Parma safety forces begin Walkabouts next month

3/27/2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2012

Contact: Jeannie Roberts (440) 885-8181 (216) 346-9935

PARMA, Ohio – The Parma Safety Walkabout program will begin its sixth year on Wednesday, April 18.

The program will begin this year in Ward Four, where Mayor Tim DeGeeter is a resident. At about 5:30 p.m. that day, city officials will start knocking on doors and chatting with residents. Walkabouts are scheduled to take place in all nine Parma wards this summer and fall.

Among those participating will be Mayor DeGeeter, Safety Director Greg Baeppler, Police Chief Robert Miller and members of his command staff, Parma auxiliary police and Parma City Council members. The Ward Four City Councilman is Brian Day.

The second week of Walkabouts is scheduled for Ward Two, where Debbie Lime is the Councilwoman. City officials will distribute literature about personal and residential safety, like how to make a home more burglar-proof. They will also listen to neighborhood concerns.

“The beauty of this program is that it is pro-active,” said Safety Director Greg Baeppler. “By raising awareness among the residents, we are giving people tools to help contribute to the safety of their own neighborhoods.”

Each ward’s councilperson will determine which streets are included in Walkabout Wednesday. Inclement or severe weather will result in re-scheduling that evening’s plan. Announcements about the Walkabouts will be posted to the City of Parma Facebook page and tweeted from the @ParmaMayor Twitter account.

“Helping people to understand how they can make their own homes and streets safe contributes to a safer community overall,” Mayor DeGeeter said. “This is a participatory program for a more secure Parma, and it’s also a great opportunity for residents to meet city officials and tell us about their concerns.”

Councilman Day is excited to begin the program again, and is delighted it will begin in his ward. “"I always look forward to participating in the Walkabout Program,” he said. “It is a valuable tool to both the safety forces and our residents."