By Matthew K. Roy
PEABODY — Police have increased foot patrols in a downtown neighborhood recently rattled by gunfire.
The visible presence of officers is a response to the fear felt by residents following an incident earlier this month when a Lynn man shot out the back window of a car on Munroe Street, Deputy police Chief Scott Carriere said.
Having officers walk the street and talk to neighbors and shop owners should help allay that fear, he said. It shouldn't be interpreted as a sign that the area is becoming overridden with crime.
"We're not having a rash of crimes (downtown)," Carriere said.
Hector A. Batista, 19, was arrested in Lynn shortly after the Nov. 4 shooting. Evidence also suggests that he could be connected to the discharge of a firearm in the area last July, police Capt. Dennis Bonaiuto said.
The patrols began this week after a meeting Monday in Mayor Michael Bonfanti's office. Bonfanti invited City Councilor Rico Mello, whose ward includes the downtown neighborhood around Munroe Street, police officials and various city department heads to discuss how to address residents' concerns.
"I don't want to stick our head in the sand and not deal with it," Mello said during an interview late last week. "If we tolerate it, we're going to lose the neighborhood."
Robert Clarke heard the gunshot from his apartment in the Peabody House, a senior-citizen housing complex on Walnut Street. He looked out his window and saw the car, its rear window damaged, pull into townhouse apartments on Hardy Street.
Clarke said vandals over the years have targeted his apartment with eggs and paintballs.
The city and downtown residents need to be proactive, Mello said. He said he would have the council consider toughening the penalties against "absentee" landlords with deteriorating properties. And residents need to alert police when something suspicious catches their eye, he said.
"It's better to call and be wrong than not to call."
The sentiment was echoed by Carriere. He said even calls that don't lead to arrests are valuable because officers collect intelligence that could be useful at a future date.
In the meantime, police are trying to strengthen their relationship with residents of the neighborhood.
Police Capt. John DeRosa, the area commander overseeing downtown, recently met with residents of the Peabody House. It reassured Clarke.
"The police have really taken a deep interest into this place," he said. "I'm really optimistic that things are going to get better from here on out."
