Cops getting personal in troubled area

Karen Zekan

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 | 10:32 a.m.

Life is going to get better at Miller Plaza.

It's a commitment Metro Police officers are making, neighbors are supporting and the reason nearly 100 residents showed up Monday night to officially kick off a new program to drain crime from the trouble-plagued neighborhood.

"What we want to see is violent crime dropping and calls for service increasing," said Officer Steve Merriweather, instrumental with a similar effort in the community surrounding Sierra Vista and Cambridge streets blighted by drugs, gangs and shootings.

"Calls have been increasing here, in the Miller Plaza area, and it's a good sign. The community has more trust in us. Trust is what we're trying to build."

Officially known as the Neighborhood Officer Program, Metro's patrol, bike and gang officers are increasing the time they spend in the Miller Plaza area off Perry Street and East Flamingo Road and nearby Brown Homes a short jaunt from Sam's Town hotel-casino.

They're also showing up more often in the neighborhoods surrounding the Whitney Community Center on Missouri Avenue off Boulder Highway.

But it's not the "hook 'em and book 'em" mentality that's pulling the cops in; rather, it's positive policing -- getting to know the neighbors, spending time with the kids, and building a rapport with people who criminals might otherwise intimidate.

Metro's still hoping for a $25,000 grant to pay for overtime and equipment for the task, and until then they're getting by with what resources they have. They're adjusting their manpower to match the ebb and flow of crime in the Boulder Highway areas with other spots in town, and applauding fellow officers who volunteer on off-hours.

The idea is a good one, say the many residents who turned out for the kick-off party inside the Boys and Girls Club, 3900 Perry St.

"The police are doing a really good job," said Tomisa Hollis, who has lived in the area one year. She came with her husband and two young children to the party that included food, games, clowns, neighborhood kids's dance routines and raffle prizes.

"I really like the fact the police are getting to know the kids," Hollis said. "It's important. What they're trying to do, it's something to look forward to."

"When I became a police officer, I didn't want to be just arresting people. I wanted to be making a difference and making life better," said Officer Theresa Lethbridge, who is steering the Miller Plaza-Brown Homes program along with Officer Cindy May.

"The hardship for a lot of people here is feeling that no one cares. I'm a single mom and I can relate to what a lot of those people are going through. I want to make those people feel good, and know that we really do care."

It's meant more than just Lethbridge's on-the-clock time. She's spent her free time in the neighborhood becoming a familiar face and going to lunch with residents.

She's also given out her pager and cell phone numbers for them to call at any time, day or night, if trouble's going on or a question arises.

And until New Year's Eve when she damaged cartilage and ripped off her knee cap while pursuing a suspect, she was in the neighborhood almost daily for the past year getting the Neighborhood Officer Program on its feet around the Miller-Brown area which includes almost 200 government housing units.

May joined the steering effort a few months ago. Also of note is Officer Michael King, almost shot two years ago in the neighborhood.

"He swore he'd never come back," Lethbridge said of King. "The program has come a long way since we started, and crime is coming down."

Carolyn Moore, who's lived in the area two years, said the trouble goes in periods -- on for a few weeks, off for a few weeks. Troublemakers seem to be hanging out after midnight, especially near the mail boxes.

"The police are definitely making a positive impact," Moore said. "Meetings like this let neighbors meet other neighbors and meet the police. Hopefully something good will come from all of this. It's got to!"