05 April 2013

Friday Follies...
Yes folks, time once again to say goodbye to the work-week, and hello to the weekend.
The Hoosierland weather today will be a lot like yesterday, which means plenty of sunshine, and milder temps, reaching into the 50s once more.
So, take time to get out in your garden and stare at the Springtime posies peeking up through the finally-thawed ground.
Now, without any further ado, let's get busy with all the other "stuff" that's been going on.
*** Film critic Roger Ebert passes away from cancer.
And rather than link to the story, here's his WIKI instead:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ebert
He was the first critic to ever win a Pulitzer Prize.
I have to admit that I often found myself at odds with HIS movie reviews, and I, more than not sided with his partner, the late Gene Siskel, but I always found their combined cinematic reportage amusing as well as thought-provoking.
And now, they're back together again.
*** Memorial held for murder victim.
Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of one of this area's most notorious unsolved cases...that of little April Tinsley.
Here's the story:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/fort-wayne-remembers-unsolved-murder-victim-with-balloon-launch
A balloon launch was held at Parkview Field to honor her.
A film crew from America's Most Wanted was on hand to follow up on previous coverage of the murder.
And while police still do not know WHO killed April, they do believe the killer might still be living in the area.
*** Two men abduct credit union worker and rob her place of employment.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130405/LOCAL07/304059957/1002/LOCAL
You have to admit that THIS sounds like a very WELL-PLANNED heist.
Certainly does NOT have the trappings of the tryouts for Ted Mack's Original AMATEUR Hour.
These perps had to do some homework to make this work without a hitch.
They had to have stalked the worker, get to know her "routine", and the fact that SHE would have access TO the credit union, which means she was probably some level of management, who traditionally have the pass codes for the security keypad.
Unless one or both of these robbers slips up big time, they might be well "into the wind" as they say.
Their best bet would be to leave the area, as an ID might be enough to do them in, if one was obtainable by the worker or her family member, who was bound up in the apartment and basically held hostage, while the other robber accompanied the worker to the credit union.
*** Look-alike vehicles can get you "noticed"...
Parkview Hospital alerted authorities about a suspicious vehicle that appeared to be an unmarked police car, that was alleged to be following women near the facility.
The vehicle in question was a white, late-model Dodge Charger (SRT).
Here's the story link:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-impersonator-vehicle-found
Now, the vehicle WAS found (in Oreland, IN) but the owner/driver insists it was not him that was near the hospital.
If you watch the video and have followed the story, there's a couple things that might make you go "huh?"
--People at the hospital mentioned that HANDCUFFS were hanging from the rearview mirror - same with THIS car.
--The description is the EXACT same, and this particular EX-police car was bought from Chicago Motors.
--It still has a TEMP tag on it.
--It has a PUSHBAR, which means it was most likely used as a highway patrol vehicle and not a standard city police vehicle.
Most big cities used WRECKERS to tow cars away, or request a highway unit vehicle to push a car out of the way at say, an accident scene.
Traditionally, HP (highway patrol) cars are used to push motorists off onto an exit ramp..at least they are in Philly (called X-cars for eXpressway)
Even if this man is NOT the same person, there is a level of INTIMIDATION that goes along when driving ANY vehicle than can be seen as a police car.
I told our former quadrant captain about such things more than a few years ago, when I noticed some "locals" driving about our part of the ghettohood IN ex-police cars.
(mostly Crown Vics and a few Impalas).
Some did still have the SPOTLIGHT on the driver's side A pillar and had the "police rims" with the center caps.
And they also had LOUD stereos in the trunks!
This was a trend (of motorist intimidation) that began down in Indy a year or two prior to me seeing them driving around Ft. Wayne, so I began to watch for them.
Every year, I see a few more, some newbies, but mostly ones that are eventually "ghettoed-up" with rims, gag-a-maggot paint schemes, graphics and such.
And I warned the captain that THESE cars would be a problem with being able to intimidate other drivers JUST by their presence...
