Brentwood Mayor Chris Thornton sent an open memo regarding public safety to the Pulse, to be published on Monday. He also sent it to 40 South News, printed below:
I am writing to discuss recent criminal incidents in Brentwood and the City’s response.
Let me start by stating that, in my opinion, the most important functions of government are providing those services that individuals cannot easily obtain on their own from other sources. Thus, public safety, roads, sidewalks, parks and other such services ware the most important functions of local government. It is no accident that I listed public safety first. Without public safety, the public cannot enjoy any of the other items on this list; therefore, in my opinion, public safety is the most important service government owes its citizens.
I want to thank Aldermen Dimmit and Plufka for organizing the Ward 1 meeting on June 28, 2016. While the discussion at the meeting was limited to recent criminal incidents in Ward 1, it was a very good opportunity for Chief Fitzgerald to share information with the public and for the citizens to share their concerns with their Aldermen, Chief Fitzgerald and the Administration. I believe that the discussion, while focused on Ward 1, is applicable to the entire City. Perhaps the most important thing I took away from the discussion is that there is no single solution to this problem. Reducing criminal incidents in Brentwood will require the police, the City leadership and the citizens to work together. I was encouraged to hear that our citizens are ready and willing to do their part and I clearly heard their request that the police and City join them in taking immediate action in response to these recent criminal incidents.
Another thing I heard loudly and clearly at the meeting is that the citizens would like to see more police presence in the residential areas of the City. At present, the police department plan calls for five officers to be on patrol at any given time. Chief Fitzgerald indicated that he feels this is a sufficient force to patrol both the commercial and residential areas of the City. Unfortunately, due to unexpected circumstances (injury and illness being the most common) occasionally there are only four officers on patrol. This is understandable and all of our city departments have this problem due to our limited size. It is simply not economically feasible to staff, full-time, for all eventualities. We can, however, recognize that unexpected circumstances will occur and plan accordingly. Chief Fitzgerald has already authorized sufficient over-time to ensure that we will havie a full complement of police officers on patrol now and in the immediate future. In addition, he is developing a staffing plan that will ensure that our police department is able fully staff all shifts going forward. I am looking forward to seeing this plan and I have encouraged him to consider any reasonable alternative including, but not limited to; additional over-time, temporary officers, changing shift hours, assistance from neighboring jurisdictions and hiring additional full-time officers. I am confident Chief Fitzgerald will develop a plan that will increase police presence in our residential areas and protect our commercial districts.
In addition to the considerable efforts of our police department, the City leaders must also contribute to the effort to reduce criminal incidents. Perhaps the most important function of the City leadership is to allocate resources (money). Based on my discussions with the Board of Aldermen, I feel confident that the Board shares my opinion that public safety is our first priority and they will support (finance) any reasonable plan to improve our public safety. Another important step we are taking is to improve the City’s lighting. As Chief Fitzgerald indicated, generally, criminals prefer to operate in darkness. We can reduce the opportunity for criminal activity by making better use of our existing lighting infrastructure. We are working with Ameren to replace the existing light bulbs in our street lights with, energy efficient, LED bulbs. In addition to being more energy efficient, the LED bulbs are brighter and provide better coverage. I anticipate that we will be able to replace most of the City’s bulbs before we “fall back” to standard time in November. Of course, we will continue to evaluate the need for additional public lighting in the long term.
Another idea that I have encouraged the Board of Aldermen to consider is reducing the access routes to our residential areas. One of the reasons Brentwood is popular with criminals is the same reason it is popular among our residents and visitors to our commercial districts: convenient access to and from Interstate 64. If we restrict access to some of our residential areas, we will make it harder for criminals to get in and out of our neighborhoods. Of course, this will make it harder for residents as well, but limiting traffic in residential areas to “neighborhood” traffic might significantly reduce the opportunity for criminal activity and solve cut through traffic problems as well. For example, closing off streets along McKnight road may seem like an extreme measure, but I think such measures deserve serious consideration. It might be worth reducing access routes in a few of our neighborhoods on a trial basis to see if this proves effective in practice. We are talking about serious problems and I encourage the Board of Aldermen and our citizens to keep an open mind and think outside the box when considering possible solutions.
Finally, I am fully aware that this may not be popular, but the most important contribution to public safety comes from the public. You, me, your friends, your neighbors; we must all do our part to reduce the opportunity for criminal activity in our City. When Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he replied “because that’s where the money is”. Criminals engage in simple risk, reward analysis when deciding where to operate. The harder we make it for them to get the rewards, the more likely they will find other places to operate. Simple things like locking cars doors, removing valuables from your car, closing garage doors, locking your home, lighting your property and training your dog to bark at strangers (or getting a dog if you don’t have one) reduce the opportunities for “easy” criminal activity. Nothing will stop a determined criminal, but this is a numbers game and reducing the easy opportunities will reduce crime overall. Looking out for yourself, your family and your neighbors is critical and the most important thing you can do to reduce criminal activity in Brentwood. We must create a culture of public safety in Brentwood, where the police, the City and the citizens work together to increase the risks and reduce the rewards of criminal activity in our City. I know we can do it and look forward to working with all of you in making it happen.
