As someone who has a direct responsibility for the law enforcement deployment and police activity related to the Fayette Pavilion and other shopping areas in Fayetteville, I feel the need to set the record straight.

The Fayetteville Police Department has been very proactive in establishing good communication with individual business managers, loss prevention professionals, security personnel, and the property management team of the Fayette Pavilion.

There is regular dialogue in which information is shared about actual crime and issues in the Pavilion. Problem-solving, community policing methods, and aggressive enforcement over the last several years have been effective in keeping the Pavilion a very safe place to visit and shop.

The statistics prove a tremendous reduction of reported larcenies over the last four years (375 in 2003 compared to 125 in 2007).

Reported Part I crimes such as robbery, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft dropped from 15 in 2003 to 6 in 2007.

Considering that there are 85 retail establishments and 1.5 million square feet of shopping space in the Pavilion, these numbers are relatively low.

Several publicized letters have focused attention on the Pavilion and the movie theater as places where rowdy teens gather. The Fayetteville Police Department has a zero-tolerance policy for loitering.

The Tinseltown movie theater and Pavilion management have backed up their support by posting signs, improving visibility, and by hiring extra-duty police officers to maintain constant police presence during active movie nights. This type of activity increases during the summer months, but we prepare for it and address it as it occurs.

In fact, the city of Fayetteville is working to adopt a juvenile curfew ordinance which will be used to keep unsupervised youths off of the streets after-hours.

I find it very unfortunate that some in our community harbor misperceptions about a location that Fayetteville should be proud of. The businesses at the Pavilion and throughout Fayetteville deserve our patronage and support.

Rest assured that Fayetteville police officers and a supporting cast of deputies from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office work hand in hand on a daily basis to suppress crime in the Pavilion. We maintain a strong working relationship between the two agencies.

Of course, you should be aware of your surroundings, protect your valuables and secure your vehicle in a visible area when you shop at any location.

But, don’t be afraid to shop at the Pavilion. If someone tells you otherwise, they just don’t have the facts.

If you have questions about crime in Fayetteville, or want to report concerns or issues, please contact the Fayetteville Police Department.

Major Kevin Gooding

Patrol Division Commander

Fayetteville Police Department

Fayetteville, Ga.