Neighborhood Safety Forum for District 3 Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. Monday, January 23 at St. Paul's UMC

We begin the fourth week of 2012 in Cedar Rapids this week.

Council Member Pat Shey is hosting the Neighborhood Safety Forum. Pat Shey represents District 3 on the City Council for Cedar Rapids.

The purpose of this forum is to provide information to help residents make their homes and neighborhoods safer. We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.

Pat Shey to Host Neighborhood Safety Forum on Jan. 23
City Council Member Pat Shey will host a Neighborhood Safety Forum on Monday, January 23, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 1340 3rd Ave SE, especially for residents of District 3.

“The purpose of this forum is to provide the citizens of Cedar Rapids with information that will help them make their homes and neighborhoods safer,” said Shey. “We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.”

The forum will feature a panel discussion, moderated by Shey, which will include the following experts from the Cedar Rapids Police Department: Lt. Jerry Potter, Sgt. Matthew Welsh, Investigator Michael Bailey and Crime Analyst Dawn Stanford. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns during the forum.

Residents with personal experiences to share are encouraged to submit a written narrative or statement before the forum and send them to Pat.Shey@cedar-rapids.org. All statements will be compiled, scanned and share with all who are interested.

Community Spotlight: The Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Feed

Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Feed

The Weed and Seed Strategy

Operation Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy--rather than a grant program-- which aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area; and "seeding" brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.

A community-orientated policing component bridges weeding and seeding strategies. Officers obtain helpful information from area residents for weeding efforts while they aid residents in obtaining information about community revitalization and seeding resources.

Key Elements in the Weed and Seed Strategy

• Law Enforcement


• Community Policing


• Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment


• Neighborhood Restoration

Who Is My Neighbor

Neighborhood "Walk for the Community - May 21, 2009"

The Mound View and Wellington Heights Neighborhood Associations and the
Cedar Rapids Police Department, along with First Avenue Uptown College
District merchants and area agencies and faith communities are planning a
neighborhood walk for Thursday, May 21st in Cedar Rapids. Everyone
is invited to participate! The walk is set to begin from the 2Nd
Avenue Parking Lot of St. Paul's UMC (map) and will be about
1.75 miles in length. A cookout will begin at 5:30 pm, with the walk to
start at 6:30 and finish back at St. Paul's by 8:00 pm Come and walk for the
"Heart of the City!"

Walk for the Community - May 21, 2009

Sponsored by Concerned Citizens

All our neighbors throughout Cedar Rapids

are welcome and encouraged to join us!

St. Paul's Methodist Church

2Nd Avenue Parking Lot

BBQ 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Food (beef hamburgers, beef hot dogs,

pork bratwurst, chips, apples and drinks)

will be supplied courtesy of Hy-Vee, Frito Lay, Pepsi,

Sara Lee and the First Avenue Uptown College District

Walk begins at 6:30 PM

Join us for a 20 block walk of support through the

Heart of the City on the East Side

What to Bring

• Umbrella or raincoat
• Water bottle
• A Friend
• Smile

We'll Supply

• Food
• Drink
• Friendly faces
• Signs of support

The purpose of this walk is to bring the community together, raise awareness, and to show those who commit crime that WE ARE local Concerned Citizens. We want a healthy and safe community everywhere--and on every block--for our children and us to live, work, learn and play.

This is the first of many community events.

Join us and be a part of the solution,

be part of the community!

Sponsored by Concerned Citizens

Civil Rights in our Community