Preacher wants violence to end in Washington Heights

A local pastor approached the Sebring City Council Tuesday to address what he termed "unfettered crime and violence" in the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Lemon Street area of Washington Heights.

Tyrone Simpson, associate pastor at the Zion Hill Baptist Church, cited the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Christopher Brown.

He told the council there have been four murders and numerous shootings in this "breeding ground" for violence drugs and crime, and wanted the council to consider putting in a police substation and perhaps a no-loitering zone.

"The Washington Heights community has the focus of our city," Mayor George Hensley told Simpson.

Hensley said it was difficult to arrest someone before they've committed a crime, but admitted the area takes more attention for certain. He said he did not know if this council supported funding a substation.

The church where Simpson is a minister is about 100 yards away from the area in question. He admitted that business owners were not preventing people from loitering.

"Before any money can be invested in any positive way, the crime must be addressed," Simpson said.

Simpson cited a story that appeared on Friday, March 5, 1999, in the Highlands Today, "Police substation bound for Washington Heights."

Obviously it never happened, but according to the story, Councilman John Clark said in 1999 at a council meeting that the possibility for the substation had grown out of a meeting with the Men of Action organization, who were looking for a site.

At the time, what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was part of Highlands Avenue.

"They will offer a list of volunteers to staff it and to answer the telephone," Clark reportedly said.

The city council at that time thought it was a good idea.

"We've talked about this before," former Councilwoman Pauline White said in the story. "If property owners were closer to that corner (Highlands Avenue and Lemon Street) it might make a difference."

Words of support also came from then Council President Bud Whitlock and former Councilman Jim Terry, as did former Councilwoman Annette Daff, the report stated.

"Fifteen years ago I would say there is no need for a substation," Daff stated in the story. "But there is today."

Former Public Safety Director Tom Dettman said that community involvement was the key. Dettman told council the target date for the substation was Oct. 1, the start of the new budget year. Dettman was since named as chief of police.

"I think this may be a very positive step," Dettman said.

The following Tuesday voters passed a referendum to revert back to having separate chiefs for the city's police and fire departments and an election removed three council members from office.

In 1999, Robert Saffold, on behalf of the Men of Action, told the council in a letter that the mere presence of a police substation would be a deterrent to many of the problems they were having, and which continue today.

During Tuesday's discussion Council President John Griffin asked Simpson what the council could do and asked if Simpson had any ideas?

Simpson suggested a zero tolerance no loitering policy to disperse the crowd as soon as possible when the night-time businesses close.

He suggested dedication of a community resource officer as well as better surveillance of the neighborhood, including cameras and possibly monitoring the license plates of drivers entering the area to see who was coming and going.

"Right now is the time for tough, strong action," he said.

Council asked police Lt. Carl Hoglund to work closely with Simpson and other people active in the neighborhood to help find a viable solution that is within the current budget.

Hoglund told the council the department was being both proactive and reactive in the community.

Councilman Scott Stanley said he has long been a proponent for police officers to get out of their patrol cars and get out among the people. That's the way to build relationships within the community.

Saffold told the council that the New Washington Heights Neighborhood group has had meetings to discuss this issue.

"If we know there are drugs there then there's something that can be done," he said. "These people selling the drugs are not chemists. These drugs are coming in from somewhere else."

Included in the new Washington Heights Neighborhood and Urban Design Plan which can be viewed online at http://67.76.215.45:8080/Documents/Washington%20Heights.pdf there is a recommendation from its creators Keith and Schnars, on Page 32, under Chapter 5, "Recommendations for a Sustainable Neighborhood."

"Increase police presence through the installation of a substation within the neighborhood; at a minimum, assign neighborhood resource officers to Washington Heights," the plan stated as one of 11 suggestions.