ARCHIVES OF LEAD STORIES
July 7, 2005
Police take collaborative approach
Yawu Miller
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced a multi-pronged
approach to crime prevention during the city’s hot summer
months using collaborative strategies involving police, youth
workers and community-based organizations.
Menino told reporters gathered for a Fields Corner press conference
last week that he would expand his B-SMART program, which targets
areas with high incidences of violent crime, to Bunker Hill, Dudley
Square, Bromley Heath, Egleston Square and the Bowdoin/Geneva
area in Dorchester.
Under the program, police will work in conjunction with clergy,
street workers and workers at community-based organizations on
enforcement, prevention and intervention on issues ranging from
loud parties to gun violence.
“It’s more important to have a collaborative approach
than ever before,” Menino told the Banner, citing cutbacks
in funding for summer jobs, youth programming and police. “We
have to make sure the resources we use are coordinated.”
While clergy and workers at community-based organizations have
been making home visits to youth deemed at-risk as part of a long-standing
practice, Boston police are coordinating activities with other
branches of law enforcement.
“We’ve identified more than 800 kids who we think
could be potential perpetrators,” said Police Chief Kathleen
O’Toole, adding that police have made visits to more than
700 teenagers to meet with them and offer services.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has stationed
a squad at Boston Police headquarters to work the Special Investigations
Unit. Boston Police are also collaborating with the Municipal
Police on a mountain bike squad aimed at increasing visibility
and mobility in the city’s parks and other high-crime locations.
Flanked by motorcycle unit cops, O’Toole also announced
an operation titled Rolling Thunder aimed at creating a show of
force in high crime areas.
O’Toole also highlighted efforts undertaken by police to
provide safe alternatives for youth living in high-crime areas,
noting that police offer 108 programs for city teens, including
summer camp, fishing expeditions and basketball camps.
Larry Mays, who heads the city’s Human Services department,
says every program held for the benefit of the city’s teens
helps maintain public safety.
“When we have parks that are unoccupied, it’s dangerous,”
he commented. “We want to present positive activities in
places where there are negative activities.”
Community centers are also key to the city’s strategy, according
to Mays. Boston Centers for Youth and Families is implementing
a program dubbed Community Outreach and Opportunities for Leadership,
aimed at expanding the reach of community centers.
Selected community centers, including the Shelburne in Roxbury,
will remain open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Centers
will also host midnight basketball leagues.
The city is putting 21 street workers, 45 youth workers and 14
new outreach workers on the streets throughout the city.
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