Police substation opening in Moline apartment

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By Dustin Lemmon | Sunday, August 3, 2008 5:16 PM CDT | () comments

Moline police officer Tim Waltman checks out the view from the new substation at the Pheasant Ridge Apartment complex. (Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Buy this Photo

From his new office in the two-bedroom apartment, Moline police officer Tim Waltman can see Black Hawk College and the path most students take from campus to Pheasant Ridge Apartments.

The new owners of the 216-unit apartment complex want to attract more students and families as renters and want to clean up a negative image the property at 3500 70th St. has gained over the years, Waltman said.

Police are eager to help and have agreed to open a substation in apartment 302 of building 3506. Police already have a key to the apartment and will be moving in within a week or two.

Waltman said previous owners saw the need for such an office but weren’t willing to give up a unit. The ownership has changed multiple times in the past year.

“Every time (ownership changed) I had to start over again and tell them what we could do for them,” Waltman said. “They saw the need; they just didn’t know how to do it.”

Moline Police Chief Gary Francque hopes the office will be permanent and that the new management which took over in June, United Apartment Group of Texas, maintains its commitment.

“We’ve tried for years to get the management there to get a COP (Community Oriented Police office),” he said. “We hope eventually to convince management to fund the COP” and full-time officers.

Darcie Pottebaum, assistant manager at the complex, said she’s worked at other Moline housing complexes that had police substations and encouraged her employers to open one.

“I know the COP program really well, and I know it works,” she said. “They build stronger ties with the community. It gives people a sense of security.”

Pottebaum said the management doesn’t think the complex has a crime problem but wants to be proactive. She said some new tenants are excited to hear about the substation.

Elaine Weaver, who has lived in the complex since December, is excited about the substation opening.

“I think it’s going to make a big difference in the situation we have,” she said. “I appreciate what management is trying to accomplish.”

Weaver, who was a victim of domestic violence in the past, said she has called 911 twice to report domestic incidents she’s witnessed at the complex. Police responded quickly, she said, but she hopes the presence of a substation will prevent further incidents.

“That’s one thing that I noticed that really needs attention,” she said.

As a tax credit property, Pheasant Ridge is limited in who can live there. Renters must have a yearly income of $14,000 to $26,000 to qualify, which would exclude some Black Hawk students.

Waltman and fellow officer Jerome Thomas will be working out of the substation daily, although it will not be manned full time. It is the city’s sixth substation, and only three are fully staffed. One, at Pine Ridge, was temporary and has closed.

“We’ve not had one yet that was not successful,” Waltman said of the city’s substations. “It gives us better access. We might be a little scary (to residents) at first, but they’ll get to know us.”

Moline police had 630 calls to Pheasant Ridge last year, Waltman said, giving it the most of any area in the city. The calls were for domestic incidents, underage drinking parties, burglaries, noise complaints and others.

Police will put up signs around the complex that tell residents and visitors there is a substation. It will include their address and phone number, which still has to be set up.

“It gives them the thought ‘when is he going to come through’,” Waltman said of the signs, adding they hope that deters some looking to commit a crime.

“We have an office, we don’t necessarily have to have a car out front,” Thomas added. “They may not see my car, but I’ll be there.”

Substations can be used by any officer at any time. Police can stop in to fill out a report, conduct an interview or make a phone call, Waltman said.

Police think their increased presence at the complex already has had a positive effect.

Waltman said during a recent welfare check on a tenant they discovered multiple assault rifles in the apartment. They confiscated the weapons and got the man help, which included putting him in touch with his family, whom he hadn’t seen in six years.

Waltman said police plan to bar some guests who cause problems from visiting the apartments. They’ve also asked management to put together a computerized list of tenants, which they didn’t have available before.

Police decided to open the substation across the hall from a known trouble maker, who along with two other tenants in the building chose to move out, Waltman said.

“We want people who want a nice quiet place to live,” Waltman said of tenants.

Richard Fiems, chief of public safety at Black Hawk College, hopes the substation will help police and school security work together more often.

“It’s always helpful to have Moline or the sheriff’s department a little closer,” he said. “They’re a primary source for backup if anything happens.”

Fiems said he’s not heard of many problems at Pheasant Ridge but thinks the substation can only help.

