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MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE <br /> APRIL 19, 2021 <br /> Virtual Meeting <br /> Present: Councilmembers Neff, Litten & Bullock <br /> Also Present: Mayor George, Councilmembers Shachner, Kepple, Litten, Rader & O'Malley, <br /> Human Services Director Gelsomino, Law Director Corrigan, Police Chief Kaucheck, Building <br /> Commissioner Meyers, John Storey, Public Works Director Ducu, Planning Director Leininger, <br /> Deputy Clerk Lascu, Clerk Bach taking minutes <br /> Call to Order: 6:00 p.m. <br /> Approval of the minutes of the January 4, 2021 Public Safety Committee meeting. <br /> A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2021 Public Safety <br /> Committee meeting. A roll call vote was conducted as follows: <br /> Yeas: Neff, Litten, Bullock <br /> Nays: none <br /> Motion adopted. Minutes approved. <br /> Discussion of recent criminal activity and potential strategies for remediation. <br /> Chairperson Neff made opening remarks, acknowledging the many feelings that residents have <br /> experienced about the recent increase in crime,particularly at Madison Park. She asked for the <br /> community to support Lakewood Police Department and its conclusion that temporary removal <br /> of the basketball hoops is in the best interest of the community. She acknowledged that there is <br /> information about the investigation that we want to know but that could jeopardize community <br /> safety. <br /> Mayor George expressed her shock and horror over the two recent shootings at Madison Park. <br /> She discussed the following short-term solutions/responses of her administration: <br /> • Increase LPD patrols at all parks <br /> • Assign a dedicated officer to Madison Park 7 days a week at peak hours <br /> • Add more high-tech security cameras (as a tool for solving crime, not active surveillance) <br /> • Increase parks department security in the parks <br /> • Implement trauma response services in partnership with Frontline Services <br /> • Regular meetings with public safety chiefs <br /> The Mayor remarked that community safety involved a long-term community-wide effort and <br /> that there is no quick formula to ensure safety or to 100%prevent random acts of violence. She <br /> committed in the long-term to engaging with the Anti-Racism Task Force, the Lakewood <br /> 1 <br />