When the homicide tally in Hartford, Conn., hit 15 this spring -- well
on its way to surpassing last year's alarming death rate -- officials
became determined to put a stop to the street violence. Mayor Eddie Perez
convened two task forces to address the issue, with remarkable results.
"We have seen a drop in overall crime citywide," he says. "And
already, we've had a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in property values
in the city, which shows people are feeling good about it."
He describes one as a "tough-on-crime" task force; it consists
of police officers and other law enforcement officials. The second is
a community-based task force composed of religious, civic, community,
and business leaders who work on the distinct issues that contribute to
crime in the city's neighborhoods.
"We've had talent shows and basketball tournaments, but we've also
had community-wide discussions on gun violence and zero-tolerance policies,"
says Perez.
Perez's approach relies heavily on faith-based groups to influence their
members. And in areas where groups such as the NAACP already have established
a working relationship with a given parish, Perez says, churches collaborate
with other civic organizations to define and solve community problems.
In the program's first few months, volunteers have monitored "nuisances"
such as noise and parking violations, provided general surveillance to
support police efforts, and used a tipline to report concerns, Perez says.
Eventually, he expects a fully trained, volunteer-based citizen patrol
will walk the streets of Hartford, reminding people about the dangers
of gun violence and other crimes.
