Neighborhood association leaders joined forces Wednesday in an effort to convince city leaders to bolster police numbers in Fargo.
Nearly 50 people, including representatives from the police and fire departments, housing commission and city commission, attended the meeting at Clara Barton Elementary School. "This is the first time neighborhood organzations have all come together to push for more officers," said Naomi Marchand, acting police liason for the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association.
Marchand said there is an inadequate number of police officers in Fargo, compared to cities of similar population. An increased police force, Marchand argued, would help combat increased drug activity, vandalism, traffic and loud parties from rental properties that infringe on neighborhoods' qualities of life.
She also said more police officers would improve response time to crimes.
"Our beats are large," said Fargo Police Lt. Gene Anderson. "Men have to cover large areas in a nine-hour shift."
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Anderson said neighborhood associations can help police be more efficient.
"You're doing what we want people to do: getting people who know what's going on in their neighborhoods to band together and help address issues. If you think something is suspicious, something is suspicious. Nobody knows your neighborhoods like you."
Fargo City Commissioner Mike Williams said federal funding for more police officers is being discussed in budget meetings, but agrees that the city's police force is stretched thin. He recommends improving efficiency through community communications.
"It's good to talk about this and let people know what the concerns are," he said.
Residents and neighborhood leaders said the growing trend of single-family homes rented to college-age residents is a major concern. People argued that more police presence in neighborhoods would cut down on loud parties, traffic and drug use in overcrowded rental properties owned by absentee landlords.
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Joe Whetham at (701) 241-5557
