Jenna Bordelon
MAGNOLIA PARK -- On a quiet weekday morning, two police officers
strolled along Magnolia Boulevard with a purpose.
Their aim: to let business owners along the charming, tree-lined
thoroughfare know Burbank police have made community outreach a top
priority.
These weren't your average cops on the beat, however.
One of the men was Community Resource Officer Darin Ryburn. The other
was the chief of police.
"I think it's really important that we don't only hear from people
when things are going wrong," Chief Thomas Hoefel said. "This is just a
great opportunity to meet some people and to let them meet us."
When asked why the police would choose an apparently safe neighborhood
for their first outing Monday morning, Hoefel said running the department
was about more than just solving crime.
"What a wonderful opportunity to once again paint us in a different
light," he said. "I think it is a very safe neighborhood but I think it's
representative of most Burbank neighborhoods."
The officers plan to hit a different Burbank neighborhood every month.
"We're going all over the city," Ryburn said.
Angelica Fleming, who owns The Hair Station at 3403 W. Magnolia Blvd.,
has been in business for 10 years.
"I think it's great," she said, "because it makes us feel secure
because they're here and they're protecting us."
"I've always felt really secure in Burbank," said Kim Flora, the
manager of Geppetto's Village, LLC at 3507 W. Magnolia Blvd. The antique
store has been open for a little more than a month and Flora said she
hasn't had any significant problems.
"We've got good neighbors on both sides," she said. "Our only problem
right now is people parking in our lot."
More than an hour later, Hoefel and Ryburn were still walking from
shop to shop for meet-and-greet sessions.
"Granted crime's down," Ryburn said, "but we don't want to sit on our
laurels."
