Thumbs up: To the DeKalb Police Department’s enhanced resident officer program and the first person to participate, patrol officer Jared Burke. Burke and his family recently moved to a home at 624 N. 11th St. in the city’s Pleasant Street neighborhood.

The city has had a patrol officer living in a department-provided property since 2004, but the enhanced program includes the city buying and renovating an older home in the neighborhood. Moving a police officer into the neighborhood can help identify and discourage crime, as well as foster trust and better relationships among the community and government and social service agencies.

By renovating a multitenant home, the population density also is reduced and the neighborhood overall looks better.