OFF THE WIRE
BY: EILEEN ZAFFIRO
Source: news-journalonline.com
DAYTONA BEACH -- The city has a new program to get more aggressive than ever battling crime and code enforcement violations, a program that, as far as local police officers can determine, is the first of its kind nationwide.
Daytona Beach police have merged their crime statistics, code enforcement statistics and mapping system to pinpoint problem areas and unearth lawbreaking that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. The facts and figures were always logged, but never consolidated in a way that would reveal trends, problem areas and a quick look at the status of multiple cases.
"We want to make our agency more effective and accountable," said Deputy Chief Steve Beres. "It will improve the quality of life in our community."
Police plan to use the same "relentless follow-up" with code enforcement that they use to attack crime, Beres said. But it's not just about catching lawbreakers. It's also about improving properties, he said.
"We're looking for compliance," Beres said. "We're not looking to take people to the code enforcement board. ... You don't want to see junk vehicles in front of your house."
The new program was unveiled Monday night at a meeting at the Police Department. The few dozen people who attended the meeting, including landlords and three city commissioners, saw chart after chart breaking down numbers by different types of violations, various areas of the city and different time periods.
The hot spots for crime so far have proven to be hot spots for code violations, Beres said. One of those hot spots is in the area bordered by Ridgewood Avenue, Nova Road, George Engram Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue. Another trouble spot runs from University Avenue on the beachside north to the city limits.
"I think it's great," said City Commissioner Pam Woods, who has long been a strong advocate of code enforcement. "I always said you can't separate crime and code."
The program has shown how seemingly innocuous things like graffiti can help police catch criminals. Gang graffiti recently painted on a sea wall helped police figure out that a Latin Kings gang member was marking territory for his gang.
"We photograph all graffiti and we catalog it and use it for prosecution of gangs," said Police Chief Mike Chitwood.
Police have also used code enforcement violations to push the Outlaws motorcycle gang out of one Daytona Beach neighborhood, and are in the process of doing the same thing with the Outlaws' new clubhouse on Tanglewood Street.
Some maintenance code complaints have also been connected to drug cases.
While looking for violations dealing with zoning, junk cars, tall grass, occupational licenses, maintenance, abandoned buildings and animals, police will also have their eyes open for crime.
"We're trying to get the most out of what we have," Beres said, noting he has just nine code enforcement officers to cover the city.
He noted police do search for problems but they also rely on residents to be their "eyes and ears" and report violations.
There are no costs created by the new system other than some additional staff time, but once the program is fully up and running that should be minimal, Beres said.
Police will hold meetings on the new program the last Tuesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Police Department. Night meetings will occasionally be scheduled at different locations throughout the city, Beres said.
