Residents of Madison's east-side districts met Wednesday evening at LaFollete High School to discuss area safety issues with several community leaders.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Police Chief Noble Wray, East District Police Cpt. Jill Klubertanz and representatives in City Council all met with residents.

After community members had spoken for almost two hours, Wray talked about what eastern Madison should expect in 2008. Some improvements included adding a community policing team and hiring six new detectives. Wray also asked for the support of the community in fighting crime.

Cieslewicz spoke about the police chief's plan to introduce 30 new officers by 2009 as well.

"If people don't feel safe and comfortable in their neighborhoods, then we aren't doing our jobs," Cieslewicz said at the end of the meeting.

Cieslewicz added that the 30 new officers would be included in the budget that he submits to the City Council Oct. 2.

Many community members came to voice their anxiety about the deteriorating state of the neighborhoods.

"Unless something is done, I can assure you that I will be running for some kind of office because I'm getting really pissed off," resident Carole McGuire said at the meeting.

One of the biggest issues was drug use and dealing in the area. Several people in attendance shared personal stories of dealers living next door or of witnessing drug use in their own driveways.

Other residents were upset about the increase in break-ins and property vandalism during the last few years.

One woman cited numerous break-ins to her house, stating with tears in her eyes that the police officers in her area were not taking her situation seriously enough.

Several of the residents even blamed local high school students for the recent increase.

However, Angela Caputl, a student of LaFollette High School, said she feels the anger from the community is too generalized and should not be directed toward all students. Caputl also believes that her school and neighborhood is a safe place to be.

"I feel safe when I'm in these halls," Caputl said.

Others in attendance agreed that too much fault was being placed on the kids and that the real problem was the lack of programs in place to help students. After-school and work programs were two of the ideas proposed.

In addition to crime and safety, traffic violations were another topic discussed in great length. Some members of the community even called the driving skills of local police officers into question, sighting specific examples of officers bending the law.

A majority of those in attendance wanted to know when and if more police presence would be seen.

McGuire said she thinks the mayor is overlooking the outlying areas of Madison, focusing only on downtown.

Although a majority of those at the meeting expressed concerns, there were a few who commended the officers of the East Police District on their efforts to improve and control the area.