The Grand Opening of the new CWE Neighborhood Security Initiative office was celebrated last week with an open house reception that attracted extensive media coverage and was attended by many neighbors. The new facility, which is located in street-level space at 447 N. Euclid, enables the NSI to combine administrative functions with the operations of The City's Finest, the group that provides supplemental policing by off-duty police officers who patrol the area on bikes.
The activities of the NSI are funded by 6 participating Special Business Districts in the CWE, and Washington University Medical Center. It is anticipated the 9th Police District will operate a substation in the same space, which will enable on-duty policemen to use this office to file reports using dedicated computers tied to police headquarters. This will keep more officers in the area and cut down on response time to 911 emergency calls.
The NSI staff includes Deputy Director Sarah Wickenhauser, left, Director Jim Whyte, and Court Advocate Isabella Lovadina. Sarah runs the office and coordinates the scheduling of the bike patrols. She said that since the NSI has been in operation (approximately three years), one of the most visible changes is a decline in the number of panhandlers. Crime has dropped significantly in the CWE.
Isabella Lovadina has achieved great success in the short time she has served as Court Advocate for the Central West End and Forest Park Southeast neighborhoods. Typically, a court advocate is a neighborhood volunteer, and while the CWE has a dedicated group of volunteers who assist when needed, they are not always available to spend hours waiting in a courtroom or attend a day-long trial.
Isabella's job is to inform the court of the impact a crime has had on both the victim and the neighborhood, in the hope that the judge will impose penalties commensurate with the crime. Once an arrest is made for a crime occurring in the CWE or Forest Park Southeast, Isabella monitors the case as it proceeds through the criminal justice system in an effort to ensure that justice is served. She, and the volunteers who assist in her efforts, attend bond setting and sentencing hearings where they speak to the court about the impact of crime on the neighborhood. Isabella also helps victims of crime navigate the system, which can be an overwhelming experience. The presence of these advocates in the courtroom has made a significant impact on the outcome of these hearings. Contact the NSI office to enlist as a volunteer.
The new NSI office is a welcoming place and it's helpful that it is more visible and accessible than the previous location. The staff is available if neighbors have questions or concerns. Recently a couple of neighbors stopped in to request extra patrols while they are out of town. In an emergency of course, please dial 911. The bike officers carry police radios and are often the first to respond to a call for service.
CWE NSI, 447 N. Euclid, (314) 454-5808.