Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Residents, police join forces Roberts turned the issue over to a special enforcement unit team dubbed Residents and Police for Innovative Deployment, or RAPID. The unit includes a traffic team, school resource officers and the department’s bike patrol.
“(RAPID’s) purpose is to identify the underlying causes of crime and solve the problem, not just treat the symptoms,” Roberts said. Morton said she sees the underlying causes of Murphysburg’s problems as an inordinate number of people up to no good traveling the neighborhood’s alleys at night. Low-rent housing in blighted areas surrounding the district contributes to a high percentage of people with alcohol- and drug-abuse problems among the foot traffic, she said. The availability of liquor and beer at commercial outlets on nearby West Seventh Street exacerbates the problem, she said. Many residents of the neighborhood already have home-security systems and some are adding video-surveillance equipment to assist in law enforcement, Morton said. Cpl. Ryan West, supervisor of the RAPID team, said Murphysburg’s ills call for “a multifaceted approach” that entails an analysis of crimes reported in the neighborhood, a search for patterns to those crimes and cross-checking information on suspects possibly involved. And a step-up of police presence, he said. “Police bicycles are a good way to address that,” West said. “Since we started doing that we have made several arrests.” District residents say they’ve noticed the step-up in both officers on bikes and patrol cars in their neighborhood. Callihan said he realizes law enforcement is a two-way street. “I think people here have got the impression there’s no need to call the police because they won’t do anything about it,” he said. He said his experience this past month has taught him that’s a perception that’s not fair to the Police Department and can be changed by residents’ action. He said if the police chief and officers are willing to try to make a difference, he wants to help. Consequently, Callihan recently got appointed to the department’s Civilian Advisory Board. The Murphysburg Residential Historic District includes Sergeant Avenue from First Street to Seventh Street and Moffet Avenue from First Street to Fourth Street. Beginnings Patrick Murphy, a former Joplin mayor, purchased 40 acres in 1871 covering what is now First to Fourth streets and from Main Street to Byers Avenue. The area was named Murphysburg but in 1873 it was merged with Joplin City and incorporated as Joplin.) Source: www.4statearts.com 
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