May 10, 2010

Dear Tempe Police Employees,

Community members from across Tempe are expressing their appreciation of your efforts and are affirming that our work has a powerful, visible and positive impact on our community each day.

At last Thursday night’s Formal City Council meeting, the North Tempe Neighborhood Association awarded the Tempe Police Department their “Neighbor of the Year” Award. Neighborhood Association President Darlene Justus talked about how much the neighbors appreciated being valued as partners of the police department, and related how our efforts are directly impacting the quality of life in north Tempe.

Over 100 residents attended a Beat 17-18 Community Meeting on April 8 to discuss the increase in burglaries in those beats. Over 50 residents attended a Beat 11 meeting on April 26. We shared information about operations in those neighborhoods and trends identified by patrol officers and crime analysts. We provided prevention tips and encouraged the formation of neighbor relationship building and Block Watch programs. We invited the media on April 8, and the story was widely reported, getting the messages out that we are working hard to combat crime in Tempe and that we count on our relationships with our community.

Since January, one of our specific targets has been residential burglaries, which as you are aware, historically trend upward this time of year. The Spring Crimes Operation has been very successful, and recent successes include:

• On May 6, officers responded to a burglary in progress in Beat 18, and arrested (4) suspects in the 100 block of east Redondo, near Mill and south of Broadway.
• On May 5, (5) suspects were arrested by Tempe officers during a burglary in progress in Beat 24, in the 1300 block of East Palomino.
• Three weeks ago, on April 23, (3) suspects were arrested in the 2000 block of East Carson in Beat 22 near Baseline and Price. Two of them chased and detained by patrol officers in the neighborhood within minutes of the crime and the third within 24 hours at a location in Mesa.

Great police work and great lines of communication result in partnership and mutual support in fighting crime. I want to share a few of the following emails we received in appreciation of our efforts:

“Good job, TPD! We appreciate all the work you do for us.”

“Thank you for your email. Our home was burglarized last August while we were on a trip and our home was securely closed up, locked, etc., and they broke a bedroom window to enter. We have since put in an alarm system…it is nice to see a patrol car in our sub-division off and on during the day. Makes us feel more comfortable knowing that the police are patrolling the neighborhood.”

“The police officers do a wonderful job in our community and anytime we have had conversation with them, they are always so nice.”

“I just want to let you know how much we appreciate your efforts and those of the Tempe Police Department to keep our neighborhood safe. You are always so good about keeping the neighborhood informed and updated. It’s wonderful to live in a city that has such a great police force. Many thanks for all you do, it is noticed and much appreciated!”

“The change has been wonderful. It is most noticeable on a regular basis in the police force. They are now very present on a regular basis in the neighborhood. They are often seen parked at one of the entrances to our community, taking care of paperwork and making their presence know. When an issue arises, the police are there in mass almost instantly. It is very impressive to know if something is going wrong, they are there for us when needed. Even more impressive, is when the officers stop to ask a question when I am out walking in the evening an address me by name. It truly feels like a partnership with people who know and care about us and our homes.”

“Our police force recently partnered with an adjacent community’s police force and was able not only to catch thieves the day of the crime but also was able to return the stolen items. It is a great story. We tell it each time our neighbors gather. I feel honored to be a resident of Tempe at the turning of the tide, when criminals must be afraid and weary because our community is strong and watches out for each other. I know that there are many difficult decisions yet to be made to get us through the next few years, however please know that we are truly grateful for all that you have done and continue to do to make our neighborhoods in downtown Tempe a great place to live. While we may not have the wherewithal to make all of today’s issues go away, you have our support, our thanks and our assistance to do what we can for you so that we all can continue to our work together.”

Tempe Police Employees have the opportunity to strengthen relationships with community members in each and every interaction, whether by phone, via email or in person.

You have been doing an outstanding job and these communications reflect it. Thank you for your continued dedication – your efforts are truly valued by the community we serve and protect.

Sincerely,
Chief Ryff