Gordon Ramsay: New program will reduce multi-housing crime

I would like to begin by welcoming our 10 newest officers to the Duluth Police Department.

They are finishing up the police academy and hit the streets in mid-April.

They are a talented and highly educated group of individuals and there is no doubt they will continue to move this department in the right direction. With the addition of these new officers, our policing staffing is at 148.

We have had tremendous support from the mayor and city councilors for public safety-related issues over the last couple of years. I would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment to our efforts.

One area of particular importance that we’ve received full support from our elected officials revolves around our efforts to deal with quality-of-life issues. DPD members believe if we effectively deal with the minor quality-of-life issues that plague some neighborhoods, serious crime will decline.

We recently began to implement Crime Free Multi-Housing in Duluth and held our first training last month, attended by more than 75 landlords.

The DPD is always looking for innovative ways to address quality-of-life issues in our neighborhoods. We believe this is another step in the right direction. Here is some basic information about it:

What is Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH)?

It is an international program which partners property owners, residents and law-enforcement personnel in an effort to eliminate crime in multi-housing properties. The program began in 1992 in Mesa, Ariz., and has spread to 38 states, three Canadian provinces and more than 700 cities.

What are the benefits?

In some properties where the Crime Free Multi-Housing program has been implemented, it has shown a reduction of crime of up to 70 percent.

Some other benefits enjoyed by participants of the program are:

• Lower maintenance and repair costs

• Increased property values

• Improved personal safety for tenants, landlords and managers

• A stable, more satisfied tenant base

• Increased demand for rental units with a reputation for active management

Points to consider

When criminals and other destructive tenants operate out of rental property, neighborhoods suffer and landlords pay a high price. That price may include:

• Decline in property values — particularly when the activity begins affecting the reputation of the neighborhood

• Property damage arising from abuse, retaliation, or neglect; property damage from police raids

• Fire resulting from

manufacturing or growing operations

• Civil penalties, including temporary closure of the property or even property seizure

• Loss of rent during the eviction and repairs period

• Fear and frustration when dealing with dangerous and threatening tenants

• Increased resentment and anger between neighbors and property managers

• The loss of other

valued tenants

The Crime Free Multi-Housing program was designed to help tenants, owners and the managers of rental property keep drugs and other illegal activity off their properties.

This program is honest and direct. It is solution oriented. It is designed to be easy, yet very effective in reducing the amount of crime in rental properties.

How does CFMH Certification work?

The program utilizes a unique three-part approach, which ensures the crime-prevention goal while maintaining an approach that is very tenant-friendly. When each phase is completed, a certificate of completion is awarded.

Phase 1 involves an eight-hour seminar presented by the police and fire departments.

Phase 2 will certify that the rental property has met the security requirements for the tenants’ safety.

In Phase 3, a tenant crime prevention meeting will be conducted for full certification.

How do I get the program on my property?

If you are interested in starting a Crime Free Multi-Housing program on your property, contact Officer Shawn McGovern at 730-5890.