Washington Park resident & D.A. Chisholm Among Crime Prevention awardees | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Safe & Sound
February 4, 2016
The 67th Annual Crime Prevention Awards will be held on February 9, 2016 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm at the Wisconsin Club,Grand Ball Room. The awards will be hosted by Safe & Sound and LISC Milwaukee, sponsored by AAA Wisconsin and with support from the Milwaukee Police Department. Ten awards will be given to outstanding law enforcement individuals as well as outstanding community members committed to helping improve Milwaukee and to make it’s neighborhoods and roadways a safer place for all residents.
The Community Awards will be highlighting individuals and businesses that go above and beyond to ensure that their neighborhoods are safer places for the community and it’s residents. These awards will be highlighting individuals like Aaron Blathers of Rocksteady Barbershop and Salon. Blathers constantly gives up his personal time and supplies every Monday to give free haircuts at Safe & Sounds Barbershop Mondays. He uses this opportunity as a platform to mentor troubled youth by developing positive relationships and encouraging alternatives to violence.
Law Enforcement awards will be highlighting efforts made by those in the Law Enforcement field such as Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. Some of DA Chisholm’s many accomplishments include the development of the “early intervention” program to help eligible individuals avoid incarceration or probation as well as the development of Community Prosecution Unit (CPU ) that incorporates a community based Community Prosecutor, problem solving police officers, domestic violence professionals, a nuisance abatement building inspector, a Department of Corrections parole agent, CPU community coordinator in conjunction with residents and community organizations. Chisholm is not only using his position to prosecute dangerous criminals but to partner with residents and the community to lower crime and nuisance activity.
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New sponsor, AAA will be presenting two new awards for crime prevention through traffic safety. AAA Wisconsins’s regional focus to reduce the number of traffic incidents on Milwaukee’s roadways makes them an ideal fit to be this years awards new sponsor.
Community Awards
Outstanding Individual Involved in Crime Prevention:
Aaron Blathers (Rocksteady Barbershop and Salon)
Aaron Blathers dedication to his community has been an ongoing effort. He has been present at nearly every Barbershop Monday, a program of Safe & Sound helping groom youth on the inside and out, where donates his day off and supplies every Monday to give haircuts and good advice to young people. Blathers uses his expertise to develop positive relationships with troubled youth and to encourage alternatives to violence. Blathers selfless efforts have gotten recognition and raise awareness for the great mentor opportunities offered in the community.
Outstanding Individual Involved in Crime Prevention:
Cacy Kemp (Safe & Sound)
As former Community Prosecutor Unit (CPU) Coordinator with Safe & Sound, Cacy Kemp works alongside District Seven’s Community Liaison Officer and the CPU partners. Among other community-police relations initiatives, Kemp instituted a Rapid Response protocol in District Seven which entails calling in a property owner or resident for properties in which a violent incident occurs. This program is designed to prevent any additional crime from reoccurring at that property through a series of resident and CPU outreach and reporting measures. Through Kemp’s Rapid Response protocol and her devotion to numerous community meetings within District Seven she helped prevent further crime and helped keep residents safe in their homes.
Outstanding Block Club Award:
Villa/Rohr Blockwatch (Henry Davis Block Watch Captain)
With Henry Davis as its Captain, the Villa/Rohr Block Watch has been responsible for encouraging residents to call police on suspicious activity, resolving loitering issues, rehabilitating vacant homes and the planting of a community garden, and strongly opposing taverns with a record of major incidents in their neighborhood. Villa Rohr Block Watch leadership helps provide a sense of accountability, safety and community residents in addition to the likely deterrence of crime in the with the increase in neighborhood supervision and maintenance.
Outstanding Corporation or Business Award:
Gahn Meat Company (Anthony Gahn)
Gahn Meat Company, owned by Anthony Gahn, has repeatedly provided meat products for District Seven community events. Through these community events District Seven and partners attempt to make citizens feel welcome and safe. At the numerous events throughout the year Gahn Meat Company has provided hamburgers and hot dogs for socials and picnics that can draw a crowd 500 people. A sense of social cohesion is one way to develop the neighborhood safety and Gahn’s in-kind support was central to the neighborhood fellowship and involvement.
Outstanding Greater Milwaukee Partnership Award:
The Salvation Army (Faithe Colas)
Leading The Salvation Army efforts, Faithe Colas has been an active and vital partner in District Seven’s Faith Based Initiative Team and Adopt-a-Block Initiative ensuring the neighborhood has the resources and support essential to quality of life. Colas is continually looking for ways she can provide useful tools and education to District Seven’s residents. Among the notable support were large food and children’s toy donations to community events.
Outstanding Faith Based Organization Award:
District Seven Chaplains- Alexis Twito, Jessie McSwain and Merrick Watkins
District Seven’s Chaplain Program, including Alexis Twito, Jessie McSwain and Merrick Watkins, respond to crime scenes and offer prayer, vigils and spiritual guidance to victims, witnesses, officers and the general community. At one particular vigil where a victim’s mother fainted and a person ran through the crowd, panic ensued. However, with the support of the Chaplains, order and peace was restored. These Chaplains have assisted in Prayer Walks, Adopt-a-Block party, the District Seven Job Fair, National Night Out and Kids & Cops in Costume Halloween events.
