Police in the western Iowa city of Council Bluffs are launching an effort to create cleaner, safer neighborhoods. Sergeant Patrick Norris says this is the second year for "Operation Clean Sweep," which begins today and will continue through the summer.
"We are actually going to go door to door to every business and every home in that neighborhood and encourage them to try to work together and possibly get a neighborhood watch group going," Norris said. The goal is to reduce crime by encouraging citizens to take a stand.
"We explain to them that we want to find out as many issues in their neighborhood as possible to try and help clean up…but it really takes their efforts too. They obviously live in the neighborhood," Norris said. Police officers will work with the neighborhoods to resolve a host of complaints.
Norris says the police department is encouraging residents to report unsightly debris in yards or junked motor vehicles that are on a city street for more than 24 hours. Norris says they will also check out complaints of unsanitary living conditions, garbage and animal issues.