Cutting Crime At Rental Homes

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By Holly Zuluaga

Summary

Cutting crime at rental homes. Walla Walla has a program that's helping to make things safer for families. The training teaches what's legal and what's not when it comes to landlords and tenants.

Story Published: Mar 12, 2010 at 6:15 PM PST

WALLA WALLA--Cutting crime at rental homes.

Walla Walla has a program that's helping to make things safer for families.

The training teaches what's legal and what's not when it comes to landlords and tenants.

So they know their rights to help limit crime at the homes they own.

“The whole purpose is to reduce crime in and around rental property,” Officer Tim Bennett said.

The program started nearly ten-years ago.

Every time Police are called to a rental property, they'll send a notification card to the owner.

Landlords will know if they're rented to troublemakers.

“When landlords get involved early on with problems that gives them the opportunity to either make the tenant aware that kind of behavior will not be tolerated or they end up being kicked out of the neighborhood or the rental property which makes it safer,” Officer Tim Bennett said.

The Walla Walla Police Department says the program is working.

I pulled the numbers and found that some apartments have seen a drop in calls for service by over 50%.

Take a look, back in 2001 before the program started Walla Walla Police Department responded to the Blue Mountain Apartments 192 times, but last year just 59 times.

Centennial West Apartments had 88 calls for service in 2001, half that in 2009, and the South Wilbur Apartments had 100 calls for service in 2001, just 47 last year.

Landlords also learn about drugs, gangs and meth labs.

“The program has had a major impact on our community in a positive way, our landlords are much better educated on what they can and can't do,” Officer Tim Bennett said.

Better education and awareness help make the community safer, something everyone can get behind.