The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Police present crime prevention conference
The Euclid Police Department will host its first crime prevention conference on April 6 for the purpose of equipping attendees with resources and information regarding personal and community safety.
Representatives from more than 20 organizations, including the Ohio Crime Prevention Association, Cuyahoga County Scam Squad and Cleveland office of the FBI, will be on hand to talk with participants.
Kate McLaughlin, Euclid Police’s community policing specialist and crime analyst, originated the event after considering ways in which to reenergize the city’s block watch program.
Block Watch is a partnership between residents and local police departments with the purpose of maintaining vigilance in a community in order to increase safety by reporting crime or suspicious activity.
McLaughlin, employed by the department for 13 years, is the recipient of the 2018 Ohio Crime Prevention Association Member of the Year award and also was honored as the 2019 Greater Cleveland Safe
Kids Safe Community Coalition Member of the Year.
The department recently was recognized by the Ohio Crime Prevention Association for its special projects, all of which were initiated by the Community Policing Unit.
McLaughlin said another reason she thinks that the conference will be highly beneficial is because it encompasses multiple facets of safety.
“When you’re holding a conference of professionals in the field of law enforcement it’s impactful,” she said. “It can make a difference. That’s why so many people want to be a part of it. All of the organizations have community outreach and this is the right platform for it.”
She noted that every organization that was contacted about the event agreed to come on board.
In addition to representatives providing information regarding safety and crime, other related activities will take place.
For example, the Ohio Attorney General’s BCI Crime Scene Unit will show how crime scenes are processed within a portable lab.
McLaughlin said one of the major goals of the conference is to provide residents with practical solutions to crime-related issues.
“People love to get on social media and complain, but coming to the conference will give you information and resources to solve the problem,” she said. “It’s our hope that attendees will learn crime prevention measures to use for themselves but more importantly I’m hoping people will want to be more proactive and educate others in their neighborhoods.”
One crime prevention method that can be used by residents and will be discussed at the event is target hardening which refers to the strengthening of the security of a building or home to reduce the risk of such criminal activities as trespassing and theft.
“Crime prevention is a choice of how you want to live,” McLaughlin said.
“It’s an effort. It’s hard work for some and that’s why we don’t engage in it as often as we should.”
Over the past few years McLaughlin has increased the number of block watches in Euclid and hopes that the conference will help to add even more.
Currently, active neighborhood block watch groups in Euclid are established within the Chardon Hills Association, Indian Hills Association, Edgecliff Club and others.
She provided an example of how well the plan works by stating that a street on the city’s north end was troubled with a drug house and numerous complaints regarding juveniles. With consistent block watch meetings and the introduction of a nuisance abatement law by the city the problems subsided.
The free conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakefront Community Center, 1 Bliss Lane.
McLaughlin hopes that the city’s first such event will be well attended and that participants will immerse themselves in the knowledge that professionals have regarding making life safer, thus providing a better quality of life.