about the program and encourage them to become block captains,” said Perez. “We’re getting a great response from the community.”

“The increase in Neighborhood Watch meetings is consistent with Salinas residents continuing to mobilize and take back their city,” said Mayor Dennis Donohue. “I am pleased to see this trend.”

On Tuesday June 23^rd, over eighty Monterey Park residents responded to neighborhood flyers inviting them to hear Community Service Officer Jenny Bryant describe how they could set up their own Neighborhood Watch program.

“The violence, crime and drug dealing in Salinas is out of control,” said Brian Foucht, Monterey Park resident, who organized the meeting together with Caleb Randall. “We are working to ensure that our homes, parks and neighborhoods are protected.”

According to Police Chief Louis Fetherolf, community involvement is an essential component to reduce crime that is plaguing Salinas.

“With more than 3,500 gang members and associates on our streets, we need to come together to create a safer Salinas,” said Fetherolf. “Community members reporting crimes and providing anonymous tips is the single best way to help our police officers catch the perpetrators and reduce criminality throughout the city.”

“Our community realizes it is every citizen’s responsibility to do something about gangs,” said Brigid McGrath-Massie, who serves on the Police Community Advisory Committee. “With all of us working together—police officers, local clergy, schools, non-profits, and everyday citizens—we are finding ways to make an impact.”

Chief Fetherolf has stressed that Neighborhood Watch and other crime prevention efforts are just a part of a solution which must include hiring more police officers. In Salinas, there are more than 18 gang members for every one police officer. Fifteen police officer positions are currently unfilled due to lack of funds.

“We need more police officers out there in the community—on local streets and around parks and schools,” said Fetherolf. “Our residents deserve that level of support to reduce the threat criminals pose to public safety.”

To form a Neighborhood Watch group in your area, please call Salinas Community Service Officer Jenny Bryant at 831-758-7044.

There have been recent cases where alert neighbors have called police and resulted in the apprehension of suspects for prowling and burglary. Get involved in your neighborhoods, call Neighbor Watch coordinator CSO Bryant.

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