“It’s generally pretty quiet over there from our perspective,” he said. “Any time any police agency can do that kind of outreach into the city, that’s terrific.”

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

QUAD-CITY TIMES

From his new office in the two-bedroom apartment, Moline police officer Tim Waltman can see Black Hawk College and the path most students take from campus to Pheasant Ridge Apartments.

The new owners of the 216-unit apartment complex want to attract more students and families as renters and want to clean up a negative image the property at 3500 70th St. has gained over the years, Waltman said.

Police are eager to help and have agreed to open a substation in apartment 302 of building 3506. Police already have a key to the apartment and will be moving in within a week or two.

Waltman said previous owners saw the need for such an office but weren’t willing to give up a unit. The ownership has changed multiple times in the past year.

“Every time (ownership changed) I had to start over again and tell them what we could do for them,” Waltman said. “They saw the need; they just didn’t know how to do it.”

Moline Police Chief Gary Francque hopes the office will be permanent and that the new management which took over in June, United Apartment Group of Texas, maintains its commitment.

“We’ve tried for years to get the management there to get a COP (Community Oriented Police office),” he said. “We hope eventually to convince management to fund the COP” and full-time officers.

Darcie Pottebaum, assistant manager at the complex, said she’s worked at other Moline housing complexes that had police substations and encouraged her employers to open one.

“I know the COP program really well, and I know it works,” she said. “They build stronger ties with the community. It gives people a sense of security.”

Pottebaum said the management doesn’t think the complex has a crime problem but wants to be proactive. She said some new tenants are excited to hear about the substation.

Elaine Weaver, who has lived in the complex since December, is excited about the substation opening.

“I think it’s going to make a big difference in the situation we have,” she said. “I appreciate what management is trying to accomplish.”

Weaver, who was a victim of domestic violence in the past, said she has called 911 twice to report domestic incidents she’s witnessed at the complex. Police responded quickly, she said, but she hopes the presence of a substation will prevent further incidents.

“That’s one thing that I noticed that really needs attention,” she said.

As a tax credit property, Pheasant Ridge is limited in who can live there. Renters must have a yearly income of $14,000 to $26,000 to qualify, which would exclude some Black Hawk students.

Waltman and fellow officer Jerome Thomas will be working out of the substation daily, although it will not be manned full time. It is the city’s sixth substation, and only three are fully staffed. One, at Pine Ridge, was temporary and has closed.

“We’ve not had one yet that was not successful,” Waltman said of the city’s substations. “It gives us better access. We might be a little scary (to residents) at first, but they’ll get to know us.”

Moline police had 630 calls to Pheasant Ridge last year, Waltman said, giving it the most of any area in the city. The calls were for domestic incidents, underage drinking parties, burglaries, noise complaints and others.

Police will put up signs around the complex that tell residents and visitors there is a substation. It will include their address and phone number, which still has to be set up.

“It gives them the thought ‘when is he going to come through’,” Waltman said of the signs, adding they hope that deters some looking to commit a crime.

“We have an office, we don’t necessarily have to have a car out front,” Thomas added. “They may not see my car, but I’ll be there.”

Substations can be used by any officer at any time. Police can stop in to fill out a report, conduct an interview or make a phone call, Waltman said.

Police think their increased presence at the complex already has had a positive effect.

Waltman said during a recent welfare check on a tenant they discovered multiple assault rifles in the apartment. They confiscated the weapons and got the man help, which included putting him in touch with his family, whom he hadn’t seen in six years.

Waltman said police plan to bar some guests who cause problems from visiting the apartments. They’ve also asked management to put together a computerized list of tenants, which they didn’t have available before.

Police decided to open the substation across the hall from a known trouble maker, who along with two other tenants in the building chose to move out, Waltman said.

“We want people who want a nice quiet place to live,” Waltman said of tenants.

Richard Fiems, chief of public safety at Black Hawk College, hopes the substation will help police and school security work together more often.

“It’s always helpful to have Moline or the sheriff’s department a little closer,” he said. “They’re a primary source for backup if anything happens.”

Fiems said he’s not heard of many problems at Pheasant Ridge but thinks the substation can only help.

“It’s generally pretty quiet over there from our perspective,” he said. “Any time any police agency can do that kind of outreach into the city, that’s terrific.”

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.