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2009 Mt. Vernon

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     Entering its third week, the City of Mount Vernon's Operation PROTECT is already showing positive short-term results. Focusing on the south side section of Mount Vernon bordered by South 5th and South 10th Avenues and West 2nd and West 5th Streets, Operation PROTECT is a comprehensive approach to crime reduction that involves a concentrated community policing effort, an outreach of city services and, most importantly, community involvement.

Some Activities and Accomplishments Include: 

• City's Consumer Protection department has inspected retail establishments and determined that, other than a small amount of outdated items, stores in the PROTECT zone are generally in compliance with consumer regulations.
• Mount Vernon Youth Bureau's acclaimed and successful Step Up! Youth outreach and gang prevention program was reintroduced within the PROTECT zone with over a dozen area youth participating in the innovative Youth-Police Initiative.
• Graffiti has been removed from a number of sites including the Doles Community Center, area playgrounds and other public structures.
• A community health fair was held at the Doles Community Center.
• Abandoned vehicles have been removed from city-owned property.
• Litter is being cleaned regularly along the West 3rd Street corridor.
• Public playground on South 7th Avenue has been reclaimed for children by making it more child-friendly and less attractive to drug dealers and gang members.
• Although no hard statistics have been compiled for the first two weeks of the operation, both police officers and residents already feel much safer within the PROTECT zone.
• Mount Vernon Police Officers are working with local churches to facilitate a Gang Awareness Training for parents and a Gang Resistance training for youth.
• Police Officers walking the Operation PROTECT zone have made numerous visits to the Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club, the Doles Community Center and the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center. These visits allow residents, and particularly the youth, to get to know the officers in a casual, non-confrontational manner which we hope will develop into long-lasting relationships between the officers and the residents. In addition to visits to these facilities, officers have had many positive, random encounters with residents which have led to both parties seeing each other in a more positive light.
• By MVPD count, there are 24 abandoned vehicles in the Levister Towers parking lot. Due to lack of resources, Levister Towers management is unable to remove these vehicles and free up these much needed spaces for their residents. The MVPD is working with their management to remove these vehicles, some of which have already been removed.

     The success of Operation PROTECT has little to do with police or city efforts, but is contingent upon community activity and support. Anyone who lives in the Operation PROTECT zone who would like to create a block or neighborhood association should call Hank Miller at 665-2361.