(as well as thier loud-ass stereos)
Nice to know I was right yet again.
Makes a case for MORE PATROLS with REAL police cars...because THEY too, can be intimidating...to some of the criminal element.
I've seen people turn the other way when a police car rolls by, or they scatter outright.
In some cases, whenever a FWPD cruiser goes over one of our streets, the ghettohood suddenly becomes QUIET...all the boomcars shut the hell up...an event of almost BIBLICAL proportions...like Moses parting the Red Sea...amazing
Personally, I think that ex-police cars should NOT be made available to the public...and I have my reasons.
Even when these vehicles are "civilianized" (Bob's Lexicon) they STILL have kick-ass engines, heavy-duty suspension and handling packages, and can accommodate heavier loads of electronics such as kicker boxes,amps and crossovers for loud-ass sound equipment.
Strip the vehicles down, recycle what you can, and then put what's left over in the crusher.
There's plenty OTHER places to acquire inexpensive rides...that WON'T intimidate other motorists, or cause women to get fearful.
((Editor's Note - Here's an UPDATE to this story from one of the victims:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-impersonator-victim-shares-story
She states the man in the first story is NOT the man who pukled her over.))
*** Local NAACP holds rally downtown.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130405/LOCAL/304059955
The rally was held to DENOUNCE violence, urging witnesses to speak out.
Now, I'm sorry...this is a well-intentioned meeting, as are ALL that seek to get people OUT of this vicious cycle of crime, death and mayhem, but this seems like a case of wanting to fix the gate after all the cattle got out and left the property.
This rally, and other meetings like it SHOULD have been done YEARS ago...and they should have held them every time another one of theirs bit the dust.
It always seems to me that some prayer vigil is held, some media attention devoted to it...and then it goes away.
That doesn't do that much good...for anyone. Guess we can blame our collective ADHD for that?
There were some other points that were addressed at the rally, many of which I strongly disagree with.
They have a 14 point "solution" to the problem of the violence that has occurred in Ft. Wayne: My comments are in brackets.
1- Making background checks "universal" - I hate when they add that word "universal"...
(use current databases to establish a registry of violent offenders that should NOT be able to possess a firearm)
2- Improving state reporting of criminals and mentally ill.
(again, use CURRENT databases to establish offender lists and extend it to the NATIONAL level)
3- Banning assault weapons
(ANY weapon used in an "assault" can be called just that...this is SO wrong and stupid in concept)
4- Capping magazine capacity at TEN rounds.
(another pointless and moronic move - criminals will simply NOT follow that AT ALL)
5- Purging armor-piercing bullets
(When you do away with such ammo, the thugs will simply obtain body armor. Then you have another N. Hollywood scenario from 1997)
6- Funding police officers
(I thought taxpayers were DOING that ALREADY???)
7- Strengthening gun tracking
(you REALLY mean keeping tabs on ALL LAW-ABIDING citizens, right? Guns can be tracked easily enough as it is)
8- Supporting research on gun violence
(Instead, why not research the CAUSES of violent behavior? Oh, wait they've ALREADY done that for decades)
9- Encouraging mental health providers to get involved
(Might have to break down the doctor/patient confidentiality thing)
10- Promoting safe gun ownership
(Most ALL law-abiding gun OWNERS already DO that...that's why they are MORE responsible people)
11- Funding school counseling
(We dump way too much money into education already, and we're nowhere near the top of the heap. This won't solve anything)
12- Encouraging safe, anti-bullying school environments
(and NO dodgeball, with trophies for everyone just for showing up. Suspend the bullies and fine the parents...now THERE'S an idea)
13- Recognizing the mental health needs of low-income Americans
(How about we get the LOW-INFORMATION Americans up to speed and demand personal accountability of them like we USED to do?)
