By Sarah Kuper
The city of Hoover is reeling from the murder of army veteran and father of two Mike Gilotti.
Killed in the early morning of Jan. 5, Gilotti was on his way to the gym when Hoover police believe he encountered someone breaking into his car and was shot to death.
Since then, Hoover law enforcement has been flooded with questions about personal and neighborhood safety. The crime prevention and neighborhood watch officer for the Hoover Police Department, Brian Hale, said there are a few things that make neighborhoods safer, but the most effective is an old-fashioned neighborhood watch.
“It doesn’t cost anyone a dime – just plain getting to know your neighbors. It is old school but it has worked for 40 years,” he said.
Hale said neighbors who know each other well are more apt to recognize a suspicious car or someone out of place. An effective neighborhood watch will have an established relationship with the local police department and direct contact with an officer.
Many neighborhoods have social media pages or email distribution lists, but Hale said that, unless organizers connect their groups with law enforcement, they may not be getting resources such as monthly crime and 911 service reports.
Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Homewood police departments also offer neighborhood watch liaisons.
While being connected with law enforcement will help keep neighbors informed, Hale said it is a two-way street. “We want them to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood and call us with anything,” he said.
Most area police departments have non-emergency phone numbers. Hale said one reason more suspicious activity isn’t reported is that people wonder whether it is important enough to call 911. A non-emergency line is the solution.
When something as violent as a murder happens, many think the answer is to have a stronger police presence. But Hale said simply adding more marked patrol cars to the area doesn’t make everything suddenly safer.
“When a patrol car goes through a neighborhood, they may not think anything of something that would seem out of place to an informed neighbor. The good guys see the patrol cars but the bad guys do too. And they know when we drive away,” he said.
A partnership between local law enforcement and a neighborhood can also help when an incident is taking place or during an investigation. For example, Hale said, if a neighbor sees officers at a home down the street, instead of just wondering and worrying, he or she can call police to find out what’s going on.
“People can take good news and people can take bad news. It is the unknown that brings fear and panic,” Hale said.
Another resource for residents is social media. By following law enforcement online, neighbors can find alerts or safety tips. Some departments, including Homewood’s, also have ways to submit tips through their Facebook pages.
Of course, Hale said to remember that break-ins are crimes of opportunity. Taking precautions such as locking car doors and having good outdoor lighting can help deter a criminal, he said.
