Even if you don’t usually go to meetings … you might want to make time for one of these chances to talk about crime and police

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Something to say about crime concerns and Seattle Police‘s work in your neighborhood?

Starting one week from tonight, a Seattle University research assistant who has been working for months with Southwest Precinct police is holding community meetings to hear from you.

Jennifer Burbridge has set a schedule of focus-group-style meetings in which she is extending an open invitation for community members to show up and talk about crime and police issues, particularly (but not exclusively) as they relate to the “micro-community policing plans” announced earlier this year. She explains:

The structure of the focus groups is that I will pose a series of questions about crime concerns, the micro-community policing plans in each area, how the community feels the police are addressing their concerns, and how the community feels the police can improve in their efforts. So I am looking for both specific concerns as well as generalities about how the community is feeling about the micro-community policing plans.

Burbridge says the community members who participate will not be identified by name. Here’s the schedule – ALL meetings will be in the community room at the Southwest Precinct:

-Wednesday, July 22nd: ALKI COMMUNITY, 6-7 pm

-Thursday, July 23rd: ADMIRAL COMMUNITY, 6:30-7:30 pm

-Tuesday, July 28th: WS BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK, 6:30-7:30 pm

-Thursday, July 30th: WESTWOOD/ROXHILL/ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITIES, 6:30-7:30 pm

-Wednesday, August 5th: PIGEON POINT COMMUNITY, 6:30-7:30 pm

-Thursday, August 6th: HIGH POINT/ALASKA JUNCTION COMMUNITIES, 6-7 pm

-Tuesday, August 11th: MORGAN JUNCTION, 7-8 pm

-Wednesday, August 12th: DELRIDGE COMMUNITY, 6-7 pm

The precinct is at Delridge/Webster; the community meeting room is right off the parking lot, which in turn is off Webster.

P.S. If you aren’t familiar with the micro-community policing plans – six are linked here. But again, that familiarity is not a prerequisite – if you have something to say about crime/policing, your participation is a plus. Burbridge already has been immersed in this work for months – we’ve seen her at many community meetings – and this is the next step.

julie98106 July 15, 2015 (4:59 pm)

The Community Police Team has helped us a LOT.They keep busy over here by Delridge. The other officers who have responded to us have been pretty outstanding.

AmyLynn July 16, 2015 (10:26 am)

We are somewhat new to the area from out of state – we live around 50th and Genesee – which of these meetings would suit us best? (Whenever we are asked for our neighborhood we just mention being around Genesee and California.)

WSB July 16, 2015 (11:03 am)

AL – great question (and welcome). While Genesee-Schmitz has a neighborhood council, I guess they haven’t had a micro-policing plan yet. I would suggest the High Point/Alaska Junction one, since you are closer to Alaska (“The”) Junction than Admiral.
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P.S. to anyone else happening by, Jennifer has added a Morgan meeting, so we’re adding that to the list.

Bradley July 16, 2015 (10:43 pm)

Speak up? Why? Our Seattle City Council and Mayor Murray seem to be more concerned about the well-being of criminals who prey on us than the taxpaying residents. I think we would have a bigger voice by voting in an entirely-new City Council in November.

WSB July 16, 2015 (10:53 pm)

Do that too. But if you can make a little time and participate in this … yes, it DOES make a difference. If you pass up the chance, there’s a 100 percent chance you won’t be heard. If you participate, maybe the odds get better.