Council focusing on crime, safety in Iowa City

IOWA CITY - The addition of a crime prevention officer may be helping, but residents in the troubled southeast area of the city want more to be done to address concerns about their safety.

The City Council is to focus on those worries at its work session tonight and discuss what steps the city should take to cope with rising reports of crime in the area.

Among the incidents over the past few months are the unsolved slaying Oct. 8 of property owner John Versypt, 64, of Cordova, Ill.; a shooting Aug. 9 at the Los Cocos bar that has since closed; a string of armed robberies of pizza delivery drivers; and reports of juvenile crime.

Council member Amy Correia said among the options are:

-A juvenile detection bureau that would allow officers with special skills to work with youths and their families;

-A crime prevention unit to educate landlords about trouble tenants and build community watch programs; and

-Increased community policing to improve relationships between officers, landlords and residents.

Those are ideas Correia brought back from a recent trip to Davenport, where increased crime prevention efforts are under way.

“I do think the city has responded to citizens' concerns,” Correia said. “But there is no quick fix to any neighborhood.”

She said the issues may be ongoing, but addressing them from a more collaborative approach between the city, the police and residents would help the city find a new approach.

“It's a lot about building relationships,” she said.

Police Chief Sam Hargadine said he knows more attention to crime is needed throughout the city, but he added he has sought funding for more officers for years.

Budget cuts, and a lack of community support for implementing more fees - like the upcoming council decision regarding a 2 percent franchise fee on natural gas and electric services - has made it impossible to increase staff, Hargadine said, adding that the small tax increase would provide six more officers.

“Everybody wants more services, but no one wants to pay for them,” he said.

He said Officer Jorey Bailey - assigned to the department's new crime prevention position - is limited in what he can do to communicate with neighborhood groups and organize programs.

Hargadine said using volunteers for the neighborhood watch program is an option available now, but other initiatives could be taken if more money were available.

Hargadine said landlords have even offered space for a satellite police station at no cost, but staffing would be a problem.

“I can't guarantee staff all the time,” Hargadine said. “If you can't staff it, it causes more vandalism.”

While he does think Bailey's position has helped the exchange of ideas, Hargadine said the city could certainly take tips from the Davenport neighborhood crime prevention unit that has six officers, a supervisor and a load of volunteers.

In addition, Davenport police have a volunteer group helping run criminal background checks for landlords - a program for which the Iowa City Police Department is accepting applications.

“It's been a struggle the last few years just getting (police) on the streets,” Hargadine said.

Southeast-area resident Brandi Mastain said she thinks the problems will persist without a significant increase in the police presence - something she said is vastly lacking across neighborhoods.

“The police can't make a difference without more help,” Mastain said.

She said she had hopes that her neighborhood would get cleaned up so her house could be sold, but she fears the current state of affairs will keep buyers away. Mastain also said she thinks the city is a few years too late on addressing the issues.

“It's too overwhelming for a neighborhood watch program,” she said, adding that she isn't quite sure what can be done to help people now.

“We're just scootin' by,” Mastain said. “We're drowning.”