Crime is taking center stage in Kansas City this week, but not in a bad way. Law enforcement from all over the US and Canada are in town for a crime-free housing conference.
There are dozens of affordable rental properties all over Kansas City. The problem is crime: police say either criminals live there or are committing crimes. But Kansas City police are leading the way to evict the problems.
Waldo Heights used to be two separate complexes, with problems well known by Kansas City, Missouri police. But management got involved with the department's crime free program and things have turned around.
"We were up in 80 to 90, dropped to 40 percent," property manager Michele Antonopoulos said.
That drop would sink some apartment communities, but here it's a good thing. With problem tenants gone, the good ones are staying.
Changes don't happen overnight. Everyone, from management to residents and police, have to be on the same page.
That's where Monday's conference is key in getting law enforcement and apartment managers in the same room to brainstorm. It's also a chance for police to help them focus on screening new tenants and teach them to look for signs of criminal activity. Then they can take those tools back to their communities and turn bad situations into good ones.
The conference continues through Wednesday. Among the topics to be covered are identifying marijuana and meth lab operations and classes on recognizing and dealing with domestic violence issues.
It's a packed few days, but officers putting on the conference say the goal is the same: to make every apartment complex a safe one.
There are dozens of affordable rental properties all over Kansas City. The problem is crime: police say either criminals live there or are committing crimes. But Kansas City police are leading the way to evict the problems.
Waldo Heights used to be two separate complexes, with problems well known by Kansas City, Missouri police. But management got involved with the department's crime free program and things have turned around.
"We were up in 80 to 90, dropped to 40 percent," property manager Michele Antonopoulos said.
That drop would sink some apartment communities, but here it's a good thing. With problem tenants gone, the good ones are staying.
Changes don't happen overnight. Everyone, from management to residents and police, have to be on the same page.
That's where Monday's conference is key in getting law enforcement and apartment managers in the same room to brainstorm. It's also a chance for police to help them focus on screening new tenants and teach them to look for signs of criminal activity. Then they can take those tools back to their communities and turn bad situations into good ones.
The conference continues through Wednesday. Among the topics to be covered are identifying marijuana and meth lab operations and classes on recognizing and dealing with domestic violence issues.
It's a packed few days, but officers putting on the conference say the goal is the same: to make every apartment complex a safe one.
