Civic leaders and law enforcement officials have tried innovative ways to fight crime in the local community for years. In this photograph from the April 14, 1983, issue of the Park Labrea News, then-Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, left, and Wilshire Division officer James Witowski announced the new Beverly-Fairfax Community Patrol, a partnership between residents and the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD had a special Wilshire Area Crime Task Force deployed to the community at the time and community members patrolled neighborhoods in private vehicles and relayed information about suspicious activity to officers. The plan also called for more neighborhood watch block captains and better dissemination of information about crime. The LAPD’s Wilshire Division still focuses on community partnerships today, and encourages residents to get involved. The Miracle Mile Residential Association and Melrose Action Neighborhood Watch offer opportunities to volunteer in their neighborhoods. For information, visit miraclemilela.com and melroseaction.org. The Wilshire Division also offers information by calling (213)473-0200.