Desert Ridge
A Below Average Community?
By Steve Burns
Community Awareness Committee Chair
A few weeks ago if someone had asked me if Desert Ridge was a below average community I would have said Absolutely not. I would have then begun to boast about our location, shopping, hotels, Mayo Hospital, one of a kind museum, and overall community in general.
Today however, if someone were to ask that same question, I would smile and say Yes, we are well below average. I would, of course, assume that they are referring to the 2013 crime statistics provided by our Community Action Officer Tim Mitten of the Phoenix Police Department. If you review the statistics you will see Desert Ridge is absolutely below average. During 2013, we saw a significant drop in crime for the “Entire Desert Ridge Community”.
The statistics not only reflect a 50% year over year drop in all crimes, but Desert Ridge now enjoys a crime rate of less than half of the average for all of Phoenix. With this report, we also see a drop in total crime of over 65% in two years, and over 73% in five years. These numbers are even more impressive when you add in the fact that the Desert Ridge population has increased significantly during that five-year period.
Several key factors can be attributed to this lower crime trend. First, in 2013, the Desert Ridge Community Association (DRCA) Board of Directors increased the Desert Ridge Off-Duty Phoenix Police Patrol from 15 to 25 patrols per month. We also implemented additional holiday, seasonal and special event patrols throughout the year. The next factor was our community partnership with the City of Phoenix Silent Witness program. Last year the DRCA also set up a matching fund that allows Silent Witness to pay out twice their usual reward to anyone reporting a felony occurring in the Desert Ridge residential areas. This helps to reinforce the message that we are serious about crime prevention.
The last factor, which is my favorite, is the increased community awareness of the residents of Desert Ridge. These much-improved statistics would not be possible without the many, committed and caring individuals who reside in our community. These are the people who have made a big difference in the effort to lower our crime rate by volunteering their time with block watches and other community promoting activities. I am confident that I speak for the entire DRCA board when I say, that for these folks, we are truly grateful.
Even though the 2013 crime stats are good, I still believe that we can do better. Therefore, the Community Awareness Committee is kicking off two new initiatives before summer starts. First, Sgt. Darren Burch of the Phoenix Police Department and I will be recording a video public service announcement (PSA) that will introduce the Silent Witness program to students attending the schools in and around Desert Ridge. Hopefully this will encourage kids to at least let their parents know when they’ve witnessed, or even heard of, a crime that’s been committed in Desert Ridge.
Second, the DRCA is rolling out a new Block Watch grant program that will reimburse a newly established, or even an existing block watch, for meeting costs of food, beverages (non-alcoholic) and other limited expenses of up to $200 annually. Please contact the Desert Ridge Community Association office at 480-551-4550 for more details. Together we can continue to make Desert Ridge “above average” by keeping it “below average” when it comes to crime.
Remember, Phoenix police officers do a fantastic job but they can’t be everywhere all the time. That is why it is so important to know and communicate with your neighbors and to keep looking for things that are out of place in your neighborhood. You can help make Desert Ridge asafer and better place to live by starting or participating in a neighborhood block watch program.
If you’re interested in learning how to start a neighborhood block watch program, please contact the Desert Ridge Community Association office at 480-551-4550 or contact community action Officer Tim Mitten from the Phoenix Police Department at 602-495-5238.
