You’re Feeling Safer And Police Like That

Yakima Police are happy to learn that people are feeling safer and are feeling better about crime prevention in the city according to new survey results released this week. Spokesman Mike Bastinelli says the citizen survey shows the rating for the overall feeling of safety in Yakima has risen each of the last three years in both the mail-in and online survey results. Bastinelli says a lot of people say they see a lot more police cars on city streets and he says that results in a feeling of safety. "Having those take home cars made a big difference. And the fact that even when they're not working they can respond. I think it's been a combination of things that's really shown these positive numbers with the community."
People who filled out the online survey this year gave a 36% “excellent/good” rating to the overall feeling of safety compared to a 33% rating last year.
Bastinelli says the outreach the department started earlier this year with coffee with a cop and picnic with a cop has also helped open communication and allow people to feel more in contact with officers who patrol area neighborhoods.  The next coffee with a cop is set for 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Chalet Mall Starbucks Coffee at south 56th Avenue and Summitview Avenue.