14- Contacting your senator by 8 April
(unless he/she is a CONSERVATIVE, then don't bother...we want only LIBERALS running the nation)
Yeah...so there we go...all the propaganda you can handle, aimed (no pun intended) at conservative gun owners, who are never at the heart of violence by guns, or anything else, but will DEFEND themselves and their families when required.
This rally could have been more about the specific ethnic CULTURES that has brought down that community, but I suppose that weeding out the REAL causes to the problems they face is a bit much for them to stomach. So, they'll just jerk some knees, and hope all goes well.
*** Lastly today, there does come a time when everyone has to get involved in something to some degree.
And I always say that you don't HAVE to go after the big-ticket items to accomplish positive results.
Everything begins with the little things in life.
Just as crime will escalate UP to the big things FROM the little one, so also can changes for the better begin with these little things.
It can be as simple as a letter to an editorial page, or an email to some reporter or newscaster.
Think of it as the "ripple effect"...
You toss a pebble into a large still lake...and then watch the splash ripple outward, until eventually that ripple reaches the shore on the other side of that lake. Whatever we choose to do in life mirrors that image, just as whatever we choose NOT to do will also have it's own effects.
All that life entails for every one of us involves choosing...left or right, up or down, good or bad, forward or backward.
You can't walk out the door of your house without following those "guidelines".
Every decision can be a crossroad, and the path we decide on should be met, not with trepidation, but with enthusiasm, for even if we choose a path that wasn't in our best interest, we can always find a way to return to where we're supposed to be.
We might not always WANT to be where we are, but it's always where we NEED to be, that we should make ourselves aware of.
DO have yourselves a great weekend.
Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

04 April 2013

Tales from the South Side...
With all that's been going on down here, it's time we looked deeper into things, and we'll do so in a wee bit.
But before we do that, we've a couple other things to take a peek at.
The weather today will be a LOT more like Spring, with temps rising into the FIFTIES!
That ought to chase those crocuses and hyacinths out of the ground and into bloom, and allay any concerns about when nice weather will be coming.
And we'll also have our fair share of sunshine to boot.
*** Now, let's find out the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
This was spoken by none other than the renown ALBERT SCHWEITZER, (14 January 1875 - 4 September 1965) and here is his WIKI:
He was a theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary.
That's a pretty decent resume in ANYONE'S book!
He was very much into pipe organ rescue and restoration.
I cannot imagine anyone having such a "busy" life.
The training and schooling alone would seem to take several lifetimes to acquire.
In 1960, Albert was quoted as saying (regarding the times he doctored thousands in Africa prior to WW1):
"No society can go from the primeval directly into an industrial state without losing the leavening that time and an agricultural period allow."
And he drew criticism for saying that (however true it happened to be).
The keynote to Schweitzer's personal philosophy was the idea of REVERENCE FOR LIFE.
He thought the Western civilization was decaying because it had abandoned affirmation of life as it's ethical foundation.
Gee, if that doesn't sound a lot like what's occurring in America these days.
And to think Albert wrote about HIS observations way back in the 1920s.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 (a damn good year to be born, btw), most notably for his lecture: "The Problem of Peace".
The WIKI is one of the most interesting reads about someone who left his distinct mark in history.
Meanwhile, back in Oslo...
*** Yep, ANOTHER homicide on Fort Wayne's SE side.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130404/LOCAL07/304049948
...And another black teenager (17 year old Elijah Freeman) bites the dust...WHY?
Blame it on the whole THUG lifestyle...or a generation that raised children when they were barely out of childhood THEMSELVES...or our growing "entitlement" society...or a lack of parental accountability...or rampant apathy among the black community.
There's PLENTY of blame to go around.
All the while, we chalk up HOMICIDE NUMBER FIFTEEN for Allen County, with ELEVEN of them occurring WITHIN the confines of Fort Wayne.
(2 were police-action shootings, one was a death from a prior year, and another happened outside of the city in SW Allen County)
Citizens are getting up in arms over this...and it's about damn time, too.
They SHOULD have been getting angry over these shootings a decade or two ago.
