Charleston's East Side consists of three racially mixed or black neighborhoods of low economic status. The buildings are the most dilapidated in the city, and the streets are in poor repair. A community development program was initiated in 1980 to revitalize housing. After a number of failed attempts to reduce crime by enlisting community support for the police Community Relations unit assigned to the area, the police unit and the East Side Revitalization Program joined forces to improve both the image of the neighborhood and of police, to develop a viable crime prevention program, and to start Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs. Thus far, the program has helped reduce community apathy toward police, has made citizens aware of the role that they must play in law enforcement, and has taught police the importance of obtaining information directly from the public. A sample letter illustrates the invitation to citizens to attend community meetings.