Last summer, New Castle County Police Cpl. Amy Kevis and others pounded the pavement in Overlook Colony - getting out of their patrol cars and walking the streets of the neighborhood, engaging residents face-to-face along the way.
It was such a success, that Claymont is lobbying to get them back next summer.
Councilman John Cartier (D-Holly Oak), whose district includes Overlook Colony, said the community is clamoring to have the heightened police presence again this year.
Though he realizes resources are limited, Cartier says he's been urging the department to commit to the patrols again this summer and on Wednesday night, he requested Claymont Renaissance stakeholders to do the same.
The Claymont Design Review Advisory Committee voted unanimously to draft a letter to Acting Chief Major Michael McGowan asking for the community police officers to return this June.
Phase I crimes, which include violent crimes and robberies, are generally at their highest in the warm weather months. But things were quieter last summer, Kevis said.
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Community Policing In 2009, the New Castle County Police Department dedicated six officers to foot patrols in targeted communities between June and September. Those communities were:
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"We were in the community on a daily basis interacting with residents on a different level than we're usually able to," she said. "We saturated the community and we knew all the players and they knew us."
Kevis said their presence there also made residents more comfortable in conveying their concerns, because they came to trust the officers.
"We actually saw an increase in reported crimes just because people were constantly talking to us and felt comfortable," she said.
