BLOOMINGTON - A landlord with a dilapidated or problem property in Bloomington's neighborhoods near downtown may see a police officer at the door instead of a building inspector. | BPD's new strategic plan (PDF)

Bloomington Police Chief Randy McKinley announced a three-year plan that will change the department's philosophy on how the police will patrol the streets and work cooperatively with neighbors, area law enforcement agencies and other city departments.

Using the city's crime statistics, the department developed a focus area based on the number and locations of calls. About 25 percent of its calls for service come from the neighborhoods surrounding the city's downtown.

"What is exciting is knowing our streets will get cleaned up," said Valerie Dumser, vice president of the Old Town Neighborhood Association. "It's a very hands-on approach to improve out neighborhoods quickly."

McKinley said the plan dusts off policing philosophies used in the 1970s that address why areas are attracting crime. Among the tools the department will be using are the city's nuisance abatement and property maintenance ordinances previously enforced by the city's building inspectors.

"We are going to hold landlords accountable for what goes on at their properties," McKinley said.

That includes keeping up the appearance of the property as well as keeping out problem tenants, he added.

McKinley said the department's proactive unit will begin actively working in those neighborhoods. That will include increased foot patrols and getting to know residents.

A sergeant and two officers will be added to the unit, now renamed the street crimes unit. That unit's total staff of two sergeants and eight officers can be split to cover two shifts.

Smarter police techniques that use computer technology will help officers, said McKinley.

"This is not high-finance police work," McKinley said. "It's about changing the philosophies of how we do business."

Officers are already being called to the area, so having officers assigned there will not change staffing.

Currently the department is down six officers from its authorized size of 129 officers. The department is holding off on hiring the officers unless a federal grant funds those positions because of the city's budget crunch.

City officials previously said training, paying and equipping one new officer costs about $100,000.