Dothan Commissioners Expected to Approve Renewal of Public Housing Police Patrols
Matt BosterViewed: 1944
Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Apr 07 2015 7:54 AM
DOTHAN: A program aimed at reducing crime in Dothan’s public housing areas is expected to be renewed by city commissioners when they meet today. It will provide eight officers for 24-hour, seven day a week coverage with a portion of their salaries reimbursed by the Dothan Housing Authority.
The patrols, unless there is an emergency, will remain in and around Henry Green Apartments, McRae Homes, Martin Homes, Johnson Homes, Ussery Homes, and Marvin Lewis Village.
The salary costs and benefits will surpass $500,000 annually but the Housing Authority will reimburse up to $175,000 under the agreement that commissioners will consider. The pact between the Authority and city first began in 1998 after federal funding for Housing and Urban Development that paid a portion of the cost ceased.
The program is aimed at curtailing drug use, vandalism, and other criminal activity that happen in these areas. When the crime fighting program was implemented the crime rate in public housing areas dipped significantly according to police statistics.
Below is the resilution the city commission will be voting on;
Res. No.__________Entering into an agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Dothan to continue the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program by providing eight police officers for assignment at the public housing developments for a period of one (1) year at an estimated cost of $587,857.00 with $175,000.00 being reimbursed to the City.
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