Officials say Cameron Park not a haven for illicit activities
By J.B. Smith Tribune-Herald staff writer
“Wherever people get together, there’s a potential for problems.”
— Steve Anderson,
Waco Police Department
City leaders say the biggest obstacle to Cameron Park’s rebound during the last couple of decades has been the belief of some residents that it is unsafe.
But is it? Here are the numbers.
Waco Police Department figures show that the 416-acre park and the surrounding neighborhood had 106 calls from 2007 to last month.
More than half of those calls were in victimless categories such as suspicious persons, suspicious cars, reckless driving, civil disturbances and discharge of firearms.
There were 12 burglaries of cars and homes and six drug offenses.
More serious offenses included one armed robbery, in which the victim knew the suspect, and three sexual assaults.
Two of the sexual assaults involved victims picked up outside the park. There also was one indecent exposure.
Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson said Cameron Park isn’t considered a haven for crime.
“That’s not bad for 3 1/2 years,” he said. “Cameron Park is really no different from any other park you may go to, like Airport Park or Speegleville. Wherever people get together, there’s a potential for problems.”
He said a good idea is for runners and other park users to go with a friend.
“There’s strength in numbers,” he said. “The more decent people you have there to enjoy the park, the more your criminal element will tend to stay away.”
In recent years, the crime rate has been about half of what it was when the park ranger program started in the mid-1980s. There were 60 incidents reported in 1986.
Larry Simms, park ranger supervisor, said the rangers had an immediate impact on behavior in the park. Since then, the force has grown from three to 16, operating 24 hours a day.
“There’s not a doubt how safe the park is,” he said. “I tell people, ‘If you’re coming to the park to picnic and relax at an appropriate hour, it’s as safe as the police department parking lot.’ ”
jbsmith@wacotrib.com
757-5752
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