AIKEN, SC (WFXG) -
Dozens of people woke up early Saturday morning to attend an
Aiken Safe Community Actions workshop.
Aiken Department of Public Safety Lt. Karl Odenthal
said, "We need each other. The police department can't do it by itself and by
partnering with community groups, neighborhoods, ministers and churches we can
get it done."
Odenthal says it is possible to reduce violent crime and property
crime levels in the city, but only if the community steps up.
"By having the community help us when they see something out
of the ordinary, give us a call then we can respond, that's how we stop it and
make those neighborhoods safer," explained Odenthal.
The last year of available crime data for Aiken was 2010; according to the FBI there were 112
instances of violent crime and over 1,000 property crimes.
Even though the violent crime rate
in the city is much lower than the state average, property crimes are slightly
higher and some residents believe their community can do better.
Sheryl Cummings, an Aiken Safe Community Actions member, says
residents at the meeting care about their community and want to see the
violence end.
Cummings says they are planning to host another seminar.
They don't have the date set at this point but we'll let you know when it will
be.
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