MADISON, Wis. -- A large group of West Side Madison residents packed a meeting Wednesday night to voice their concerns to Madison's mayor and police chief about crime in the area.

TALKBACK: What Do You Think?

At the face-to-face meeting with Police Chief Noble Wray and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, residents expressed their concerns about crime and public safety in District 20. That area spans west of Verona Road to Whitney Way and is bordered on the north by Mineral Point Road.

Pat Rogeberg has lived on Golden Oak Lane for more than 30 years and said she has a lifetime of great memories raising her children there. She said her children grew up playing outside, even after hours, but that her grandchildren can't do the same.

"It was safe for them to do that. It was safe. Now, our grandchildren come to visit, and we don't feel safe even letting them ride their bikes around the block in the daytime," Rogeberg said. "Chief Wray, Mayor Dave, I firmly believe the adage, 'If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.' Please be part of the solution"

The meeting was organized by newly elected 20th District Alder Thuy Pham-Remmele.

"My apologies to you, because when I first planned this listening session in June, I never dared to expect such a large turnout," Pham-Remmele said.

The meeting was standing room only. Officials estimated that more than 600 West Side residents attended Wednesday night's listening session.

"It is very concerning to see a drug deal happen across the street from your house, at 4 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. This is a same place I see children playing, riding their bikes, families walking their dog," said Nikki Morris, a West Side resident.

Elizabeth Borgwardt, 11, waited to get a chance to address Wray and Cieslewicz at the meeting.

"I want the violence in the neighborhood to be stopped. I would like to go to my aunt's house and know I'm safe. Kids in the neighborhood should be able to play outside and know they are safe," Borgwardt said.

The meeting at St. Maria Goretti School on Flad Avenue ended just after 8 p.m. Wednesday, and not everyone who wanted to speak was able to do so.

Wray said that Wednesday's meeting was the largest turnout he has seen at a neighborhood meeting.

"There are two things we have to address. People are feeling unsafe and there have been several high-profile crimes and we have to address that," Wray said, addressing the recent fatal shooting on Loreen Drive.

Wray said the top concern at neighborhood meetings usually involves traffic issues, but on Wednesday residents recalled stabbings, gang graffiti and drug activity in the area.

Wray said that he will meet with the mayor, city council members and West Side constituents to form a long-term plan. He said that while the need is clear, he can't have any more patrol officers until 2009 because the force is stretched too thin with calls to downtown and the Allied Drive area.

From January to July 1 of 2007, the West Police District responded to 21,216 calls for service -- an average of more than 100 police calls per day.

The West District is the city's busiest police district with 25 percent of the total calls for service, WISC-TV reported.