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TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1999 <br /> <br /> then introduced three of his officers present, Captain Clarence Simmington, Lieutenant Steve <br /> Joyce, and Officer CliffNibblett. ChiefEdwards then related information concerning <br /> neighborhoods in the City that were experiencing the kind of problems mentioned earlier in the <br /> evening, saying that the Massey-Endless area, Jefferson and Circle Streets, and other areas were <br /> having similar difficulties. Problems being encountered included loud noise, drinking in public, <br /> loitering in the street and traffic problems. ChiefEdwards began his presentation on the <br /> Community Oriented Policing (C.O.P.) program by stating that the program had been in place in <br /> Martinsx~le since 1993. ChiefEdwards stated that the implementation of enforcement of the <br /> Building Officials and Code Administrators Intemational, Inc. (BOCA) code and increased <br /> patrols, in conjunction with the C.O.P. program, had resulted in improved property conditions, <br /> better community relations and arrests of offenders whenever possible. In response to earlier <br /> complaints about persons drinking in public, Chief Edwards stated that the Police must actually <br /> witness such offenses in order to prosecute them, or have someone who witnesses such conduct <br /> swear out a warrant and be willing to testify in court as to the offense. The Chief stated that his <br /> officers do "jump-outs", or surprise arrests, as well as vice arrests and other offense enforcement <br /> whenever possible, but that drug offenses often involved observations and lengthy investigations <br /> before arrests are made. ChiefEdwards stated that the Neighborhood Watch programs that had <br /> been established were good, but noted that participants needed to stay active. He also noted that <br /> bike and horse patrols had been added to good effect in the C.O.P. program, and that a new <br /> Mobile Precinct unit would arrive around September 1, 1999, and be added to the effort, to be <br /> <br /> ~laeed in neighborhoods where problems were evident. ChiefEdwards then stated that the single <br />,,,:¢geatest challenge facing the Police Department in sustaining the C.O.P. Unit was the current <br /> <br /> staffing shortage in the Department, noting that they were currently five officers short of a full <br /> complement and straggling to deal with the problem on a daily basis. Mayor Crabtree then <br /> <br /> <br />