Adopted October 28, 2004:


The Old Town Residents' Association (OTRA) is highly concerned about
crime in the Old Town business district, the Philadelphia Eastern
Neighborhood, and in other problem areas of Takoma Park that experience 
significant drug sales, car thefts, robberies, and other serious crimes.

Much of this crime is preventable through stepped-up police patrols and
police visibility; through strengthened community outreach; and through
cross-border police collaboration with other jurisdictions.

OTRA asks the City of Takoma Park to take immediate steps to

- Bring the police force to full staffing as quickly as possible and to
maintain an overhiring policy that, coupled with retention steps, will
ensure that the force remains fully staffed.

- Increase patrol staffing and frequency.

- Create a patrol post in the Old Town business district -- Laurel Avenue
and Carroll Avenue near Laurel would be good candidate sites -- that will
add to police visibility and position patrol staff to better protect a key
Takoma Park gateway area.

- Implement interjurisdictional policing programs such as CSAFE that
promise to reduce crime.  (CSAFE stands for Collaborative Supervision
and Focused Enforcement.)

- Hold a public forum on implementing the recommendations to add four
police positions made by the Public Safety Citizens' Advisory Committee
(PSCAC) and by Police Chief Cindy Creamer.

OTRA plans to enlist the aid in effecting these steps of the Old Takoma
Business Association (OTBA), City of Takoma Park staff and elected
officials, Old Takoma Main Street program participants, and
representatives of other neighborhood associations and community groups.