Crime-free training draws 60 in Toledo

Illinois sergeant leads program for apartment managers, police

Sgt. John Nebl of the Schaumburg, Ill., Police Department speaks during the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program hosted by Toledo police, Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, the Catholic Diocese, and Vistula Management.

THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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Sgt. John Nebl of the Schaumburg, Ill., Police Department speaks during the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program hosted by Toledo police, Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, the Catholic Diocese, and Vistula Management.

Police and area apartment-complex managers hope to build a relationship that could reduce crime and improve renters’ quality of life.

Benefits from the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program could be in full effect within a year, said Toledo police Lt. Phil Cook, who was on the team that sought to start the program.

The program is a “natural progression” of the Apartment Coalition, which started in Toledo in 2011 with voluntary monthly meetings among police and apartment-complex owners and managers, to establish “best practices” to improve life and reduce crime, the lieutenant said.

The training is led by Shaumburg, Ill., police Sgt. John Nebl, who has been a certified national trainer since 2001. Schaumburg police implemented the program, which was developed with the Mesa, Ariz., Police Department, in 1999.

Program implementation occurs in three phases, starting with property managers’ training that includes crime-prevention theory, information on evictions, crime-free lease addendum, and resident screenings. The second phase is a survey by police, who look at such safety features as window and door lock standards, exterior lighting, and landscape maintenance at apartment complexes. Last is community awareness training.

Donald Hatch, with the Toledo Police Departmen, listens while Sgt. John Nebl of the Schaumburg, Ill., police department , not pictured, speaks during a "Crime Free Multi-Housing Program" event.

Once the program is in place, “Toledo can start seeing some real benefit within six months to a year,” Sergeant Nebl said.

The program has been implemented in about 2,500 communities across the country, the sergeant said.

The training was attended by about 40 property managers and 20 police officers from Toledo and other departments Monday. The training’s cost, which was not disclosed, was covered by the Cherry Street Legacy Project.

Contact Taylor Dungjen at tdungjen@theblade.com, or 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.