By Terrance Thornton
Twitter: @ININEWSMAN

Paradise Valley Councilwoman Ellen Andeen delivered an update to her colleagues on the ins and outs of the Advisory Committee on Public Safety.

Ms. Andeen, who serves as chair of the group and Town Council liaison, offered insights to what the group is accomplishing and what it is eying as future goals at Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive, Thursday, Jan. 23.

“It was first organized in March of 2015 as a group,” she said of the ACOPS group, which assembled shortly after a rash of burglaries toward the end of 2014 and early 2015. “And, then, in October 2017, the Town Council voted to make it a permanent committee.”

While Ms. Andeen alerted the local governing body to standing events and efforts, she admits one item, in particular, is the talk of the committee.

“We are doing a lot of stuff this year. The key question at the committee this year was the consideration of staggered terms ...” she said of an ongoing discussion at Town Hall regarding all committees. “What needs modifying is the staggering of terms ... which is for process and purpose.”

--- Ellen Andeen

The citizen advisory committee has goals outlined as:

• Promotion of resident participation and engagement.
• Engaging the community on public safety issues.
• Receiving presentations and materials from the Paradise Valley Police Department.
• Advise the mayor and council on committee activities and recommendations.

Ms. Andeen outlined several activities under the guise of the advisory committee like engaging with fundraiser efforts aiding the Special Olympics and regular events where residents can shred sensitive paperwork.

“We are very busy organizing a bunch of stuff with the police department,” she said noting an effort to increase the overall safety of public places within town limits. “We were able to engage with our schools and houses of worship to get their site plans to improve safety.”