Carthage Community Team Policing
By: Melanie Huonker
Updated: February 8, 2013
"Francis to Baker, Chestnut to Central, and then on Olive and Oak we are going to extend all the way out to Oak Hill," Fox says.
Fox is the primary patrolman of this section as the community policing officer. It's part of an effort to improve the quality of life and reduce crime.
He's meeting with home and business owners like Pat Snyder at West Chestnut Monument.
"We are very glad to see them and just to see the police active in the area," Snyder says.
Snyder's business has only been broken into once in the 23 years of operation, but he thinks the added police presence is an asset for the area.
"The more input you have with the community the better it's going to be and the less crime we'll see," he says.
Meeting with people like Snyder and reading these surveys help Fox get feedback.
"General impression of crime in their neighborhoods, their fear of crime, and as well as any additional comments or concerns they have."
Now he has ideas for how to improve the area.
Their concerns range from speeding along side streets and alleyways to seeing better at night.
"Some of the streets can be fairly dark so we are going to improve street lighting," Fox says.
In the next several months, Fox also hopes to get the community involved in a clean up effort.
"We'll try to clean that neighborhood and then move on to the next neighborhood," he says.
Fox says he's still working to get surveys from about half the area he covers.
He will be in charge of the section until July.
This is the fifth section of Carthage to participate in the Community Team Policing program.


