LEWISTON — Lewiston police Sgt. Marc Robitaille will not help you get rid of skulking skunks. But at a noontime event Friday at Pleasant View Acres on Fairmount Street promoting community policing, he said he and other Lewiston cops would be happy to assist with other issues residents had.
Lewiston police officer Bill Rousseau visits with Pleasant View Acres resident Oteria Dowell during a get-acquainted pizza party with residents of the complex on Friday. Lewiston police Sgt Marc Robitaille said it was an opportunity to talk to the residents about any safety concerns they may have. Dowell is holding her 1-month-old granddaughter Eliza Dowell.
“We had a meeting with the property management company (for the apartments) and we agreed to throw a party to meet with residents,” Robitaille said. “This is a better setting for residents to talk about problems.”
One man asked Robitaille if there was anything he could do about a skunk that was getting into his trash at night. The officer chuckled and said, “Nope, sorry.”
About 50 residents, mostly children, blew bubbles, played with balloons and ate pizza in the complex's playground.
“We want to try getting people together and ultimately we are hoping some people in the community will take the lead in organizing a neighborhood group,” Robitaille said. “They're the stakeholders and we want to help them deal with concerns about improving the quality of life and making this a safe place for children.”
Katelin Tabor, compliance manager for Propsys Management Co., which manages the Hillview Apartments complex, said her company sponsored the event, paying for the food and balloons.
“It's a good chance for the tenants to come together. Their opinion matters — this is their home,” she said. “We have a good turnout, with lots of kids. That's where it starts.”
Tabor said domestic disputes are the most frequent problem in the community.
“It's usually conflicts within one family, as opposed to neighbors fighting,” she said.
Carrie McCormick, the property manager for the apartments, said her company wants the residents to feel important and know that they are all members of the community.
Both said the high turnover rate in the affordable housing community contributes to the difficulty in creating a culture of belonging.
Resident Keon Shepard said he's happy to see more police outreach, but many other residents are not.
“A lot of people told me they wouldn't come today, to what they called a 'snitch party,'" he said. “The community needs to stay together. We have a lot of kids and having police around, I don't think it's a bad thing. A lot of us don't have much, but the least we can do is give our kids a safe community.”
Shepard said this summer is already an improvement over last year, when people were frequently drunk and getting into fights.
Robitaille said the outreach was part of a renewed emphasis on community policing launched by Lewiston Police Chief Michael Bussiere. Similar events will be held at other apartment complexes and in downtown Lewiston, he said.
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And why?
Yes! And why is the Sun Journal helping the cops look good? dean
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I agree with tired. The police are the government and feed off themselves. No amount of PR will make up for the unconstitutional opinion of the liberals or the cops. They are the real threat to America. dean
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LEWISTON is no longer Lewiston .. MONEY IF LEWISTON CAN GET MONEY LOOK TO THE REFUGEES TO HELP. LEWISTON HAS BEEN GOING DOWN HILL FOR A VERY LONG TIME . I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT BUT ???? I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS TOO LATE TO TAKE BACK LEWISTON . GOOD LUCK
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I totally agree with what "tactfultina" says in her response. Where is Catholic Charities now that they brought these "refugees" to this city and other cities in the state. Just look at the "police logs".....look at the names of the ones getting arrested....yes...they come here thinking WE owe them something...and as taxpayers we owe them nothing. How is it so easy for them to come here...get on welfare...drive new vehicles...get checks every month..there kids were the best of the best for clothes?...Where is the justice in this?....Drive down Lisbon Street and see the names of the stores....makes ya wanna scream...Go talk to the manager at Family Dollar on Lisbon Street and he'll tell you all about these "refugees" and what there capable of. I was there recently when 3 of them walked out of store with stolen items....the manager chased them with his own truck...yes the police were called and the police said they new who they were...they took off riding bikes...and guess what?....The bikes were stolen ones...Yes...I don't let my kids go out and play in our yard anymore. It's not safe...we can't even lock our bikes here b/c the chains get "cut" bike gets stolen and the padlock is all that is left....this is unbelievable and yes is only going to get worse. We are the minority now....God forbid we don't pay our taxes...and to "Wingnut56"..."Ouch"...that comment was uncalled for....
