Community pulls together to tackle crime

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Albuquerque police say patrols will only take them so far. Now they're getting out of their units and fighting crime in a different way.

The Singing Arrow neighborhood in Northeast Albuquerque has been riddled with crime for years. It's residents have been victims of burglaries, assaults and gang activity, but now police have a new game plan to help the area South of Central from Tramway to Juan Tabo.

It's called the Singing Arrow Revitalization project. The plan is to host community gatherings, job fairs, clinics for women and classes for renters to help residents move forward with their future plans.

Police are also conducting warrant round ups and working with the safe city strike force to clear out criminals and trash.

"We experience a lot of problems with narcotics, gang and violent crime, and I don't have any tolerance for it," said Albuquerque Police Sergeant Ferris Simmons. "I want to make sure the kids here know that I'm fighting for them."

Sgt. Simmons is a main organizer of the plan and explained the area has too much potential to be riddled with crime.

Saturday Sgt. Simmons and the neighborhood association threw a picnic filled with free food and appearances by the Albuquerque bomb squad and the mounted patrol and the city's helicopter crew, know as air one.

For those that are new to the neighborhood, like Emily Cook and her family, seeing the team effort and increased police presence is something that makes her want to stay.

"They're the ones that monitor this neighborhood," Cook said. "It's so much better to actually know that they're people, not just law enforcement."