Rising crime spurs APD to create storefront at public housing unit

Using tape normally reserved for marking off a crime scene as a make-shift ribbon, the Austin Police Department, in conjunction with the Housing Authority of Austin, opened a police storefront inside the Thurmond Heights public housing complex Thursday.

About 30 residents mingled with officers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where they enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs and a festive atmosphere.

The new police storefront will provide a place for patrolling officers to rest and fill out reports, and for residents to report crimes in their neighborhood. The storefront is one of two pilot programs attempting to curb the rising crime rate in the North Austin housing complex, said Jim Hargrave, manager of Thurmond Heights.

In 2004, the ZIP code where Thurmond Heights is located had the seventh highest number of crimes in the greater Austin area, according to APD statistics.

"[Crime is] real high, especially in public housing. People think it's just supposed to be that way, but it's not," Thurmond Heights resident Juanita Satberry said. "The majority of drugs that come in are from people who don't even live here, so when the police are able to identify the residents, and we connect with the police department, it's a wonderful thing."

The storefront will help the police establish a rapport with residents and create a model for community policing, said officer Hank Moreno, director of the APD storefront.

"A patrol officer will take a call and leave. If a resident calls again, a different officer will show up," Moreno said. "If they know me, they know my face, and I know them, hopefully it will build a better relationship between the police and the community."

Since the facilities for the police storefront are already in place, the cost of maintaining it should be minimal, Hargraves said. If the pilot project is successful, the Housing Authority and APD plan to create more sub-stations throughout the city, he said.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the police to participate in the community," Hargraves said. "It creates a better and harmonious relationship between residents and the police department."

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