NCJ Number
216781
Journal
The Police Chief: The Professional Voice of Law Enforcement Volume: 73 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 94-96,99
Date Published
December 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Everett (Washington) Police Department’s crime-free rental housing program.
Abstract
The Everett Police Department developed the crime-free rental housing program to reduce the crime and nuisance problems that seemed to plague the same few rental properties in the area. Although police continually responded to problems at the same rental properties, owners or managers of the properties rarely received notification of the problem. The Everett Police Department responded by creating: (1) a communication system with property owners and managers; (2) a database to store rental property crime and follow-up information; and (3) a three-phase certification crime free rental housing program for rental property managers. First, a communication system between police and property owners and mangers was developed, which involved officers completing a pocket-sized card after responding to a call at a rental property. The card describes the incident and location and is sent to owners and managers for follow-up. Second, a database was created to store the information regarding the rental properties so that police are able to follow-up on problems and identify emerging trends. The creation of the rental housing database also led to the development of a wireless network so that police officers in the field do not have to drive back to the agency to complete computer work. The third component of the crime-free rental housing program involved the design of a three-phase certification program for property managers, which includes: (1) a 12-hour training workshop on landlord-tenant law, application screening, and fair housing laws; (2) a property inspection to assess the physical security and general safety of the property; and (3) a Safety Social in which police assist landlords in conducting a safety meeting for residents at the rental property. The components of the Everett Police Department’s crime-free rental program can be readily adapted to meet the particular needs of other communities.