Letter: Lacey Democratic Candidate Voices Concerns for Public Safety

I am very concerned that the majority of the current members of the Township Committee have again failed to take a proactive stance on an issue, this one being public safety. 

At the most recent Committee meeting it was disclosed that there have been 14 residential burglaries in less than one month in Lacey. The position of the majority members of the Committee is to request neighbors to be alert and vigilant. The onus of maintaining this aspect of public safety they tell the individual resident it is their responsibility to insure a safe and secure neighborhood environment.

Committeeman Quinn is quoted as saying, “The police department requests that all citizens remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Look out for your neighbor. Everyone has got to try and play their part.”

This is all well and good, but how is the Committee, controlled by my opponents, playing their part? How? They are asking us to do it.

That is their response to this increasing public safety problem. Sit back and talk a good talk.

As part of my campaign I have, from the beginning, advocated for the Township to implement a “Neighborhood Watch Program” to keep our streets safe. This does not entail the hiring of new police officers, but it does create another set of “eyes and ears” for them. This coordinated group of responsible citizens could help reduce the amount of crime in our neighborhoods, much better than one or two individuals acting on their own.

Just think no cost to the taxpayers and a safer neighborhood. A bargain that my opponents, did not even think of, much less start.

One of my first priorities will be use all resources, neighborhood watch programs, our police department, and whatever other resources are available, to make our residents feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods.

You do not need leaders who tell you, as an individual, that you have to take care of your own safety. We need proactive leadership, which has been lacking in this town for over twenty years, under the control of my opponents’ party.

It is time for a change.  It is time for “Putting Lacey First”.

Shawn Judson
Democratic Candidate
Lacey Township Committee