Proteccion Azteca works towards Othello safety
CUTLINE: Proteccion Azteca founding member Rafael Cardenas during his radio show in Othello. It was a message during his show that made the community rebel against a wave of vandalism, which led to the creation of the neighborhood watch group.
Volunteer group hopes to become "eyes and ears" of its community
A wave of break-ins, thefts and vandalism midway through 2003 might just be the best thing that ever happened to the citizens of Othello.
It led to the creation of Proteccion Azteca (Aztec Protection) , a neighborhood watch group composed mostly of Hispanic people that has slowly become a vigilant, helpful tool for the Othello Police Department and for the community it serves.
The nine-person group attends all sorts of events, from fairs and parades to weddings and Quincea-eras, and provides the OPD with extra sets of eyes and ears to contain and discourage any type of criminal activity.
"The focus of the Othello Police Department was to find a way to reduce crime and increase the safety of the citizens," OPD chief Ron Axtman said. "Proteccion Azteca decided to help us, and there has been a definitive decline in criminal activity."
Rafael Cardenas, founding member of Proteccion Azteca and a disc jockey at Othello's "La Caliente" radio station, said that it was a phone call to his show that planted the seeds for the watch group.
"People were angry at all the vandalism going on in Othello," he said. "They wanted to apply justice on their own."
Such desires dissipated and were replaced with the idea of providing safety for all instead of justice for a few. "That is when Proteccion was born," Cardenas said.
The group's emphasis on safety has gone beyond the city limits, as they have been providing their services, which come at a flat rate of $250 per event, in Royal City as well. A chance to work in the Tri-Cities area fell through due to lack of personnel.
"They needed 18 people," group member Jose Olascon said. "We are only nine." Still, he is proud of his group's name spreading about. "People are seeking us out," he added.
The role of Proteccion Azteca is not one of physical involvement to stop altercations or crimes, Axtman said, but one of community awareness and contact with the OPD.
The department has helped train Proteccion Azteca, teaching them the ins and outs of the law, the limits of the volunteer group's involvement and the importance of community safety.
The two groups feed off each other, Olascon said. "Everything we do is in accordance with the OPD," he said. "We look out for things and then we tell the police about it. It's working well."
"We want the group to call us and be a great witness," he said. "We don't want the to see a break-in and want to intervene, because their safety becomes an issue."
Axtman said that further training might be necessary for Proteccion Azteca.
"We've only just begun with these folks," he said. "As resources permit, we are going to train them more on what things to look out for."
Although this may just be the beginning, Axtman cannot hide his enthusiasm over the newest arm of community safety in his city.
"They are really awesome people," he said. "They really care as to what goes on in Othello. They have the needs of the community close to their hearts."