RESIDENTS SAY DRUGS ARE AT ROOT OF CRIMES

A shoot-out that occurred at a house in Desiree Lyons' neighborhood at
4 p.m. one Sunday last year put the lives of Lyons and her two small
children in danger.

Although they were uninjured and the target was a house across the
street, Lyons said, the incident was the last straw. Something needed
to be done about all the crime in her neighborhood, so Lyons decided to
join the East End Neighborhood Improvement Association.

"We call police" and "Beware of dog" signs decorate the yards of many
houses in the neighborhoods of East Topeka, where the East End
neighborhood is situated. Lyons and other residents say crime is
thriving, and police do little to help. In Lyon's neighborhood, she
said, drugs are the primary problem.

"They lead to vandalism, break-ins and robberies," she said. She said
she has even seen people walking around outdoors smoking marijuana
joints.

"They don't care," Lyons said.

Gary Goodman, who lived in East Topeka for 15 years before moving to
the city's Highland Park area, formerly served as vice president of
East End NIA.

Goodman said crime is rampant and has gotten worse in East Topeka. He
also blames drugs.

"Crack cocaine is the root cause of robberies and shootings," Goodman
said.

Although Goodman claims crime is getting worse, statistics indicate
crime is decreasing. Property crimes have steadily decreased in East
Topeka since 1996, according to police records.

In police patrol area 440 (east of S.E. Branner Trafficway, north of
S.E. 10th Street and south of the Kansas River), police records show
1.75 violent crimes were committed per 100 population in 1997, a mark
that dropped to 1.02 per 100 population in 1999.

Property crime declined from 10.84 per 100 population in 1997 to 8.14
per 100 population in 1999.

But to many residents of East Topeka and Highland Park who are crime
victims or know crime victims, a decline in neighborhood crime doesn't
make them feel secure.

Randy Wright, who lives in the 2100 block of S.E. Colorado, came home
earlier this year to find his house had been burglarized. Although the
security system was on, he said, police failed to respond.

Goodman voiced the perception that police haven't been much help when
it comes to reducing crime. He thinks they need to get more involved.

But Byron Lewis Jr., who lives in the 1300 block of S.E. Lawrence, said
he does see a police presence and it makes him feel a little safer.
Since the tires were stolen from his car earlier this year, he has
noticed police patrolling the neighborhood.

Desiree Lyons' criticism of police is that they patrol at the wrong
times.

"When you most need them, you can't get them there," she said. "I want
a quicker response."

Police Lt. John Sidwell would not comment on opinions of police without
knowing specific incidents to address, but noted that the people he has
talked to in East Topeka have told him police are very responsive.

"We have a community officer that works very hard and diligently in
that area," Sidwell said. "Could we do better? Sure. Are we trying to
do better? You bet."

Laura Senogles, who had her front door wide open at her home near S.E.
23rd and Maryland, said she felt safe in her neighborhood. She gives
credit to a sheriff's deputy who lives two doors down.

But not every resident of East Topeka or Highland Park has a law
enforcement officer as a neighbor, and developing a feeling of safety
can be difficult.

Lewis said eliminating drug houses from East Topeka would make the area
safer.

Lyons suggested citizens join watch patrols. Action is the way to
prevent crime, she said.

Lyons noted that her NIA's neighborhood watch patrol has six vehicles
that volunteers drive through the area looking for suspicious activity.
Anyone interested in joining can contact Lyons at (785) 235-2059.

To see crime statistics concerning East Topeka and Highland Park, visit
www.cjonline.com/crimezones/.