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New Program to Enforce Safety at Rental Properties
6/8/2011
The Hagerstown Police Department (HPD) is unveiling a state-of-the-art crime prevention program with the purpose of keeping illegal activity off of rental property throughout the City.
On June 17, 2011 landlords from rental properties across the City of Hagerstown will participate in a management training class taught by City police. The class is just phase I of Hagerstown’s “Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.”
“We learned about this program through the police department in Kansas City, Missouri,” said Crime Free Coordinator and Hagerstown Police Officer Gerard Kendle. “We saw the true impact it made in that community, and we know that implementing it here will only add to our consistent efforts to ensure Hagerstown is a safe place to live.”
Over twenty-six landlords from around the City have already signed-up for the program. The property owners will learn innovative, law-enforcement based crime prevention initiatives to help reduce crime and drug activity on apartment properties. At the end of the program, landlords will receive full certification and be permitted to post signs and advertise their membership in the “Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.”
“We’ve worked closely with the Hagerstown Police Department for years in joint efforts to keep our community safe,” said Cathy Dotson, Property Manager of Bethel Gardens Apartments. “When this program became available, we were thrilled. We see it as one more way to continue to strengthen those efforts.”
“When I was asked by City police if I would be interested in participating in the ‘Crime Free Multi Housing Program’ it took about 30 seconds to answer ‘Yes’,” said Gary Stine, Property Manager of the Bradford Apartments. “I truly believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in helping to prevent crime.”
The program is divided up into three phases: 1.A Management Training Class taught by HPD 2.A Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Survey completed by HPD 3. Community Awareness Training taught by property management and HPD.
Property owners and landlords within the City of Hagerstown can still sign-up for Phase I of the program which will be offered on June 17, 2011 and July 22, 2011. Training is FREE and will last from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. While this is the first time the program is being offered, it is something the Hagerstown Police Department will continue to promote and additional training classes will be offered at a later date.
“We want to get as many people as possible involved in this program,” said Officer Kendle. “We also want City property owners to promote their efforts and advertise that they are going the extra-mile to make sure their rental housing is a great place to live.”
“A lot of people are looking for a safe place to live, especially if they have children,” said Judy Wintermoyer, a Hagerstown Property Owner who has signed up for the program. “I think this program will encourage families to be a part of those communities who have the program certification, and provide an even greater sense of security for existing tenants and their neighbors.”
For more information or to sign up for the program, contact HPD Officer Gerard Kendle at (301) 790-3700 or gkendle@hagerstownpd.org.
