VIP program to expand in summer

June 3, 2013 at 7:18p.m.

Block watch leaders say they like the extra cops

YOUNGSTOWN

Police to ramp up city patrol

YOUNGSTOWN

The police department’s Violence Interruption Patrols will be ramped up once the summer begins in earnest, chief Rod Foley said Monday.

The program, which began its second year the weekend of April 26, has produced good numbers in its first month yet Foley said officers working the detail say things have not been as hectic as they first thought. Foley said that’s fine with him.

“The guys are saying it’s kind of slow,” Foley said. “One thing I like to hear is its very quiet.”

The program uses extra officers from the police department and other agencies who patrol areas where gun crimes are known to have occurred. They are on the lookout for not just illegal guns but also people who are known to commit gun crimes and other acts of violence.

The department released the first month of statistics for the program Monday. Among the numbers which run through May 28 are 40 felony arrests and 15 guns seized.

Foley said there will be more activity when summer begins, including curfew sweeps and driving under the influence checkpoints.

Elnora Sipp of the 4 Square Block Watch on the South Side, which encompasses the Woodland, West Chalmers and Falls avenues areas as well as Market Street, said she has noticed a big difference in her neighborhood since the officers in the program have been patrolling in her area.

“Everything seems a little better to me,” Sipp said. “I’m glad they’re out patrolling. I really, really like it.”

The department also helped clear up some of the trouble at the Falls Avenue Playground, where groups of young people would hang around and cause trouble. She said that has made the neighborhood better by allowing young children to have a place to play.

Sybil West of the Bennington Avenue Block Watch, which encompasses the Bennington Avenue and Katherine Avenue area of the East Side, said her area has not experienced a lot of violent crime lately.

“It’s been quiet,” West said.