I know I've been trying to express MY concerns to the FWPD (former) quadrant captain for the seven years prior to her retirement from the department.
And I still have ALL the emails to prove it, along with statistical data and trends happening JUST in my area.
Maybe I managed to aid in shutting down a few bad houses (the one across the street) had a drug dealer (Brian Ladner) who was put away a few years ago. A house that Mario Thomas lived in up the next block was also shut down...and Mario was later tagged and bagged when he was offed in a previous year homicide (good riddance).
But these were the exceptions that WERE dealt with, and not all the other houses that contain people YOU really wouldn't want to get to know...unless YOU yourself were into drugs, or gangs, or other criminal activity.
Now, SO FAR...all these shootings (and many more that go unreported by the media) haven't produced TWO things that I know are going to happen.
And I truly hope NEITHER one ever does, but you have to know these people how they shake.
1) Sooner or later...some INNOCENT people will be hit by stray rounds.
2) Eventually, other raced people will be struck down, even if THEY aren't part of the problem.
There is not ONE single day that the SPOT CRIME website doesn't send me an email showing what goes on within a 3-mile radius of our "Fortress", that does NOT include some sort of "shooting"...mostly SHOTS FIRED (signal 113 in this city).
It doesn't say BY whom or WHY it was done...it just HAPPENS.
People MISUSE firearms all the damn time down here...especially during the 4th of July and New Years Eve...and not one damn thing is even done to stop that. And THOSE instances have nothing to do directly with HOMICIDES or KILLING...it's just DUMBASS behavior by people who HAVE guns in their possession (notice I didn't say "OWN" guns - there IS a difference between HAVING a gun and OWNING one).
Anyone can HAVE a gun,...and usually by illicit means, but a true GUN-OWNER knows the responsibility involved and practices a higher level of safety when handling one.
Most ALL the thugs out here HAVE guns...and can GET guns easily enough, typically through the "black market".
And I would wager that most ALL those guns are:
1) Stolen
2) Straw-purchased
3) Brought in from another state
It's already been proven that many guns used in crimes come from states OTHER than where the crime occurs.
So, someone is lying their ass off elsewhere to bring a gun to OUR state...or city.
This latest homicide, although it also happened on the (near) SE side, was in a neighborhood "that's fairly quiet and well-kept - not the sort of area where violence is usually a problem", stated FWPD Chief York. You mean like closer to MY house, Rus?
He thinks "some of these thugs think they can intimidate people and do something like this, and people will be too intimidated to do something about it."
Well, many people CAN be intimidated, especially when THEY don't have a weapon to defend themselves, and all the thugs DO carry (illegal) guns.
And the standard primary M.O. for such criminals IS...intimidation.
They don't want YOU around in any manner, and will even try to get you to move away.
Some people cave into that...I don't.
You move - they win...it's that simple.
This was MY neighborhood LONG before these snot-nosed punks stopped crapping in their diapers.
I want them to fear ME instead.
*** In a related story about guns, crime, and the like, there's THIS:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130404/LOCAL/304049942/1002/LOCAL
What began as a forum on DOMESTIC VIOLENCE at the HQ for the Urban League (of Less than Extraordinary Gentlemen), after an hour evolved into a discussion about guns and (of all things)...CULTURE...imagine that.
"Jazz-Hands"?
Twenty people attended (helluva show of concern), and spoke about negligent parents (big surprise there), easy access to firearms (and it's not walking in a gun shop and LEGALLY BUYING them), ineffectual lawmakers (rather ineffectual ENFORCEMENT of laws we ALREADY have), and shoot 'em up video games.
I play them, BUT... I'm not in a gang, don't wish to be, don't use drugs (does aspirin count?), don't abuse alcohol, have no tattoos or piercings, and don't associate with such vermin...I'm one of those folks that clings to God, guns and Bible...because it's my RIGHT to do so.
In other words...I don't bother anyone (unless bothered first for no reason).
