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Editorial: Despite gains fighting crime, there's more to do

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Friday, August 14, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

Though the state's 2008 crime statistics released Wednesday don't tell the whole story, they'll help law enforcement agencies better protect all of us.

According to Attorney General Roy Cooper, the good news is violent crimes are down 2.2 percent across the state for the reporting period.

But where you live makes a difference. In Greensboro, the overall rate increased by 5 percent. Guilford County's was up 10 percent and High Point's 4 percent. Same story in the Triangle cities of Raleigh, Durham and Cary. Winston-Salem led the state's 15 largest cities with a 12 percent jump in index crimes.

Law enforcement officials blame part of the uptick on a down economy. In tough times, more robberies, thefts, burglaries and domestic disputes are reported. As things slowly get better, they predict, the numbers likely will inch downward. In some jurisdictions, that's already happening.

The state-generated data, however, should help local law enforcement better plan the best course of action in the relentless fight against crime.

For example, Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy is crunching numbers to identify "hot spots." By being proactive, police can better serve and protect neighborhoods and businesses.

Reaching out to the community remains critical. "Officer Friendly" really can make a difference by opening or sometimes reopening lines of communication, particularly with skeptical or frightened residents.

Neighborhood watches, youth mentoring and Crimestoppers continue paying dividends. A program proposed by Cooper that directs ex-offenders to jobs also has potential, given the state's 40 percent prison recidivism rate.

Even with modest gains statewide, work remains. Policing agencies must be more innovative. It will take a combination of new technology, cooperation and good old-fashioned beat policing to achieve success.

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Crimedog

August 15, 2009 - 9:38 am EDT

The stats reflect that crime is down! That's great. Explain this to the family of a murder victim in terms that will make them happy. Or someone that had a deadly weapon shoved under their nose for the trinket change they possessed. Or the victim of a beating by mindless slimy thugs invading the sanction of their home. The true fight against crime must be made by the citizens of a community. Never lose the fact that sworn law enforcement (the police) can only fight crime from a reactive position. I worked in law enforcement most of my working career. Try as law enforcenet does, they can not be proactive, though they try. Crime prevention from your local police department is great, though it must be regarded as "a bandaid over a cut". One thing that needs to be remembered is high crime rates in a community means more funding from Federal, State and local contributors. It's all about the money! I have the great respect for those citizens that take the oath and wear the badge. They work and tear their own hearts from their chest to defend and protect their fellow citizens. And, a few lay their lives down for the same purpose.
Citizens must come together to truly prevent crime in their communities. A group of 50+ citizens at a time taking to the streeta and running the corner drug dealers away is an idea. They can accomplish more than any one person and even law enforcement can. They can run the sex trade off their streets as well. The thugs are nothing more than sneaking cowards. They will gang up on a few good citizens. They will flee a small army approaching them. Citizens can start a telephone campaign to call each other when a stranger is walking around their neigborhood acting like they are looking for a soft target to raid. A large group can approach the suspicious person and ask if they can help them find something they are looking for. Believe me when I say that if the person is trying to commit a crime?? Well they just learned that this neighborhood is not going to fall as a victim. The miracles of a proactive crimefighting neigborhood are what every thug criminal will avoid. As a member of Piedmont Crime Control, a non-profit corporation I've gone into many neighborhoods to help set such groups. I'm always prepared to assist anyway I can. Contact me at . And, don't worry about job security for the police department. There will always be soft target neighborhoods that the endless supply of criminal thugs can invade. The Dog's outa here!
Marvin :Crimedog" Cohen