Queen Anne and Magnolia residents can go to sleep tonight feeling safe thanks to one woman's dedication to local neighborhoods, or at least until March 31, 2011.
Seattle Police Department (SPD) Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston has been making sure that local residents are armed with the knowledge and tools to combat crime for the last 24 years.
Now, these same neighborhoods, are faced with the possible elimination of her position due to budget cuts.
Johnston has worked for the SPD for 30 years, 24 of those have been spent specifically in crime prevention.
In 1973, the SPD started the crime prevention program due to a large spike in residential burglaries. The program was designed to educate and empower local residents and communities on safety and crime prevention in their neighborhoods. Nobody knew what the program's future held or how communities would welcome it.
Now, according to Johnston, there are 4,000 block watch programs all over Seattle with a portion of those in the Queen Anne and Magnolia areas.
We have a really strong block watch program here in Queen Anne," said Johnston.
After working in administration for six years, Johnston got an opportunity that would bring her knowledge and people skills to the local communities' fight against crime.
"We are a good face for the SPD," said Johnston. "Especially during a time of public uncertainty about the department. We are like the glue that bridges the gap between the neighborhoods and the police."
The Crime Prevention Department offers numerous services to local communities, such as auto theft prevention, business security, child safety, domestic violence issues, elder abuse complaints, emergency planning, home and neighborhood security, pedestrian and traffic issues, personal safety, property and identity theft, seasonal safety and support for survivors of crime, just to name a few.
These services are provided free-of-charge to the public, but with the possible elimination of these positions, those services may be in jeopardy.
"At one time, every neighborhood had a coordinator," said Johnston. "But after budget cuts in 2000 and in 2004 there are only seven of us.
"I was told on Sept. 27 that my position was being eliminated as of March, 2011 and was given a warm thank you and hand shake, my concern is what will happen to the neighborhoods."
With Seattle broken up into five police precincts, North, East, West, South and Southwest, the proposed cuts will eliminate three of the seven prevention coordinators, leaving the remaining four to handle all the offered services within the precincts local neighborhoods.
"We used to be a part of the SPD's budget," said Johnston, "but in Oct. 2009 we became funded through a Homeland Security Grant. On March 31, 2011, that grant will no longer be available."
Johnston expressed her concern over the residents of these neighborhoods who have come to rely on her when they have no one else to turn to.
"There is not a meeting we don't attend," Johnston continued. "We are up on all of the information about sex offenders, burglaries, robberies, arson investigations, any crime that will affect our neighborhoods. With the elimination of more coordinators, what will the future of crime prevention become?"
The following questions were posed to Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess, Councilwoman Jean Godden, Councilman Richard Conlin and Mayor Mike McGinn,
"What does the city of Seattle propose to do about the crime prevention programs if the three coordinator positions are eliminated? How are four coordinators going to handle five precincts, 4,000 block watch programs, residential and commercial crime surveys and still be able to act as liaisons between the Seattle Police Department and each community?
"Can you provide a statement regarding the elimination of those positions and what the city council will do to protect, educate and serve its communities?"
No response has been received as of the date this article was published.
The final decision regarding the elimination of coordinator positions will come Monday, Nov. 22, when the 2011-12 budget is adopted by the Seattle City Council.[[In-content Ad]]
