The Tucson Police Department is recognizing the efforts of 14 Midvale Park residents who took the lead on crime-prevention efforts in their Southwest Side neighborhood, resulting in a significant decrease in criminal activity.
The honorees, all of whom are members of the Midvale Park Neighborhood Association, will receive a signed letter of recognition from Tucson Police Chief Richard Miranda at 6:30 tonight during their monthly meeting, said Officer Rene Gomez, who has been working closely with the association and is assigned to patrol Midvale Park.
There was a time, about 15 years ago, when Midvale Park was plagued with crime, including gang activity, burglaries, graffiti, and stash houses, Gomez said.
But over the last year, all of those crimes have significantly decreased, he said, although statistics were not immediately available.
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He attributed the decrease to the hard work of the association, whose members volunteer put in long hours to get residents interested in attending monthly meetings where police and residents discuss crime-prevention tips, any issues in the neighborhood and network, Gomez said.
"They really have become our eyes and ears," Gomez said. "If they see anything suspicious, they know to call us, and that is how we catch the bad guys.
"You can take your neighborhood back. Midvale Park is not 100 percent crime-free, but this a prime example of progress being made."
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