Pubdate: Sun, 08 Dec 2002
Source: Reporter, The (Fond du Lac, WI)
Copyright: 2002 Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.wisinfo.com/thereporter/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2271
Author: Peggy Breister

LANDLORDS HELD RESPONSIBLE BY POLICE FOR HOUSES WITH ONGOING CRIMINAL ACTS

If you want to send a message that you're getting tough on crime, get 
people where they live.

That's the aim of a Fond du Lac Police Department abatement program that 
began last year to focus on so-called gang houses.

"If we have a drug or gang or nuisance house, we let the landlord know," 
said Community Services Officer Andy Gill. "Within five days, they have to 
react."

Landlords are told that if police are called back to the residence for the 
same type of activity, then within five days the landlord either has to 
start the eviction process or let the tenant know that the landlord is 
going to receive a citation if the activity continues.

By the time he contacts a landlord, Gill says, the people in the home and 
the landlord have been given several opportunities to correct the problem.

"This is kind of a last resort," he said. "One contact with police isn't 
going to do it (draw in Gill's involvement)."

The abatement program is guided by State Statutes. Several communities have 
adopted it, including Oshkosh, Appleton, Madison and Milwaukee.

"It helps us work with landlords," said Capt. Kevin Lemke. "Sometimes they 
don't realize they have a problem. They cooperate because they have an 
investment in their property."

The department has always tried to work with landlords, teaching them how 
to evict people legally and peacefully, he said.

"Anytime the police can keep us informed of issues going on at a property, 
it's a good thing," said Gary Schwefel, president of the Fond du Lac Area 
Apartment Association. "Right now, if there are a number of calls to a 
unit, we are not necessarily aware of that. If that can happen more and 
better, that would be great."

Nuisance houses are defined as rental properties where police have been 
called for continual problems such as loud noise, underage drinking parties 
and loitering, Gill said.

It's easier to prove a drug house than a nuisance house because of the 
direct criminal activity, he said.

Gill has never cited a landlord, although he has come "very close" on two 
occasions.

"Usually, when the landlords see they are going to receive a citation," he 
said, "that's usually the point where they say enough is enough."

In August, Gill issued 23 letters to landlords regarding nuisance 
properties. In September, he issued about 15 and another 10 in October.

After the August letters were sent, four landlords contacted Gill before he 
had a chance to contact them because they wanted to know what they had to 
do to take care of the problem.

Many of the abatements Gill handles occur in the Military Road and Forest 
Avenue neighborhood, he said, where about 75 percent of the homes are 
rental properties. Through the city inspector's office, Gill also has had 
38 abandoned vehicles towed from the neighborhood.

Gill said he enjoys the work because he sees the benefits.

"I think it's a way of cleaning up neighborhoods very effectively," he said.

A Milwaukee study showed that people evicted from the nuisance homes may 
move to another neighborhood, but they often cease the activity that got 
them evicted in the first place because they don't want to get thrown out 
again, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens