Oct. 31, 2008
Phoenix Community Safety Partners Win $25,000 in National Awards from MetLife
The Capitol Weed and Seed Coalition, Phoenix Police Department and Fax Net 1 were honored with $25,000 this week by the MetLife Foundation for significantly reducing crime and improving the quality of life in downtown Phoenix neighborhoods.
The Phoenix partners were selected from more than 500 applications nationwide for the MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award.
The group was recognized in two categories: a $10,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Award to sustain the community safety activities of the Capitol Mall Association and a $15,000 Special Strategy Award in Applied Technology for Fax Net 1's partnership with the Phoenix Police Department.
The Capitol Weed and Seed Coalition is a coordinated effort among law enforcement, the city's Neighborhood Services Department, community groups, and public and private organizations that work to revitalize neighborhoods in an area around the state capitol and near downtown Phoenix.
The program's goal is to "weed out" violent crime, drug use and gang activity from targeted neighborhoods and to plant "seeds" of rehabilitated homes, spruce up streetscapes and implement a wide range of neighborhood improvement programs working with public and private groups.
The Fax Net 1 strategy includes frequent interaction with law enforcement at business and Block Watch meetings and the creation of databases that help police in addressing crime.
The Police Department decides what information to release to solve a crime, then sends an alert to Fax Net 1, which in turn distributes the information to proper areas, neighborhoods and businesses that are on the lookout.
This strategy has resulted in a reduction in crime, found lost and kidnapped persons and taught businesses and residential neighborhoods how to remain safe while assisting law enforcement.
"The Capitol Weed and Seed Coalition, Fax Net 1 and the Phoenix Police Department provide exemplary models of partnerships, and we are pleased to recognize their results and share their best practices with other groups across the country," said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation.
Media Contact:
| David Ramirez | 602-262-6181 |