So, why do I find it easy enough to NOT get involved with all the crap these THUGS live for?
Must be my upbringing...respect for others, their property...treat others as YOU wish to be treated, don't impose YOUR lifestyle on others, live and teach by example, respect firearms, acknowledge God and let HIM direct your life...well, you get the idea.
What happened to the children of TODAY, that they are somehow MISSING all this stuff?
Much of it has to do with that "sub-culture" I've mentioned here often enough.
People refuse to embrace what it means to be an AMERICAN, and would rather perpetuate the mindset that is all but counter to such notions.
Damn shame...that causes a lot of people to die prematurely...doesn't it?
*** Lastly today, I want to propose a few things that I would address were I in a position TO affect change in this city.
1) - I would immediately enact an ordinance that would DISALLOW the dark-tinted windows in ALL vehicles. We' re not living on the surface of Venus, for God's sake, and such dark tint poses a threat to police officers should they need to pull over such vehicles for traffic stops.
Besides, you ever try to see AT NIGHT with such dark tint? (damn near impossible)
2) - I would BAN those large rims and tires, except for people who paid a FEE to own them purely for demonstration purposes (like events that showcase such things).
BIG rims - small penis!
They would NOT be allowed on city streets and definitely not permitted on highways. Tow them on trailers. They are not safe and vehicles are NOT designed to operate properly on them...period. It's a physics thing.
3) - I would open up a tip line for people wanting to shut down PARTY HOUSES...those after-hours rental cribs that harbor much of the liquid-couraged and blunt-smoking crowd.
4) - I would stiffen fines for LITTERING.
Sounds trivial, but consider how BAD an area looks because people are too damn stupid to NOT place empty cans,. bottles and bags in a proper container along the streets, or just take it with them until they get home to use their OWN trash can.
5) - I would find a way to make the NOISE ORDINANCE stick and ban all such stereo systems in vehicles...you can't hear an ambulance coming with such racket in the car. And it's harmful to the driver AND passengers, especially young children.
Vehicle confiscation with removal of the stereo system would become a priority.
6) - I would give Neighborhood Code Enforcement free reign to target chronic violators, and cite them. I would insist on ALLEY INSPECTIONS, because NCE only seems concerned with "curb-appeal" when in fact, most of the alleys are in deplorable condition.
If anything looks like a slim, THESE are it.
7) - I would have the FWPD patrol said alleys regularly, and would also have the department begin CITING people with multiple *911* butt-dials.
Nothing takes away from good policing like "false alarms", and if persistent violations can be paid by businesses that have false alarms, so can people.
Maybe that baby-mama won't give little Jamal the cellphone to play with then.
8) - I would have the FWPD, in concert with federal agencies look into every house that has OVER 100 "visitors" per month.
And THIS was for a "funeral".
No one has that many people stopping by for several minutes and then leaving without something being hinky there.
The drug house problem is deeper than many realize, with some houses being stash houses, others being the "money house", and still others being the "buy house".
Looking into these ad hoc "daycare" houses would be a good place to start.
And ALL houses would have to be sold by real estate agents, and NOT by whoever "owns" the crib this week, and that would mean they HAVE to be inspected whenever someone "new" moves into them. That way, you can address housing violations much better.
So, there you have it...my EIGHT SIMPLE RULES for improving OUR part of the ghettohood.
And that's just the short list...LOL.
Some would argue all these items target specific minorities...BULLSHIT!
It DOES target people expressing reprehensible behavior, illegal activity, and criminal intent, because ALL of the above items are directly CONTRIBUTORY to such aspects that affect everyone's "quality-of-life", right mayor (read king) Henry?
It also DOES have the novelty if not having been TRIED before, and I'm sure there are many out there who would applaud such measures to make THEIR neighborhood safer and their lives safer (as safe as they were LAST week, too...right Mr IPFW professor?).
Like I say...you NEED to deal strongly with all the SMALL sh*t out there, so it never has the chance to escalate into all that BIG sh*t we have to deal with NOW, like HOMICIDES...right?