AAA Traffic Safety Award-Community:
Ulysses Brown (Washington Park Partners)
Ulysses Brown is a member of the Washington Park Partners (WPP) Steering Committee and organized residents to develop an informal block club. One of its early opportunities was addressing the speeding and poor lighting concerns on their street that made it unsafe for especially young residents. The group persistently raised concerns with officials and community agencies and successfully negotiated the
installation of speed humps to slow traffic and restore safer conditions. Brown reported blocked visibility from brush overgrowth in the alley leading to its removal by The Green Team, a WPP Initiative. Beyond the traffic safety efforts, Brown helped organize events such as the Alderman Walk, Ice Cream Social and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) neighborhood survey. He has even purchased and is rehabbing a vacant lot and abandoned building that was once a location for loitering.
Law Enforcement Awards
Crime Prevention Advocate Award:
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm
In his role as Milwaukee County District Attorney, John Chisholm has been dedicated to sending fewer people to prison while maintaining public safety. Chisholm has created the “early intervention” program where an individual is assessed and deemed eligible for intervention to avoid incarceration or probation. Chisholm has also developed the Community Prosecution Unit (CPU) in Milwaukee that incorporates a community based Community Prosecutor, problem solving police officers, domestic violence professionals, a nuisance abatement building inspector, a Departments of Corrections parole agent, CPU community coordinator in conjunction with residents and community organizations. Through these programs Chisholm has provided the necessary resources for more just and safe criminal justice outcomes as well maintaining fiscal responsibility. Chisholm is not only using his position to prosecute dangerous criminals but to partner with residents and the community to lower crime and nuisance activity.
Outstanding Community Liaison Officer(s) Award:
Police Officers Jesus Gloria & Jose Acevedo- District Two Community Liaison Officers
District Two, Milwaukee Police Officers Jesus Gloria and Jose Acevedo are being awarded for the Outstanding Community Liaison Officer award. Working together for two years Officer Gloria and Officer Acevedo have made a positive impact on the residents of Milwaukee’s District Two by organizing over 150 block watches and providing resources to over 200 block watch captains. Through the Next Door website they keep District Two residents informed by sending pertinent information such as crime trends and seasonal crime prevention tips.
Officer Gloria and Officer Acevedo are also a presence at schools and local businesses. Gloria learned and received training on the schools S.T.O.P. program and both provide training to area businesses to prevent shoplifting, robbery and what to do if they are involved in an incident.
Officer Acevedo runs the charge of the Police Auxiliaries and Explorers programs in addition to his other responsibilities. While Officer Acevedo is at an event Officer Gloria fills in and helps out without hesitation, further solidifying their strength as a team.
Outstanding Civilian Contribution Award:
Mrs. Jessica Rodriguez-Jasso
After noticing three individuals running from their neighbor’s house to a car in an apparent robbery Mrs. Rodriguez-Jasso recorded the description of the vehicle and license plate number. Her husband then was blocking the alley preventing the suspects from getting away. After an altercation began Mrs. Rodriguez- Jasso intervened. Her husband was shot twice in the leg and the suspect fled. The description and license plate number were traced to the suspect’s residence. It was found that the suspects were involved in another robbery that same day. Thanks to Mrs. Rodriguez-Jasso and her husband’s bravery and excellent observation and reporting the suspect’s robbery spree was ended.
Outstanding Professional Contribution Award:
Police Officer Joshua Dummann
Officer Joshua Dummann and other officers responded to a domestic violence call. There was a restraining order against the suspect and after arriving at the scene, the suspect was found holding a knife to his estranged wife’s neck. After using training techniques to diffuse the situation and the suspect refused to put down his weapon and release the woman, Officer Dummann fired one precise round ending the incident. Officer Dummann’s training and decisive action prevented the incident from escalating further.
AAA Traffic Safety Award- Law Enforcement:
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Patrol Division
The MSCO Patrol Division prevents significant traffic incidences through its comprehensive efforts including programs for impaired driving awareness and traffic incident management.
MSCO Patrol Division committed to raising awareness of impaired driving through training, performance and patrol resulting in 642 OWI arrests to date. Through training initiatives such as Advance Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement the Bureau has been effectively working on reducing the number of impaired driving incidents saving countless Milwaukee County lives.
The MCSO Patrol division has also made travel through Milwaukee County safer through their diligent application of the TIME principles of clearing traffic incidents properly, promptly and knowledgeably. With the use of high visibility safety vests and their effective partnership with the WisDOT Statewide Traffic Control Center they have increased community safety by promoting compliance with traffic laws. By quickly clearing incidents, sharing critical life safety information in real-time through all available channels
and providing a prepared force MSCO has effectively and expeditiously dealt with highway safety challenges. As a result, they are increasing driver and first responder safety, decreasing traffic delays, informing the public and coordinating with response partners openly and with the intent on developing solutions.