Good deed at community walk
Steve Herlth in Southwest Baltimore, whom I met on a police community ride-along, is one of the expert organizers of community crime walks, called Citizens On Patrol. Earlier this month, about 100 people swarmed over Carrollton Ridge after a child was hit and critically wounded by a stray bullet. The mayor and practically everyone in City Hall, as well as residents from across the city, turned out.
But the real test is what comes after the walks and then who shows up when there's no tragedy to mobilize and outrage a community. I was heartened to get this e-mail from Steve last night, and a picture, though grainy, of a good deed by residents who combined the walks with a trash detail, and the helpful hand of a city police officer:
Hi Friends,
It has been a while since I wrote one of these Walk Status Reports, as you know, we have fun and communication between the communities is getting better all the time. However, tonight was a little better than usual.
Hunting Ridge came out with a plan tonight. Their walkers were armed with trash bags, what in the world are they going to do. Well, as soon as we got started, it became obvious. They started picking up trash as they walked. Well, that was cool all by itself, but the walk leader who I will name Dana, has a young child in the stroller. She cannot pick up trash and push the stroller. Who came to the rescue? The picture is worth a thousand words.
Categories: Confronting crime, Heroes, Neighborhoods
Comments
Thank Peter for letting everyone know that cops are people too. Our great men and women in blue are seldom praised. A simple "thank you" from our citizens is really appreciated.
The Southern District Police and Community Relations Council.
Posted by: Jack Baker | July 15, 2009 9:10 AM
Great stuff! This is the kind of cooperation between the police and citizens that is not recognized nearly enough. It happens often, it just never makes headlines.
Posted by: frogger1 | July 15, 2009 2:03 PM
What a great story! I was part of a Citizens on Patrol (COP) Walk in the Western District this evening and witnessed a similar spirit of cooperation between local residents and Western District officers, the Commissioner, the Mayor's office, and State Senater Jones. In addition to noting concerns about trash and graffiti, the Commissioner took time to greet folks sitting on their steps and gave suggestions for how to promote collective efficacy within the community. Most memorably, when a little boy wanted to be carried because he was tired (and the boy's father had his hands full carrying another child), the Commissioner offered to carry the boy, who was delighted to be in the arms of not just a policeman, but the top police official in the city. The willingness of Baltimore's finest (at every level) to serve in whatever way is needed models a community spirit we should all embody.
Posted by: Bethany Lee | July 15, 2009 9:14 PM