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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD For 2,400 households in the city, crime is on the decrease. The Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) announced on Thursday that its crime prevention policies, first implemented in 2005, have resulted in a 24 percent reduction in incidents, complaints and arrests, as well as a 34 percent decrease in breaking and entering incidents and a 40 percent drop in narcotics sales complaints. In two of the SHA's developments arrests are down 90 percent. "That was extremely shocking in a good way," Alex Corralaes, the agency's interim director, said. Corralaes explained to Reminder Publications that the new approach to crime fighting at the 2,400 apartments it rents wasn't because of an increase in its security budget. Corralaes said the previous arrangement with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) with hiring officers for extra duty assignments was not conducive to the SHA's security needs. Working with the SPD, the agency re-arranged the scheduling for better coverage. The SHA then sought to work with the SPD's Street Crimes Unit addressing crime issues. With a new schedule of extra duty police officers in place, the agency found it had saved about $45,000. With this money it was able to hire a private security firm, Ambassador Security, to add to the crime prevention presence, Corralaes said. "We didn't spend an extra nickel," Corralaes said. With three layers of security in place the SHA's own security officers, the police and the security company Corralaes said the SHA started its "Knock and Talk" program in which the police regularly visit apartments suspected of harboring unauthorized occupants. That program has led to a reduction in fewer damages to the apartments and enhanced security. Speaking of the SHA security needs, Corralaes said, "It was a puzzle and we're putting some of the pieces in place." He added, "We still have a long way to go." | ||||||
