Walks to Partner Police With Neighborhoods

will be walking many of the city's neighborhoods starting this month as part of a continuing effort to get involved in the community and address residents' concerns.

The Walk 'n' Talk program began four years ago.

"Because we now patrol in police cars in Richmond Heights, we like to get them on the street," said Sgt. Doug Schaeffler, referring to the Richmond Heights Police Department officials who participate in the program.

On Walk 'n' Talk nights, officers don't stop at each house and knock on the door. Instead, they announce where they'll begin their walk by dropping off fliers during the previous week. Then, they travel through the neighborhood on foot, talking with people who come outside to visit along the way.

In Schaeffler's view, the program hearkens back to the days when police walked a beat, getting to know residents and business owners.

It is managed by the department's Police and Community Together (P.A.C.T.) Unit, a one-officer division that serves as a point of contact for residents who want police help with issues unrelated to emergencies.

Lyndsy Harrison is that officer. She maintains an office at The Heights community center and is available by phone at 314-655-3632. Her department is self-supporting: An annual golf tournament provides the funds to sustain it.

For her, the Walk 'n' Talk program highlights "all the positive things we do" for residents.

"I do handle a lot of informal complaints that way," she said of the program.

People can bring up issues—a barking dog, a bright light next door, abandoned vehicles—to work with police on finding solutions.

This year's program is different because officers will be showcasing different police vehicles throughout the summer and handing out free water bottles and pens, Schaeffler said. The police department has a car that reads license plates to search for outstanding warrants, a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle and a battery-powered three-wheeler.

The Walk 'n' Talks last anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes.

Richmond Heights police regularly help residents find answers to questions about issues such as burnt-out street lights, Schaeffler said. A police officer might place a call to Ameren Missouri to find out when it will be fixed. In that way, the police help residents get answers in cases where they otherwise wouldn't know who to call.

Reaction to the program has been positive, Harrison said. It lets her to get to know residents on a personal level, allowing her to say hello when she sees them at the grocery store or a gas station.

Schaeffler agreed.

"We're not a big bureaucratic government they have to go through all the red tape for," he said.

At its heart, the Walk 'n' Talks are a part of an initiative geared toward neighborhoods. While Richmond Heights is a city of only three square miles, Schaeffler said, it boasts 36 neighborhood watch groups.

The Walk 'n' Talks can help police reconnect with the leaders of these watch groups and spur them to hold fresh meetings in their neighborhoods.

This year's 15 Walk 'n' Talks have been scheduled to begin at locations that are central to people living on several intersecting streets. A complete schedule of Walk 'n' Talk nights may be downloaded from the police department's website.