City takes aim at crime at apartments

Police officials are hoping to join with area apartment owners in a new program aimed at reducing crime and increasing property values.

Officer Brian Fleming, coordinator of the Crime Free Multi-Housing program, said the three-phase program is inexpensive and has been used worldwide with proven results.

"It's a proactive program," Fleming said, adding, "It is anti-crime."

The program seeks to establish open communication between the owners and managers of rental properties, their tenants and police. By encouraging property owners to discourage crime, Fleming said, crime rates should go down and property values will go up.

Some properties participating in the program have reported a 70 percent reduction in police calls for service over previous years, according to the International Crime Free Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding crime free programs.

The program began in Arizona in 1992 and has spread to nearly 2,000 cities around the world.

Fleming estimated startup costs for the department at $500 or less, mostly printing and postage costs for literature and community mailings.

Evicting criminals

The program involves three phases. After each, participants receive a certificate to display at their property.

The first phase, a free eight-hour class, will educate property owners and managers about how to recognize gang and drug activity, and what to do when they see it. Participants will also learn about an optional lease addendum that, if used, would allow landlords to evict tenants convicted of certain types of crime.

Fleming said the class will first be offered in late May and again later this year.

Alderman Mike Karbowski said he hopes educating landlords will reduce evictions.

"A lot of the landlords do want good tenants," Karbowski said. "This will possibly give them some tools to do some prescreening."

For the second phase, police will evaluate participants' properties to make sure buildings are equipped with things like proper locks, peepholes and adequate interior and exterior lighting.

In order to pass the second phase, building owners may need to upgrade their buildings. Fleming said these improvements are usually inexpensive but would be paid for by the property owners.

"It may be minor, it may be a little bit more than that," Fleming said. "We're not asking for a ton."

The final phase requires property owners to hold annual safety meetings where residents can learn about the program and get to know each other, their management and area police officers.

Getting the word out

Fleming said the Police Department does not yet have any participation goals for the program and is currently working to increase awareness.

"We're going to take this a step at a time and hopefully get landlords and apartment managers on board and work together with everybody," Fleming said.

City council members have responded enthusiastically, offering to help police canvass their neighborhoods to spread the word.

Fleming said he also wants other area communities to get involved. The St. Francis Police Department has already expressed interest, he said.

Isral DeBruin can be reached at (262) 446-6608.

FYI

For more information about the Crime Free Multi-Housing program, visit southmilwaukeepd.org, crime-free-association.org/multi-housing.htm or call officer Brian Fleming between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at (414) 768-8060.