Dianna M. Náñez

The Republic | azcentral.com

Residents concerned with Tempe policing plan to speak at City Council meeting

Tempe police say the recent public-safety campaigns are saving lives

Tempe's Safe and Sober campaign nets 146 for driving under the influence in the first three days

Some residents say Tempe's recent public-safety campaigns make them feel like they are living in a "police state," but the officers who patrol the streets say the proactive policing will save lives.

A group of residents who oppose the Tempe Police Department's heightened "Safe and Sober" patrols planned to take their complaints to the Tempe City Council meeting tonight.

A social-media invite on the Maple - Ash - Farmer - Wilson Neighborhood Facebook page that encouraged residents to voice their gripes was titled "Tell Officer Buzzkill to Buzz off."

The post, in part, reads:

"We're sick of the police state. We're sick of a cop on every corner. We're sick of being afraid to walk to the liquor store because of police harassment. We're sick of the cops beating jaywalkers and shooting kids on the street."

"We're sick of the city turning downtown into a no-fun zone. We're sick of being punished for the frats' bad behavior. Stand with us. Drink with us! Cancel safe & sober for good. Before it's too late."

The message is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the sentiment is sincere, said Tempe resident Cathie Mancini, 46.

"My greatest concern is there's a privacy issue that I feel is violated in having armed officers in uniform knocking on doors in neighborhoods or setting up policing operations," said Mancini, who grew up in Tempe and lives in the Mitchell Park neighborhood south of downtown Tempe. "I feel that's over-policing."

Mancini said she will attend the council meeting to ask the Tempe City Council to give residents: "A say in how our community is policed—we want a seat at the table."

Tempe police officials have said the city's recent Welcome Walk and Safe and Sober campaigns are a response to residents who were concerned about Arizona State University students' safety after a string of high-profile crimes in recent years, loud college or fraternity parties and alcohol-related injuries.

The Welcome Walk in August was a partnership between ASU police and staff and Tempe police and city workers.

Lt. Michael Pooley, a Tempe police spokesman, said officers wanted to introduce themselves and get to know the people living in their community. They reminded college students of the city's loud-party rules. They warned residents and students about the Safe and Sober campaign, a three-week crackdown on impaired driving and underage drinking involving 17 police agencies.

Safe and Sober launched Aug. 21 and will continue through Friday. Pooley said police have received positive feedback on the efforts.

Tempe police have found that beefing up policing early in the ASU semester can curb students' unruly and dangerous behavior, especially for freshman, who are new to the community.

"Every year, you get a brand new influx of freshmen," Pooley said. "Ten thousand new students who are away from home for the first time, they start doing things that they typically wouldn't do."

Crime statistics Tempe police released Aug. 25, after the first three days of Safe and Sober, showed that dozens of impaired drivers were taken off Tempe streets.

"The results indicate we are on the right path and continuing with the campaign is in the best interest of community safety," a Tempe police statement said.

Tempe police tallied 392 arrests, including 146 for driving under the influence, 35 for minor possession of alcohol, 112 for minor consumption of alcohol and 99 categorized as "other" arrests.

But for some, the statistics only reveal part of the picture.

Christopher Paul, 37, said he believes some residents are being unfairly targeted. Paul, who lives in the Maple Ash neighborhood, south of downtown Tempe, said that the wave of police officers patrolling streets aren't just ticketing drunk drivers.

"I incurred $800 in three bicycle tickets during separate stops during last year's Safe and Sober in a matter of two weeks," he said.

Paul believes Tempe and the other Arizona public-safety agencies manning Safe and Sober are motivated in part by a revenue boost that comes with the increased ticketing.

But fines are the least of Paul's worries. He said he fears that, as a minority, he is more likely to be targeted by police. Paul said he is Native American.

"It's dangerous bringing 17 police organizations into a community," he said. "Me, being a brown person — minorities are getting arrested more, beat up more and killed more by police. That's why I'm scared."

Mancini said that she spoke with Tempe police and explained that neighborhoods were on edge because the Tempe Welcome Walk, involving armed uniformed officers knocking on doors, took place during the Ferguson, Missouri, protests that flared after a police officer fatally shot an unarmed African-American teenager.

Mancini said she has asked Tempe police for a demographic breakdown of the Safe and Sober crime statistics, but has yet to receive that information.

"How many stops without arrests were made?" she said. "How many innocent people were harassed? We've never been able to get the demographics on age, ethnicity, those types of things."

Mancini said she serves as an advocate on an oversight commission for the Arizona Department of Corrections, but she still fears speaking out against the police department. She wonders how many others in the community remain silent.

"I come from a law-enforcement family, and I'm still terrified they're (the Tempe Police Department) going to flag me," she said. "We need to create a forum where we can feel confident about speaking up and working together with the police."

Pooley said Tempe police officers understand residents' fears.

"For people who are afraid when they see that many officers, that's not our intention," Pooley said. "We want people to come to Tempe. Tempe's a great place to be."

Pooley encouraged residents with concerns to call the police. Communication will help residents and police build trust and understanding, he said

"We're normal people. We have families that we go home to. We have our own fears," he said. "We're public servants, we're here to treat people fair."