SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Bridging the gap between the community and the police department, the Fairmount Park Neighborhood Association threw a party for the men and women who patrol their streets every day.
Daniel Palmer and Russ Connelly reminisced the good old days when the original owners from the 1950s took good care of the then-new Fairmount Park community.
"Being in the area that is in the center of everything, it's very desirable," said Connelly, president of the Fairmount Park Neighborhood Association.
But as the years went on and the homes changed hands, so did the vibe of the neighborhood.
"The streets were dirty and the houses were getting more dilapidated," Palmer said.
Palmer said there were numerous reports of drugs, break-ins, and speeding problems along Parrot Street.
"We have a straight part of a downhill side of the street called the 'Parrot Way speedway,'" Connelly said.
"A person was hit and run just a couple of hundred yards from my house," Palmer said.
But the moment they shared their concerns with patrol officers, they said something changed. Instead of merely ticketing offenders, they said the officers took the time to engage with the community.
"I think that's had an effect on a lot of the neighbors because they suddenly seem to slow down, watch for traffic, watch what's going on," Connelly said.
"You see people putting a coat of paint on their house. You see people picking up their yards. People are happier. They feel more secure," Palmer said.
So as a token of their appreciation and hard work, the Fairmount Park Neighborhood Association threw a party for the Mid-City police officers and elected officials who make their area safe. Thank you, they said, for making Fairmount Park the desirable, sweet community it once was.
"It's more of a family environment than it was five to six years ago. In all honesty, it's a lot cleaner. People are more friendly. There's more participation, more interaction. And I think that's in conjunction with cooperation of our local governments and our San Diego Police Department," said Palmer.