And...it just makes damn good sense...for everyone concerned.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

03 April 2013

Humpday Happenings...
It's Wednesday again, and we haven't had ONE homicide THIS week in Fort Wayne...so far.
Our local weather today will be warming up a bit more than yesterday.
(after a chilly morning)
Temps are expected to rise into the upper 40s.
More like Springtime for a change.
And yes, the sun will make a return visit as well.
In the meantime, let's get busy with today's business at hand...
*** first up is our Motto of the Week - aka - WHO SAID THAT?
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
-- And one should never measure their own success by the success of others. There are many out there who we see as being successful, when in reality, they are wealthy or powerful...and miserable in the process.
Yes, you may quote ME on that last sentence.
Meanwhile, back at the think tank...
*** More gun-control issues abound with our lawgivers.
The latest round of this does have some good in it, whereby the government wants to have a database of those with firearms offenders...kind of like the sex-offender database, and to me, that makes damn good sense.
As for a UNIVERSAL background check database, well, that only serves to allow the Big Brothers out there to KNOW who the law-abiding folks WITH guns are (in case they need to take them away from you).
I think if you're following the laws, were never arrested for a felony, don't have mental health issues that could compromise your ability to make cogent decisions, YOU don't need to be on ANYONE'S "radar".
Having those who have been "noticed" by law-enforcement in the past DO need to be kept watch over, though.
The "gun-insurance" issue bothers me, too. I don't have insurance on my DRILLS...or SAWS...or even my SCREWDRIVERS, so why get insurance for another "tool" that I possess? It's not a vehicle, and doesn't roll along the highway at 60+ MPH, and it's not the huge investment like our HOUSE is, with all the possessions contained inside (that would need to be replaced in case of damage or loss), so why insure a GUN?
It's just another way to get YOU on another list being compiled.
Anyone who has worked for the government in SOME capacity has already BEEN finger-printed, so to me, that's resolved from the start.
And, if you ARE arrested for a crime, you get "printed".
If you drive, or own a vehicle, you get insurance and wind up on several databases.
SO many people are already IN many files in many computers across the nation...all the government has to do is sort all that crap the hell out.
And if they'd stop wasting time AND (our) money, that could be done easily enough...
*** Imagine having to undergo a CRIMINAL background check to get your WELFARE...
The state of North Carolina wants to do JUST THAT.
Somehow, I've developed a LOVE for that state.
Here's the lowdown:
http://www.news-record.com/home/999933-63/nc-bill-requires-welfare-food
They want make sure that public assistance goes to LAW-ABIDING citizens...first.
Seems THESE legislators are on the right page...for a change.
And along those lines, the amount of FRAUD that goes on with welfare programs is staggering.
Here's a report from back in 2009:
http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/fraud-and-abuse
Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute was on FOX news yesterday and spoke about the amount OF abuse in "the system". It traditionally runs around 10-12% for ANY government agency, and yet we're being "told" it's only around ONE PERCENT.
Sounds like the unemployment figures...they hover around 8% when in REALITY, it's closer to 14%.
The dollar amount regarding fraud in the welfare system costs us (taxpayers) BILLIONS every year.
And here's the proof:
http://www.roanen.com/1/post/2012/04/how-much-is-welfare-fraud-costing-us.html
Considering how difficult it is to stop FRAUD and corruption in GOVERNMENT (and it's officials), the least "we" can do is halt such things is take away the ability of those who have (or are) committing fraud in programs designed BY that government.
And we can take a long, hard look at Medicare and Medicaid while we're at it.
*** In regards to these shootings and homicides in Ft. Wayne, our very own FWPD capo, Rusty York spoke out on the situation.
Here's the story link from WPTA:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/FWPD-and-the-Community-Building-a-Relationship-201169381.html
And here's another take from WANE:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/chief-york-speaks-out-on-recent-crime
In both stories, we keep hearing about how the police KNOW who's doing all these nasties...
