Waltham’s City United solves problems with community policing

City United is a collaborative task force devoted to helping residents solve problems.

City United has members from various parts of the community. Members include Brian Bower, the city’s chief building inspector; Michael Delfino, a senior public health inspector with the Health Department; and Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan. They meet on a monthly basis at the Waltham Police Substation at 11 Carter St.

“If you would track a problem from all different issues and angles, it’s easier to solve and resolve,” said Donald Russo, a retired captain with the Waltham Police Department, the group’s chair and the city’s community policing coordinator.

The Police Department and Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy’s office as well as the Building and Health departments will refer citizens dealing with noncriminal or civil issues to City United. There, they might find more resources for assistance among the members of the group. Russo said that City United deals with a wide range of issues but oftentimes assists with disputes between neighbors or between landlords and tenants.

Other times City United makes sure landlords are in compliance with zoning laws.

For example, Russo said that City United once received a report that a landlord from out of town was renting basement apartments to four different families. The apartment was not zoned for multifamily housing, and City United members from the Building and Health departments had to inspect the property and file complaints against the landlord.

“They have to correct the problems or they’ll get violations,” said Russo.

According to Jerry Kaufman, Russo’s predecessor, the idea for the group stemmed from the concept of community policing, which is an effort to make police departments more involved and are approachable community members for residents.