SoutheastNeighborhoodStrategicActionPlan_January1995_Current

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Southeast Quality of Life Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan 2. Community Policing: Local police departments should implement community policing in each of the targeted sites. Under community policing, law enforcement works closely with the residents of the community to develop solutions to the problems of violent and drug -related crime. Community policing serves as the "bridge" between the "weeding" (law enforcement) and "seeding" (neighborhood revitalization) components. 3. Community Empowerment: Law enforcement, social services, the private sector, and the community must work together to prevent crime and violence from reoccurring after the "weeding" takes place by concentrating a broad array of human services - drug and crime prevention programs, educational opportunities, drug treatment, family services, and transportation. This plan will coordinate social services and community assistance programs, including those to expand drug treatment, provide job training, keep schools open in the afternoon and evening, offer alternative activities for high -risk youth, modernize public housing and improve the local community infrastructure. 4. Economic Empowerment. Federal, State, local and private sector resources must be focused on revitalizing distressed neighborhoods through economic development and by providing economic opportunities for neighborhood residents. Application to the Southeast Neighborhood Although South Bend is not currently in this program nor may it be able to qualify for the resources available under the Weed and Seed program, still the model is worth working with those elements which can be achieved at the present time. " Law Enforcement: Currently the South Bend Police Department through programs, such as NEST, do street sales (sweeps, reverse buys, buy -busts, etc.), work on special task forces, attempt to identify youth gangs, etc. Part of the problem is that only one patrol car with one officer is assigned per shift to the neighborhood. The police feel they are understaffed and need additional officers to patrol the community. They have shifted several officers from desk jobs and record keeping to the operations unit.