Beat Health Program

Mission

To provide professional police services that enhance, protect, and promote the quality of life in Modesto with an emphasis on the shared responsibility between citizens, businesses, community agencies and law enforcement.
 

Modesto Police Department’s Beat Health Unit was formed in August of 2004 to complement traditional law enforcement’s battle against drug nuisance properties and illegal drug and criminal activity. When drug properties are allowed to thrive in neighborhoods, property values decrease and injuries to legitimate businesses and commerce occur. The quality of life for law-abiding persons working or residing in or near these locations erodes.  The Modesto Police Department formed the Beat Health Unit to insure neighborhoods aren’t lost to these drug dealers, users and criminals. 

Property Owners, Landlords, and Managers

Beat Health encourages owners, landlords, operators and managers of properties located within Modesto to take the positive steps necessary to prevent violations on their properties particularly those involving illegal drug trade or activity.  One way Beat Health encourages this is by referring owners, property managers and landlords to attend training and get their properties certified through the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.  This program is a nationally recognized program that began in Mesa, Arizona.  For more information on the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, please call 572-9636.

Drug Nuisance Abatement

Beat Health’s abatement approach centers on a non-traditional, multi-agency approach in dealing with drug houses and/or blight nuisance houses.  The goal is to increase the livability of neighborhoods by ridding them of drug dealers and users and improving the physical appearance of the neighborhood. Typically, but not always, properties that have drug activity occurring on them have a neglected appearance.  These properties frequently, but not always, have an accumulation of unsightly trash, garbage, debris, abandoned vehicles, or other health or environmental hazards. 

The Beat Health program uses a coordinated enforcement technique or S.M.A.R.T. (Special Multi-Agency Response Team) approach, in partnership with other government agencies and negotiates with property owners to improve their properties and obtain law-abiding tenants.  Cases where property owners are uncooperative or refuse to comply with the law, are litigated civilly under California’s “Drug Nuisance Abatement Act (11570 of the California Health and Safety Code).”  Beat Health also utilizes the City of Modesto’s Municipal Code to address blight and disorder associated with drug and nuisance properties.

2005-In Review

Beat Health saw a very busy year for 2005 and had many successes.  This three-officer unit conducted over two hundred thirty (230) investigations into drug nuisance properties working closely with public and private agencies, property owners, landlords, tenants, neighbors and families to rid neighborhoods of drug users, dealers and illegal activity.  One neighborhood who saw a drug house move in two doors down from another got involved and continued their commitment in eliminating the drug properties from their block.  This neighborhood watch member never gave up in ridding her neighborhood of these drug users and dealers and was quoted as saying,

“A year ago we were very upset about the drug activity across the street and began several months of gathering information and communicating with your officers.  Today we are relieved that we have wonderful new neighbors in that same house.  We owe a lot to your officers and the Beat Health Program.  As a representative from my Neighborhood Watch group I want to commend your officers and the department’s programs that help residents rid their neighborhoods of drug activity and violence.”

Another achievement the Beat Health program saw for 2005 was the demolition of an eighteen-unit motel converted into rental units in the 1960’s.  This particular property had several decades of criminal activity associated with it and in 2004 was the site of a Methamphetamine lab.  The conditions at the motel were appalling.  This property had unsightly trash, garbage, debris, abandoned vehicles, or other health and safety violations.  Rodents and roaches routinely outnumbered tenants living in these 120 square foot rooms.  A Special Multi-Agency Response Team was formed that included Beat Health and the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources Code Enforcement Division.   Through this partnership the owner was notified of the conditions occurring at the property and given thirty days to remedy the problems.    The owner agreed to demolish it once it was determined that it would cost more to have these units rehabilitated than torn down.   Modesto Police Department’s Housing Authority Officer was able to provide packets for tenants affected by the impending displacement and all were found homes prior to demolition day.

Lastly, Beat Health saw the closure and sale of a drug nuisance property located off of Maple Street that had been the source of rock cocaine sales and criminal activity.  This property was an eyesore to the community and surrounding homes and neighborhood for several years.  Once again, a Special Multi-Agency Response Team was formed by Beat Health that included the City of Modesto’s Community and Economic Development Department’s Building Inspection Division.  An order was issued to the owner to make necessary repairs and Beat Health issued the owner citations after she failed to make any effort to clean the property.  The house was later boarded up, sold and remodeled.  Today this property is free from drug and criminal activity.  The neighborhood has been returned to the law-abiding people that live there.

Beat Health Future

Beat Health was recently awarded funding for a building inspector to be permanently assigned to the unit beginning in January 2006.  This building inspector will enforce building and housing code violations associated with drug and nuisance properties.   

Be Diligent  

Diligence is one of the most successful traits needed to combat a drug house or property.  Drug property problems can’t be resolved overnight.  It takes a partnership between citizens and public and private agencies to rid a neighborhood of a “drug house or property.”  There may be times when fear and frustration set in and it may make you want to give up, but don’t!  You must be committed to the long term in order to take your neighborhood back!

The Beat Health Unit will continue its relentless effort in abating drug nuisance properties in Modesto.  If you suspect drug activity occurring in your neighborhood, please contact the police department’s drug hotline at 571-DRUG (3784).  Beat Health will work with you to close a drug property in your neighborhood.   For more information on the Beat Health program, please contact 572-9609, 572-9607 or 342-6114.

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS