Transcript ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

ARLINGTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Problem-Oriented Policing
North District Update and Initiatives
May 2007
Overview
 Action History – North Watson Motels
 Results/Current Status; Legal Action
 Operation Spotlight
 Watson/Division Corridor
 Comprehensive Initiative
 Tools Needed
 Ordinances
 Other Innovative Tools
 Recommended Next Steps
Action History – Statistics
 High volume of calls exhausted police resources
 Three motels on North Watson
 1175 N. Watson – Executive Inn
 1181 N. Watson – American Inn
 1195 N. Watson – Arlington Inn
 October 24, 2005 – March 20, 2006:
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Narcotics reports/arrests – up 267%
Total arrests – up 115%
Total calls for service – up 40%
87% increase in Part I crimes (aggravated assault,
robbery)
Action History – Complaints
 Tourists/visitors and their
children were being
approached by drug dealers
and prostitutes
 Guests would request refunds
to find a safer location, only
to be denied by motel
management
Action History – Initial Meetings
 Nuisance Abatement Team
 Police, Fire, Code Enforcement, Housing, Legal,
and Municipal Court
 Meetings held with property owners Aug. 2005
 All 3 locations continued inattentive and/or
non-compliant position
Action History – “The Sign”
 To alert visitors/community
members about this focus area, a
large sign was placed that read,
“High Crime Location, Report
Activity, Call 911.”
 Significant media attention
 Many contacts and partnerships
were created
Results – Current Status
 Reduction in drug calls (62.5%) and total calls
(31.8%)
 However, current crime rate at these 3 hotels
remains more than 7 times higher than other nearby
hotels
 1,303 calls at these 3 hotels vs. a total of 178 calls at four
nearby hotels (Lamar/Brookhollow Plaza)
 Management continues pattern of non-compliance
1175 N. Watson – Recent Violation
 One recent violation
 Citation issued for smoke
detector being removed
 Annual re-inspection
to be conducted soon
 Citations will be issued
for noted violations that
have not been corrected
1181 N. Watson – Recent Violations
 8 life safety code violations /3 code violations
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Fire lane not maintained
High grass
Unclean premises
Too many banners
On site car sales
without permit
1195 N. Watson – Recent Violations
 7 life safety code violations/2 code violations
 Stagnant pool water
 Inoperable emergency
phone
 “No Drugs” sign
altered
Legal Action
 Cases prepared by Nuisance Abatement Team
 1181 N. Watson and 1195 N. Watson
 Texas Attorney General accepted cases and filed law
suits
 Owners of both locations claim general denial
 Cases move into “discovery” phase
 If cases are successful, courts may close locations for
up to one year. Property owners may post a bond and
continue to operate under court ordered stipulations
Operation Spotlight
 Watson Road is the north
doorway to the Entertainment District
 Division Street runs through the heart of
Arlington
 Comprehensive initiative for the
Watson/Division corridor to address:
 Prostitution
 Homelessness
 Drugs
Prostitution is a Problem
 Systemic Problem
 Crime
 Assaults, Aggravated Assaults, Drugs, Robbery,
Motor Vehicle Burglaries, etc.
 Dangerous Health Impact
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
 Negative Economic Impact to Area
 Quality of Life Issues
 Homeless Camps, Panhandling
Action History – Prostitution
 Traditional Enforcement Efforts
 Arrests and Sting Operations
 Narcotics Enforcement
 Traffic Enforcement (DL Checks)
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Nuisance Abatement Team Action
Code Enforcement
Tax Review (hotel, property, etc.)
Homeless Camp Eradication Efforts (new)
Car Lot Target Hardening Efforts (new)
Goals
 What do we hope to achieve?
 Eliminate prostitution
 Reduce “open-air” prostitution
offenses by 50%
 What will it take to achieve the goal?
 Identify resources necessary to reach an
acceptable level of success
 Utilize business and community partnerships
Partnerships on Watson/Division
 7 of 14 motels on Division St. have
partnered with us to reduce offenses and
improve quality of life
 18 of the 69 auto dealerships along Division
St. have agreed to assist with “target
hardening” initiatives to help reduce
offenses
More Partnerships
 North District Pilot Project meeting scheduled for
May 24 with stakeholders to define priorities and
boundaries
 Renewed partnership with Six Flags Mall
 Partnerships established with The Huffines Group
and Bird's Fort Foundation
 Regular meetings with ACVB and hoteliers
 Hospitality Cluster for the Chamber of Commerce
 Citizens on Patrol group
 Action North to study and provide insight in
addressing BMV's on restaurant row
Target Areas
 Target Locations
 Hotels on North Watson Road
 Hotels along Division Street
 Target Prostitutes
 Impact supply through enforcement and prosecution
 Target Market
 Impact demand through enforcement
 Target Conditions
 Poverty, drugs, sexually oriented businesses
More Tools Needed
 Multi-disciplinary, interdepartmental
approach
 Traditional enforcement, nuisance abatement,
code enforcement, etc. being utilized
 More tools/resources to remediate the
problem
 Ordinances under consideration
 Other innovative tools
Ordinances Under Consideration
 Prostitution Mapping
 Civil Exclusion
 Legal Issues
 Require Hotels/Motels to Identify Guests
 Model Ordinance in San Antonio
 Aggressive Solicitation (Panhandling) Ordinance
 Defines “Aggressive;” Restricts Certain Actions
 Loitering for Purposes of Prostitution
 Allows Restrictions of “Advertising” Behavior
Other Tools – Public Information
 Post cards
 Website
 Public Service
Announcements
Still Needed
 Comprehensive social service
delivery network
 Address criminogenic conditions such as
substance abuse, temporary homelessness,
familial issues, coping skills, reentry
 A one-stop, non-profit sector operated “shop”
to provide temporary housing, social and
employment services and life skills training
Recommended Next Steps
 Continue holistic strategy
to these systemic problems
 Adopt ordinances
 Public information
campaign
 Nurture non-profit sector partnerships
 Engage business community
 Measure progress and adjust strategies
as necessary
End