But without witnesses, arresting them becomes more difficult.
Um...just tossing this out there...anyone try a few STING-OPS?
Set these perps up, give 'em enough rope and let them "hang themselves", as it were?
Other cities do it, and it works, so why not HERE?
By the sound of things, you CERTAINLY have plenty of "help" from all these fed agencies.
Seems with such resources at-hand, should be EASIER to bring these thugs downtown than ever.
York says the FWPD has TWO methods of policing:
-- Community-based
-- Data-driven
I will say that while both are laudable means for policing, there is a THIRD method that has (to date) NOT been employed...and I mentioned it here SEVERAL TIMES.
It's called PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING.
(there, I said it AGAIN).
Read my archive post from WAY back on 6 April 2007 when I first spoke about this issue.
The whole gist of the P.O.P. program is to address the PROBLEMS in a community first.
And yes, even THIS has a WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem-oriented_policing
And here is a GREAT article on the whole COP vs POP strategies:
http://voices.yahoo.com/community-oriented-policing-vs-problem-oriented-policing-377438.html
One might say that COP is more PROACTIVE in nature, while POP is more REACTIVE in nature.
You HAVE to face the PROBLEMS first, before you can build the trust needed for a community-based approach.
It's THAT damn simple, Rus...!
Whereas in a NICE neighborhood, a COMMUNITY-based approach would not only be better, BUT actually be embraced by that community, down here in the ghettohood, you NEED a PROBLEM-based strategy, mainly due to the fact that there is rarely a "community" to speak of....just a gaggle of people that know each other in some manner, but not as "neighbors" in the purest sense. Most are related by blood and crime.
That's why the police KNOW who the perps are, and who's related to them, but cannot act...the "code of silence" among the locals sees to that.
Police need community involvement...people to come forward without fear of retaliation.
Good luck with that down here.
(( Editor's note - BTW, it looks like HOMICIDE NUMBER 15 occurred this morning in the 900 block of Hugh St. in the near SE side. More about this tomorrow))
*** Burglar strikes a SE business.
And here's THIS link:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-ask-for-help-identifying-burglar
Barto's Service Station, located at 1202 E. Creighton Ave, is the latest victim of an after-hours burglary (read gimme yo sh*t fo free).
Wonder how often that place was hit when the FWPD had it's HQ on Creighton?
Well, you can't say it was a white guy robbing the place, right?
"Smile, Ruffus...yo a$$ be on candid camera, dawg!"
How typical...gotta love it.
*** Lastly today, no one wants a police state (or city), but what is left when all other options have been exhausted?
Well, you have two choices left:
1) Enact that police state and shut everyone down.
(that doesn't make the police that popular)
2) Watch whatever good people left in a bad area up and LEAVE...turning it into a damn ghetto slum
(that doesn't help with lost tax revenue for a city)
Sadly, these thugs don't see that...and don't give a rat's ass about it.
And it all begins when law-enforcement fails to police the small sh*t, as I always say.
Ignore the little things...like wrong way parking, open container violations, litter, loud music, party houses and the like, in the "hope" these idiots will just get tired of it and do something else...
Yeah, well such morons DO wind up doing something else...like graduating to the BIG sh*t items...like robberies, home invasions, rapes, and eventually murders.
When such people believe they can get away with all the small sh*t, they WILL test the limits of their boundaries (they haven't any to begin with), and then after the big sh*t starts hitting a few fans, the police are playing "catch-up"...a scenario that never resolves itself...more crime, more police, still more crime and more police...we start a vicious cycle that could have been broken early on.
Someday, the right people will catch on, and be able to do something positive about all this.
But, it won't be today...or tomorrow.
And it will take a lot more active involvement by a lot more citizens, as well as the police.
THAT you can bank on.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

(( BTW, if you missed last night's JUSTIFIED season finale on FX, you missed an hour of GOOD television. ))