The NECP is extra eyes and ears for the police, to spot criminals, to interrupt criminals in the act, to identify criminals and act as witnesses if needed for their arrest and maximum prosecution. Depending on the circumstances, NECP volunteers will be walking, riding bikes, and/or driving the area. While on patrol, most NECP volunteers are visually identifiable to both citizens and criminals alik
e; via elements of clothing bearing the NECP logo. This visual presence in the neighborhoods will let criminals know that there are people actively looking to turn them in. Since slumlords also fuel the growing crime problem in NE Minneapolis, the NECP also makes note of problem properties and the landlords that run them, and reports them on an ongoing basis to the Minneapolis housing inspection departments. If these property owners still don't change their ways, they can then expect their home phone numbers to be circulated and can then expect many, many calls to "their" home from neighbors of the property until they fix the problem, or sell the property." As time goes on, and other NE neighborhoods want to also have organized patrols, all the groundwork will be in place, and all volunteers will have a unified look for easy identification.
