At last week’s meeting of the Greater Strathmore Neighborhood Association (GSNA) at Most Holy Rosary, Mayor Matt Driscoll and Syracuse Police Chief Gary Miguel outlined the city’s long term plan for law enforcement in the Strathmore area.
With some 75 Strathmore residents in attendance, along with Deputy Chiefs David Barrette and Frank Fowler and a number of detectives and uniformed officers, Chief Miguel explained that the issue of public safety and law enforcement is a city-wide issue, and specific plans are outlined area by area. Following a rash of burglaries in the fall, patrols were stepped up in the Strathmore area, and several suspects were apprehended. One such arrest took place in the home being burglarized within minutes of the call being received.
“It is frequently one or two individuals that target an area who are responsible for a number of crimes,” Miguel said. “Because of the great cooperation we received in this area, we were able to make some significant arrests last year. When citizens are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police force, our job becomes much easier in terms of getting criminals off the streets. Good response time is the result of people calling about suspicious activity.
“Just last night, for example, a neighbor called the police to report juveniles acting in a suspicious manner a few blocks from here. They wound up being arrested for burglary and possession of stolen property.”
The long-term plan, developed with the approval and cooperation of Mayor Driscoll, includes the continuation of the bicycle patrols that were implemented last year through the Community Policing Division under Deputy Chief Fowler, as well as the regular neighborhood and park car patrols.
“We will be augmenting these efforts with the help of our street and drug crime units as well,” Miguel said. “Visibility is important in deterring crime.
“We are also going to be using our school safety officers in the patrol division during the summer and as liaisons between the SPD and the GSNA. These officers know the kids from school, and, also very important, the kids know them.”
During a question and answer session that followed, the mayor emphasized the need for cooperation between the citizenry and the police department in making the SPD aware of suspicious activity. He renewed his commitment to maintaining the high level quality of life that Syracusans expect.
“I want to thanks the residents of Strathmore for their concern, watchfulness and cooperation,” he said. ” Because of this attitude and the willingness to come forward, we were able to work with the school district and Corcoran High School principal Leo Cosgrove to solve some truancy and resulting criminal activity last fall.”
Chief Miguel praised the cooperation between the mayor’s office and the SPD. “We meet regularly with the mayor to discuss public safety in the city, frequently about the Strathmore area.” Miguel said. “He has my pager number, and he’s not afraid to use it.”
Comments from the audience reflected the ongoing success of the SPD’s efforts. A woman who recently moved into a home facing the park on Roberts Avenue said that a few days after she moved in, she called the police about 2 a.m. because of noise in the park across the street.
“There was a patrol car there in less than two minutes and another close behind. Five minutes later, the noise was gone and I was back in bed. That’s pretty good response,” she said.
