Residents attending the meeting, like RobertMergedechian, asked officers about trafficproblems, one-way streets and school zones.
Only one brought up a crime issue.
Attendance has been sparse at nearly everymeeting, and sergeants often find themselvesaddressing empty school auditoriums.
Despite the CPD's high-profileinitiatives-including an extensive Website,door-to-door campaigns, flyers and mass mailings,many city residents say they are unaware of thecommunity policing program.
Linda B. Levine, a community activist, says theCPD's initiatives are unknown to her.
"As a member of my neighborhood, I haven'theard anything," she said.
The Future
Although the CPD is not planning more outreachprograms, Williams says it will expand itssuccessful bike patrols as another way ofincreasing contact with the community.
"We've just selected three additionalofficers," Williams says.
Beginning April 4, bike officers will be onpatrol on Cambridge's most crowded streets sevendays a week and 16 hours a day.
And each of the city's thirteen neighborhoodswill have its own bike officer assigned, Williamssays.
But given the union's reluctance to endorsegeographical assigning, officers will be rotatedon a yet-to-be-deter-mined basis, Williams says.
"It's one of the tenets of community policingthat we've haven't been able to implement," saysVicky Boulrice, the civilian coordinator forcommunity policing.
But citizens seem to be responding, even ifthey don't yet have a face and a name to go withthe cops that walk their beat.
Attendees of the West Cambridge meeting thankedSgt. Lyons for coming.
"I want to thank you for having this meeting,"Bob Forster said.
"It's allowing us to talk directly to thepeople who are concerned for our safety," he said.
-Vasant M. Kamath contributed to thereporting of this story.