What Will the Ecnonomy Do to the Crime Rate?

As we already know, the City of Camden, NJ, is laying off half of its police officers and almost half of its firefighters.  Newark, NJ, has already laid off more than 160 police officers this year.  Other towns across cash-strapped New Jersey have already laid off cops and firemen, or are planning on doing it soon.  Here in Pennsylvania, we are feeling the crunch too.  Philadelphia's mayor made noise this year when he closed Fire Houses across the city.  The Borough of West Chester, home to such festivities as the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade and the Chester County Restaurant Festival, is facing a 1.5 million dollar budget gap next year.  The borough that has enjoyed so much economic prosperity, so much 'revitalization' in the past two decades, will be faced with some tough choices in the coming years.

Who or what is blame?  Is it the economy?  Is it politicians? Unions? The federal government?  Bad Investments?  Who knows.  Probably a mix of all the above and then some.  The question I have is, what will the reduction of police officer, firefighters and other important public-service jobs cause?  What will happen to towns like Camden, Philadelphia and maybe even West Chester if the the politicians continue on the trend they're on and continue to reduce police, fire, and EMS services?  How long will it take a "great town" like West Chester to regress into the town it was years ago?  Who will really suffer in cities like Camden and Newark?  How long will it take for business owners to pull out all together, and for criminals to expand? 

In my opinion, all too often, politicians campaign on the backs, and at the expense of, the true public servants.  When crime is high, they say they'll fight to lower it.  But who lowers crime?  Do politicians lower crime.  I don't think so.  I think communities, in partnership with police, are the ones to fight crime.  I think its the politicians who like to take the credit.  Then, when crime is low, it's the politicians who think we can do with less police.  They look to "save money" by eliminating jobs.  Or they promise that services will not be cut, and the police will magically be able to do more with less.  But the reality is that crime tends to increase when the economy is in a downturn.  basically, more people turn to crime to get by.  Couple that trend with less cops and firemen, and I think its a recipe for disaster.  The quality of life across the country will decrease, one town at a time. 

So what is the solution? 

Most Dangerous City in U.S. to Lay Off Half It's Cops

In 2009, Camden, New Jersey, had the highest violent crime rate of all cities in the United States.  It's  violent crime rate was nearly five times that of the national average.  To compare, West Chester's violent crime rate is equal to or just slightly higher than the national average.   Coatesville, Chester County's most violent town, statistically speaking, has a violent crime rate just under two times the national average.  (1)  So, to be sure, Camden is in need of some help.

So what are law-makers planning to do to clean up the city?  They are planning to, and have received State approval, to lay off 180 of its police officers.  That number is half of the city's force.  And, since Camden had the highest arson rate of any other city I could find, they decided to lay off about 35% of its firefighters too.

I realize we are in a recession, and that we are in the middle of "tough economic times."  I'm also all for fiscal responsibility.  However, laying off one cop, let alone half of the city's force, just doesn't make any sense.  Once again, way to go politicians!  Congratulations, you're  making a dangerous city more dangerous.  I feel bad for the 180 cops in the city.  I feel even worse for any of the good citizens of Camden, who are being abandoned by their elected officials.

(1) source - http://www.cityrating.com, from data compiled by FBI Uniform Crime Reports

Philly Police Anti-Crime Tactics Under Fire...Again

The Philadelphia Police Department is being sued in Federal Court.  The ACLU (of course) is alleging that the Philly PD "stop and frisk" tactic has resulted in the unfair stopping of racial minorities.  Police leaders have argued that the tactic has reduced crime, and that it does not target any particular race.  To me, this seems to be another case that the ACLU has latched on that will eventually just make the streets less safe for law-abiding citizens.  At what cost, I wonder, does the ACLU do its business?

More coverage here

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you Squanto.

Pennsylvania Self Defense Law Sitting on Governor's Desk

Right next to a cheese steak with extra onions, an ashtray full of cigarette butts, and a glass of scotch sits a bill that has passed though the PA legislature and must be signed by the governor to be made law.  The bill would expand a citizens right to use deadly force in Pennsylvania.  Essentially, right now, current PA law requires that a citizen facing danger first retreat from any danger, if possible, before using deadly force.  The main exception would be in one's own home.  The new law, however, would eliminate the duty to retreat.

Those who appose the new law, which include most police leaders and prosecutors, worry that it would increase violence and promote violence among criminals, or at least make criminal acts of violence more defensible in court.   Outspoken and media-friendly Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she worried about the "level of violence it would authorize on our streets." 

So where do I weigh in on the issue?  Its a tough one.  I do not think that we should pass any law that makes it easier for criminals to be criminals or that makes it easier for criminals to "get away" with crimes, especially crimes of violence.  However, I firmly believe that law abiding citizens should not be limited as to where they can defend themselves or their family.  I think that if the bill is signed into law by Good 'Ol Fast Eddie, and if its enforced properly, it will be a good thing for the good citizens of Pennsylvania. 

I wonder what others, including other members of the law enforcement community think?  I'm all ears...

Amidst Media Coverage, Philly DA Changes His Mind

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, and PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille have been fielding a lot of negative criticism after last weeks news that more than 20,000 cases have been dismissed to "un-clog" the system in Philly.  Some of the FUZZBUZZ readers may have read it here first.  Now, the DA is saying that "some" of the "serious" cases were thrown out mistakenly.  More likely, I think he's  surprised that the reporters found out about all of the cases and even more surprised that they found out about the many serious ones.

Suffice to say, he has changed his mind, and is now looking into re-instating charges against some of the defendants.  Read more here at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

What a huge waste of time!

Four Loko Alco-Energy Drink to be Discontinued

Four Loko is a highly caffeinated malt liquor beverage with the alcohol content of four 12 ounce beers and the caffeine content of four coffees.  It comes in a variety of fruity flavors.  The 23.5 ounce cans have become a favorite of young people.  I personally have seen it around for a little over a year.  Some of the people I've spoken to describe it as the closest thing to cocaine that they can get.  And the hangovers are reportedly the worst. The dangerous mix of caffeine, taurine, guarana, and alcohol has landed some in the hospital. 

Now, reportedly, The FDA will prohibit the sale of beverages that mix alcohol and caffeine.  Seeing the writing on the wall, Phusion Products, makers of Four Loko, announced this morning that they will no longer include caffeine, taurine and guarana in Four Loko.  The decision is shore to save a few horrible hangovers, at the very least.

The Libertarian in me wonders if the government should be waasting its time with more regulations.  The parent in me commends the FDA and, reluctantly, the makers of Four Loko, for their recent decisions.  The parent in me also wonders exactly who these drinks are marketed to.  With the colorful cans and fruity flavors, they are easily mistaken for one of many fruit or energy drinks we'd find in the supermarket.