Community Resource Officer Meets with Residents

Gulfport Police Officer Robert McLaughlin met with residents during Monday night's Crime Watch meeting at the Neighborhood Center.

McLaughlin introduced himself as the new Community Resource Officer. The specific position was created this year in response to a public survey conducted in 2010. Chief Robert Vincent said citizens expressed concern for this area of town.

McLaughlin introduced himself and explained his primary responsibilities. He said he'll concentrate on "assisting with code violations, crime watch issues, quality of life issues and trying to create various partnerships to clean up the area."

"One of the ideas, we'll be trying to partner with the Gibbs High School Visual Arts Department and see if the property owner [can] donate material . . . maybe have students . . . do decorative murals on 7th and 8th Ave."

McLaughlin said he'll be patroling in his vehicle, on a bicycle and going door to door to help the residents in this area. He'll be focussing on the neighborhoods between the Pinellas Trail and Gulfport Blvd.  and from 49th St. to about 55th St.

Anyone with questions can contact Officer Robert McLaughlin at rmclaughlin@mygulfport.us.

Otherwise, McLaughlin said he'll continue to introduce himself to residents at other meetings as well.