Crime victims often feel vulnerable, but for some it is empowering.
The Washington Village Development Association started fighting back and they say look at their Pigtown neighborhood; they're winning.
"We've been saying this is enough for three years now and we've had tremendous success down here," said Dan Cosgrove
Cosgrove is the president of the at times gutsy, and brazen WVDA. In three years his organization has gotten tough; tougher than criminals. The group’s latest weapon in the battle is you tube.
The idea is as simple as it is daring. Post a video with pictures, date of births and state ID numbers of who they call known drug dealers in the neighborhood. Cosgrove says it gives the tools and accuracy for people to call 911.
"There are a lot of people out in the community who have had enough and they're looking for leadership, looking for people to do the right thing. Once we started putting videos out 6 months ago, we have more people joining us all the time."
It is safety in numbers and results through vigilance.
"If you were standing here on this corner four years ago, we wouldn't be able to film here because there would have been five or six guys slinging, a line of junkies coming through the alley assembly line fashion like you see on ‘The Wire’ where you would see them hand them out, hand them out, hand them out. Guys would just be running by, you would see those sorts of people. This corner was just untenable...it just wasn't safe to be here," said Vice President Sebastian Sassi.
The WVDA’s effort is more than just videos. The association has installed its own cameras throughout the neighborhood that members can monitor from their homes. There is also a data base they created to track repeat offenders and then there is their presence; an in your face walking tall type approach to let everyone know in just what direction this neighborhood is headed.
It is an approach not all appreciate. As we were shooting this story, members of the association were walking the streets and confronted a juvenile who they say was recently picked up on a gun charge. It was a loud and threatening confrontation that continued for several minutes and was eventually directed at our camera as well. (Click on the video portion of this story to view.)
WVDA was not phased. Bothering known offenders they say is the point.
"Early on we decided we weren’t going to be intimidated and we aren't, we stand up for what is right and it succeeds," said Cosgrove.
Confrontations aside, it is this type of community involvement and ownership that ofte iis the key to help police. Commissioner Fred Bealefeld consistently stresses the point.
"It remains true here. It can just be about police doing more about kids, it's got to be about parents, it's got to be about businesses, it's got to be about every stakeholder along the way," said Bealefeld.
It is a steady drum beat other neighborhoods are hearing as well.
The Mount Vernon Belvedere Association is also thinking creatively. After a rash of random assaults by teens, community leaders there are printing glossy club type flyers urging teens to turn in other teens at a bounty of one thousand dollars.
"We decided the best way to get to mostly the youth that are part of the problem in Mount Vernon is to advertise and do exactly what the promoters for these organizations are doing," said MVBA member Jason Curtis.
Increasing evidence now that neighborhoods are becoming fed up and using video or flyers by hook to catch the increasing amount of crimes by crooks.
