Crime rate inches down, but some feel unsafe
By: Sam Flow
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
"Blue CRUSH is 'The' way to handle policing," explained John Harvey, RTCC system manager.
Despite the efforts of the MPD and Operation Blue CRUSH, crime is still a reality, but the MPD is steadily pushing to find new ways and technologies to help fight it.
MPD Director Larry Godwin said in a weekly Blue CRUSH meeting that the crime rate is still no where near where it should be.
"It's as though our life jackets are soaked with water and we are barely keeping our heads above water, compared to last year's numbers," Godwin said.
Godwin explained that one of the biggest problems with crime in Memphis is repeat-offenders.
"We've got folks who have been locked up hundreds of times," Godwin said. "There is just no sentencing here. We have poor laws in this state. The government is not giving us the tools we need to fight crime."
Just last week alone, there were 45 accused burglars locked up, according to Godwin, and 1,200 so far this year.
"We have a God given right to feel safe in our homes and communities," he said.
While some residents may disagree, the statistics show that Operation Blue CRUSH has, in fact, had an impact on crime in the city. According to the MPD's records, there has been a decrease of 3,485 part-one crimes in the past two years. That is a 6.05 percent decrease. Part-one crimes include violent crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, as well as property crimes, which include burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft.
According to Derek Myers, deputy director of the University of Memphis campus police, Operation Blue CRUSH will have the greatest impact on property crimes like burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. Myers explained that there is not such an impact on crimes against persons because more times than not, by the time an officer arrives on the scene, the crime has already been committed.
The MPD is optimistic that these problems will change in the future with the help of the RTCC, which opened just last April. The RTCC is an advanced technological data processing station outfitted with forty-two 50-inch rear projection display screens and 20 computer work stations. This "state of the art facility," as many have referred to it, will have live video and audio feeds from all over the city. This advanced technology will allow officers to get instant feedback on locations, people and vehicles that would have taken hours or even days before.
Despite the efforts of the MPD and Operation Blue CRUSH, crime is still a reality, but the MPD is steadily pushing to find new ways and technologies to help fight it.
MPD Director Larry Godwin said in a weekly Blue CRUSH meeting that the crime rate is still no where near where it should be.
"It's as though our life jackets are soaked with water and we are barely keeping our heads above water, compared to last year's numbers," Godwin said.
Godwin explained that one of the biggest problems with crime in Memphis is repeat-offenders.
"We've got folks who have been locked up hundreds of times," Godwin said. "There is just no sentencing here. We have poor laws in this state. The government is not giving us the tools we need to fight crime."
Just last week alone, there were 45 accused burglars locked up, according to Godwin, and 1,200 so far this year.
"We have a God given right to feel safe in our homes and communities," he said.
While some residents may disagree, the statistics show that Operation Blue CRUSH has, in fact, had an impact on crime in the city. According to the MPD's records, there has been a decrease of 3,485 part-one crimes in the past two years. That is a 6.05 percent decrease. Part-one crimes include violent crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, as well as property crimes, which include burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft.
According to Derek Myers, deputy director of the University of Memphis campus police, Operation Blue CRUSH will have the greatest impact on property crimes like burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. Myers explained that there is not such an impact on crimes against persons because more times than not, by the time an officer arrives on the scene, the crime has already been committed.
The MPD is optimistic that these problems will change in the future with the help of the RTCC, which opened just last April. The RTCC is an advanced technological data processing station outfitted with forty-two 50-inch rear projection display screens and 20 computer work stations. This "state of the art facility," as many have referred to it, will have live video and audio feeds from all over the city. This advanced technology will allow officers to get instant feedback on locations, people and vehicles that would have taken hours or even days before.