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Well this is the 2nd article on community policing/action groups....one for PVA and one for the complex formally known as Tall Pines....There have also been many meetings at Hillview in which the meetings become accusatory or a gripe session. The tenants do not get along, the police cannot control the meetings, and issues are not really addressed. The police would like to include the residents of Rideout Avenue as some issues involve them as well. As good an idea as this may sound, a lot of work needs to be done within Hillview, as well as other apartment complexes, before surrounding areas are included. One of the major road blocks is lack of communication because of a language barrier. There are also many cultural differences that need to be addressed. Just because it is my belief that my child not be allowed to run wherever he may want to, doesn't mean that is the way other parents choose to raise their children. However, as parents, we are all responsible for our children's actions and they need to realize there are consequences to their actions. Until the housing projects can deal with the issues within each project, there will be no resolution to any of the issues facing residents of housing projects or their surrounding neighborhoods. Maybe the state and/or the federal government should be throwing their money towards educating people as to what is expected of them. Catholic Charities brought a large number of refugees to this country and yet where is Catholic Charities now, certainly not dealing with the disrespect, rudeness, opinions of entitlement, or bullying that is currently a major issue within this city. We all need to get along but that gets more difficult with each passing day when some seem to think the world owes them or that they can do whatever they choose to with no consequences. And maybe instead of everyone being on different pages they should try getting everyone on the same page...i.e. all police officers doing the same thing, all landlords being consistent, and all residents knowing what is expected and what the consequences will be for not doing what they are suppose to do.
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I think it's great, and especially for the kids to see the cops are your friends if you are not a POS criminal! The only people that fear them or hate them are the ones that need to be in jail probably.
Too bad Lewiston is being ruined AGAIN by two groups, as is Portland, and probably Bangor. It was coming back but we all know who it is that's worried about the snitchers. That's something from the black rappers who also have to fear the police. It's not the sign of a real man. It's the sign of a coward controlled by their peers. I think the city needs a cleaning out, a total shakedown. But it won't happen.
Good luck to the police because it is going to get way worse with what Obama, non-citizen, is shoving up our *ss and how he is anti-business and closing everything down, ON PURPOSE! He wants us BROKEN so he can bring in more of his radical, anti-American, unConstitutional, agenda.
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Tired, you need to get your paranoia in check or stop whatever you are doing that will eventually get you in trouble with the law.
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Sometimes I drive to the store without my seat belt. Is that a dirty enough secret for you? "If you don't have anything to hide...", right? Therefore I must be guilty. I'll tell you something. I'm not guilty and I'm not paranoid. I just don't like being harassed. For example, recently I was driving home from work about 2am. I was on Rt. 26. A state trooper comes up behind me and BLASTS HIS SPOT LIGHTS right into my back window. Obviously I wasn't doing anything wrong, since I wasn't pulled over. So why did he feel the need hassle me? What if I had been a bit startled when those lights came on? What if I swerved? I'll tell you what would've happened. Blue lights followed me on the side of the road walking the line and touching my nose. So, I'm NOT paranoid. I just want to be left alone. I don't want to be searched under the pretense of a "seat belt check". Another time I was pulled over for having a tail light out. It was late at night and I gone to the ATM so I'd have some cash I needed in the morning. The "policeman" asks me where I'm going. I say "Home". He asks where I'm coming from. I say "the ATM over there". He says "Oh, that's strange." WTF? What is so "strange" about it? What gives him the right to call my late night trip to the ATM "strange"? Why is it any of his business? Tell me I have a tail light out, give me a ticket for it if you so desire, and then let me be on my way. He didn't smell any booze. I was alone in the car with my dog. Not as though he was dealing with a band of unruly teenagers. And he says what I'm doing is "strange" as though he's trying to catch me in some sort of a lie. So yeah, all you little moles just go about your day. If you find the time, do a Youtube search for "police brutality". Watch the video of the mother with three kids who was tased on the side of the road. Watch the one where the guy was pulled out of his car, tased, and arrested because he didn't get his license and insurance papers out fast enough to suit the whim of the facist pig who pulled him over. I'll say it again. The police are NOT your friend, and forums like these where they pretend they are is pretty low.
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Well, put on your seatbelt and you will have one less thing to get you in trouble with all the monsters that are out to get you!!! Last time I knew, it is the law to wear a seatbelt. Better yet, I dont want to have to be that future ER doc to have to sew your silly butt back together when you get ejected from the car after an accident (um, that is, if you live to tell about it). Funny thing---wearing your seatbelt protects YOU and keep those "malingering" cops off your back. Sounds like a win-win situation, eh?
I could care less about your dirty secrets. Hopefully that does not offend you. I agree, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be left alone, but dont give people reason to bother you!!!
It is not "illegal" to be stopped for a broken lights on a car. You need to get over yourself.
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Who do they think they're fooling? The police are NOT your friend. I don't care who you are. You think you're a law-abiding citizen? I bet you're doing SOMETHING illegal. The police are there to BUST you for something or anything. That is their JOB. To FIND something that YOU are doing WRONG so that they can HAUL your @&& (bhutt) in. Pizza party time! "Trust Us, we're you're friend!" is a bunch of bull. They do not want to HELP you with anything or PROTECT you from anyone. There are no "law abiding citizens" any more. They see us as the enemy. EVERY one of us is GUILTY of SOMETHING - and THEY KNOW IT. All they care about is finding out what it is. Remember, "Click it - or TICKET". Have a nice day!
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