TAMPA, Fla. — Ybor City has seen its fair share of crime and in return, it’s up to the Tampa Police Department to enforce safety.
Since the Halloween weekend shooting that killed two people and injured 16 others, Tampa police have stepped up patrols in Ybor. As a result, Tampa police said they are seeing violent crime decrease in the area.
"You come here on a weekend, you’re going to see a lot of a lot of people just like me, ensuring the safety of everybody who comes down here," Tampa Police Major Eric DeFelice said.
DeFelice expressed the importance of having more officers on the streets to deter people from committing crimes, like shootings.
"Violence is the No. 1 concern. So we feel like we have a handle on that with the additional manpower resources," DeFelice said.
The extra patrols are meant to build trust with business owners and customers.
"We’re out here interacting and letting people know that they have a liaison to speak to the agency," he added.
After the deadly October shooting that gained national attention, businesses in Ybor struggled as fewer people went out due to safety concerns.
"Ybor hurt for a little while, but as you can see, Ybor is very resilient," Victor DiMaio, a Ybor City Business Attorney said.
DiMaio was born and raised in Ybor City. He is now an attorney representing several Ybor business owners as they fight for safer streets.
"It has nothing to do with the restaurants. It’s just the kids kind of congregating around a situation where people are out and causing the problem," DiMaio stated.
Tampa police believe their constant presence will help keep violence down. As they patrol the streets, they make sure to talk to business owners and residents.
"We make a point of getting to know all the business owners and you know was shaking hands, walking and talking and hearing their concerns," Tampa Police Sergeant Curtis Williams said.
As the dayshift supervisor for Ybor City, Sergeant Williams explained the department is also working with other organizations to make sure people feel safe. That includes the "YES! Team" subcontracted by the city of Tampa. The city partnering with the Kentucky-based company was originally to keep the streets clean. After the shooting, that team transitioned more into a safety role to have extra eyes and ears on the streets for Tampa Police.
"We see the district daily. So we see changes when they happen and when they occur. We report it to the Tampa Police Department," Jason Stewart, Operations Manager for Block by Block Ybor City YES! Team said.
When a crime occurs, Tampa Police said they take it very seriously. Their goal is to make sure people get the message, it won't be tolerated.
"We have revisited the 'broken windows theory,' of addressing the things, and letting people know that we’re not going to tolerate even the smallest crime and that in turn prevents the bigger ones from occurring," DeFelice added.
The goal is to curb crimes, so Ybor City streets are safe for those who want to enjoy them.
"To me, Ybor City is the heart and soul of our community. I’m very impressed that Ybor has been very resilient about the entire situation," DiMaio said.
Tampa police said they are in the process of installing new high-quality cameras in Ybor City. That will help them keep an eye on crime and solve it in a timely manner when it occurs.