Please close the access to/from mcknight.
As for closing off some of the access from streets at McKnight, why couldn’t this be done on a six month trial?
We better close of the east side of Pine, white, lawn, moritz, Madge and Rosalie also as there is access to hwy 40 from Brentwood Blvd as well. Let’s leave only two streets in and out, great idea. That will slow everyone down and keep the criminals away right?
We all moved to Brentwood for many reasons, but one is easy access in and around town. Let’s be more responsible with our belongings and the criminals will stay away and we will be able to drive around town with the same ease as when we bought our homes.
No street closures! They tried this in the city and most now agree it was a bad idea and want their streets back open
This may not put an end to crime, but I would like to see more street lights on our residential streets. I sometimes am only able to walk at night. I have 3 dogs and feel some sense of safety with them, however, all the residential streets I walk, near the Broughton Park area, are practically pitch black at night. It would also be helpful for residents to put in front porch lights as well! Please consider more street lights on our quiet residential streets
I agree with you Pam, lighting needs to be improved. One of the problems is trees obscuring the lights.
I agree with the Chief of Police’s repeated words of advice. There are still too few porch lights on, too many garage doors left wide open and too many goodies left in unlocked cars overnight. Get to know your neighbors and their patterns. If something looks off call the police. I’m fortunate to have great neighbors and we all watch out for each other.
Great ideas, thanks to the Mayor for sharing this! Also buy a home alarm – a wireless alarm is one more thing we can do as residents – I have one. … Once concern…I am 100% opposed to closing any of our roads, including at McKnight. It won’t stop crime. It will drive crime to other streets in our city and in our neighboring cities. It is also a huge inconvenience, and clearly it has not stopped crime in the city of St. Louis.
Interesting.
“Nothing will stop a determined criminal”.
Well, I can think of a couple of things. When this area gets a reputation as being a place that’s not only not “easy”, but possibly career ending, we’ll see this kind of nonsense die off. I know it’s tough on the cops right now. They can’t sneeze without some BLM or ACLU or Post Dispatch type jumping down their throat. They can’t stop people who look like they don’t belong around here for fear of being called racist or mean or whatever. So, the Mayor is right. It’s up to the rest of us. I hate to think that our plan is get brighter lights and hunker down. Aren’t some of these crimes happening in broad daylight? In the end we, the people, are responsible for our personal safety and that of our families and neighbors. So, be ready to defend yourself and your property, (yes Mr. Mayor, you forgot to mention home defense weapons). Keep an eye on your neighborhood. I still see the neighborhood watch signs around town from about 30 yrs ago. Try to live by that spirit, and watch. Especially watch out for your elderly neighbors and the kids in your area. You know who should be hanging around and who shouldn’t. Watch and call the cops if it doesn’t look right.
Get rid of the false overtime, free healthcare, and over paid city employees then there will be pleanty of resources (money), available to the police department. Its time for real leadership at city hall, not road blocks along McKnight. Trim the fat and create positions that yield results.
Hi Jack. Not many air terminals would let greeting you by your name without having you pulled and secured for investigation. Jack, you are sorely misreading this OR have not been personally affected in your home. The criminal activity has been very emboldened criminals ARE leaching their way into B’wd. My guess is you are under 30, blew off college or were removed, don’t make the money you think you should, limited job advancement and conclude the FR’s are screwing the citizens. WELL THEY ARE NOT. Everything Mayor Thronton stated is correct–in theory (St. John’s University NY, BS L.E. and minor in CRJ and specialized in forensics) and we are seeing the practice of that theory here–fortunately in it’s slow, assessing growth stage. We put a serious stop now, or be under on-going attacks. We HALT this crap. NOW.
If you have a budgetary concern —- DO NOT make it a public safety concern. If you had identified yourself properly, i would not have publically assess your experience and POV, But choices have consequences and you need to be educated on the BIG PICTURE. THAT is what the Mayor stated, only with diplomacy. He is correct about ALL options on the table to STOP this now, prioritizing safety over convenience–and bold active initiatives of planners, FR’s and coordinated community action to STOP THIS. NOW. Say what you will. This is definitely not personal, as i don’t take my public acceptability one way or the other. The BIG PICTURE does not include me. So please do not take this personally. i say exactly what i mean, and of course, PUBLICALLY stumble along the way–but i am serious. blessings, maureen
Maureen please..you know what happens when ASSume things. Lights, dogs, cameras, road blocks will not put a stop to anything. However, a few extra police officers will deter crime. To pay their salaries you would simply trim the waste. Please stop yelling on a website, you come accross as a deranged old cat lady who has been off of her meds. Peace.