ST. LOUIS — The Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District, known as the CID, launched its latest initiative called the Downtown Strategic Operation Center (DSOC). The goal is to create a cleaner, safer and better downtown.
The command center is officially up and running and ready to receive reports. It's staffed with people who have experience in a command center.
CID's Executive Director Kelli McCrary explained this will tackle non-emergency and nuisance incidents.
"It is funded through our CID and our board told us that we need to do more things that are going to be more valuable to the downtown community and this is one of them," she noted. "We have cameras back here and an operator ready to receive phone calls, so we’re able to deploy our resources to the field."
Residents, visitors, and employees can call, text or email the command center.
Here are some ways it can assist:
- Deploy a clean team to address large debris on public sidewalks or streets and small-scale graffiti
- Deploy public safety personnel, including off-duty officers and secondary armed security
- Connect resources for the homeless community and crisis/behavioral interventionists to coordinate expedited response
- Respond to potential hazardous conditions such as loitering, abandoned cars, property breaches, malfunctioning traffic signals and suspicious activity
"The security, there are number of nuisance concerns and other matters that don't rise to the matter of 911, " McCrary shared. "It absolutely helps the officers. That’s our goal to make sure they do respond to those matters that rise to the level of 911."
It has also partnered with Behavioral Health Response, known as BHR, for crisis clinicians.
BHR's Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Bart Andrews said, "We'll have clinicians doing foot patrols seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., all the time. This absolutely should reduce the risk for the need of law enforcement to get involved in stuff they don't need to get involved in."
McCrary believes downtown is the front door to the region. The goal is to ensure a warm welcome.
"We want to make sure we are helpful in reducing some of those safety concerns about downtown and with our unique way, this operation center will do that," McCrary added.
She explained the launch is happening now to see how things will go, before a busier time comes in, which is spring and summer.
Reports can be made 24/7.
If you want to submit a report, you can call or text 314-924-2222. The email is better@stlcid.org.
For more information, click here.