Mayor Becker suggests the time may be right to move COP houses.

This from the Journal Times today.

Racine mayor: Time to consider moving C.O.P. houses

By Brent Killackey
Journal Times

Racine Mayor Gary Becker says it’s time to consider changing the locations of Community Oriented Policing houses.

“When they went in, they weren’t supposed to stay forever,” Becker said in an interview.The Community Oriented Policing houses – or C.O.P. houses as they’re called – essentially create police substations in troubled neighborhoods, sometimes renovating boarded-up homes for use.

They’re designed to help fight crime and rebuild the neighborhood.

But they’re not supposed to be permanent fixtures.“You haven’t been successful if you can’t move it,” Becker said.

If decisions are made to move C.O.P. houses, it won’t be an overnight process. If a C.O.P. house will be relocated, a three-year timetable will be established. During that time, agencies from public works to housing would work together to make sure the area was re-energized, Becker said.

I thank the Mayor for this idea, does it really have to take three years though?

Neighborhoods have to be involved in the crime problem if we are to get a handle on it.