Solvay (WSYR-TV) - Graffiti, litter, loud music and fights are the kinds of things that can make a neighborhood dangerous and uncomfortable. Solvay police are trying to improve life on troubled streets through a program called C.A.P.E. - crime, analysis, proactive enforcement.
Thursday night, the officers involved in the C.A.P.E. program are targeting William Street, off of Lamont Avenue. It's a small neighborhood, just about 150 yards long, but police have been called there 62 times since January.
"We've had several issues with domestic violence, repeated over and over, we had some bigger picture things too, a lot of fights, assaults with weapons, and menacing complaint," Officer Mike Borell said.
A surveillance camera was recently installed in the area and patrols are now underway. The camera records around the clock and is periodically monitored throughout the day.
C.A.P.E. teams are made up of two officers, assigned to a low profile car. They target a high-complaint area in the Village and when calls come in, they roll out.
"Given the statistics, we've put together, we focus on the areas, that have become repeat calls, repeat offenders," said Officer Borell.
Officer Borell says smaller crimes and constant complaints now get constant police attention. "This stuff is just as important, we can focus on the people out there doing this, and focus on the areas on the list," he said. "As we experimented with the program last year, we keep a strict zero tolerance policy with those areas, and those people, and we've proven to reduce quality of life issues."
But not everyone is welcoming the police attention. Some of the neighbors on William Street, like Eva Salvagni, say it goes too far and unfairly targets their young children. "You can't have a free standing basketball, unless it's in a lawn. You can't play tag or toss a football on the street. The kids are frustrated and we are frustrated. We understand the police's frustration and we don't like that are neighborhood is the cause of so many problems, but this policy isn't going to change that," she said.
The Police Department describes it all as a "zero-tolerance policy" on a flier that states: "You should be aware that it is unlawful for any person to play, make loud noises or unreasonable noise, fight or gather in large groups in or upon public sidewalks or streets."
"Any parent who fails to supervise children, will be arrested? That to us is very threatening," said Salvagni.
Despite that controversy, Solvay Police say they have evidence that C.A.P.E. is successful. Between April and August of 2010 there were 53 percent fewer violent crime incidents, 51 percent fewer quality of life incidents and 70 percent more traffic and local law arrests.
| Crimes | 2009 | 2010 |
Violent Crime Incidents (Robbery, burglary, rape, arson, menacing and assault) | 49 | 23 |
Quality of Life Incidents (Disturbances, disputes, drugs and harassment) | 45 | 22 |
Traffic and Local Law (Appearance tickets, DWI arrests and traffic tickets) | 639 | 1009 |
The statistics did reveal a 6.3 percent increase in property theft and damage crimes and a 16 percent increase in domestic violence and mental health incidents.
