Dallas says it sees signs of success in a crime initiative that targets apartment complexes where crime is a persistent problem.
On Monday afternoon, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Police Chief David Brown stopped by a Northeast Dallas apartment complex where crime is down by 80 percent since April.
Arbor Vista Apartments in the 9800 block of Whitehurst Drive was forced into the city’s mandatory crime-reduction program in April.
With the help of Dallas police, the new management cleared out four drug houses and two suspected drug houses, apartment manager Melissa Bryant said. Apartment managers worked with Dallas police to introduce courtesy patrols, evict felons living on property and add extra security features.
Brown suggested that other problem properties should take note.
“We'd like for you to be this type of apartment complex, and if you show us you are not willing to do the simple things, our city attorneys ready to proceed with legal prosecution,” he said.
The mandatory crime reduction program went into effect Feb. 1, 2009. It targets apartment complexes where crime has been a continual problem.
