Alameda Addition Sees Low Crime Rate due to Community Efforts
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: August 16, 2012
"When neighbors get to know each other, basically the neighborhood becomes a safer place to live," said Kim Bosher, director of marketing at Star Dodge.
Though the neighborhood has come a long way, it didn't start so smoothly.
"They thought some people might say some good things, but that things were not going to change. Over the long-term, events and initiatives to bring people together," said Pastor Steve Ham of New Haven Community Church. "And people are starting to see hope. The culture is changing in our neighborhood, they're becoming hopeful and starting to believe that we are taking our neighborhood back."
Along with help from businesses, churches and non profit groups, APD partnered with the neighborhood as part of their geographical command to get a little more personal with the community.
"The idea of geographical command is for everyday citizen, or the every day resident of abilene to be able to have one person where they can either pick up the phone or send an email to and say, 'Here's what I'm dealing with, here's who I am, can you help me out?'" explained Lt. Keith Shackleford, who is the geographical commander for the Alameda Addition.
But the improvements in the community have little to do with crime than getting to know the neighbors.
"We've also seen a revitalization of that neighborhood. Where people are actually involved with things that are going on in the neighborhood. And that's even more encouraging. Because that's what keeps other issues from becoming major crime issues," said Lt. Shackleford.
And while the area continues to improve, house of faith is helping the youth to improve the future of the Alameda Addition.
"I'm giving them a sense of belonging, giving them a purpose, and giving them a way and showing them that they can actually be cycle breakers of the things that they have in this neighborhood," said Denise Davidson, director at House of Faith.
Though the neighborhood has come a long way, it didn't start so smoothly.
"They thought some people might say some good things, but that things were not going to change. Over the long-term, events and initiatives to bring people together," said Pastor Steve Ham of New Haven Community Church. "And people are starting to see hope. The culture is changing in our neighborhood, they're becoming hopeful and starting to believe that we are taking our neighborhood back."
Along with help from businesses, churches and non profit groups, APD partnered with the neighborhood as part of their geographical command to get a little more personal with the community.
"The idea of geographical command is for everyday citizen, or the every day resident of abilene to be able to have one person where they can either pick up the phone or send an email to and say, 'Here's what I'm dealing with, here's who I am, can you help me out?'" explained Lt. Keith Shackleford, who is the geographical commander for the Alameda Addition.
But the improvements in the community have little to do with crime than getting to know the neighbors.
"We've also seen a revitalization of that neighborhood. Where people are actually involved with things that are going on in the neighborhood. And that's even more encouraging. Because that's what keeps other issues from becoming major crime issues," said Lt. Shackleford.
And while the area continues to improve, house of faith is helping the youth to improve the future of the Alameda Addition.
"I'm giving them a sense of belonging, giving them a purpose, and giving them a way and showing them that they can actually be cycle breakers of the things that they have in this neighborhood," said Denise Davidson, director at House of Faith.
