Modesto mayor seeks public input before unveiling safety plan [The Modesto Bee]
By Ken Carlson, The Modesto Bee | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Mayor
Participants came up with ideas, such as expanding the tax base through economic development, consolidating local agencies, coordinating neighborhood watches, relaxing gun permit rules, or using city employees to report suspicious activity or code violations.
City officials and an evaluation team will analyze the concepts in the coming weeks. Participants, who were invited or signed up for the forum, will meet again
Marsh said Friday's meeting was not the time to share his proposals. In replying to a question, he said
Reaching the state average would require 85 more officers, which would increase the force to more than 300 officers. The additional personnel would cost an extra
Friday, top officials outlined the problems facing
The cuts reduced special police units that worked on auto theft, traffic enforcement, gangs, crime prevention and schools as the priority was shifted to keeping officers on the streets. Today,
Officials are especially concerned about a 12-month spike in crime. As of October, the 18 homicides this year was a 50 percent jump over a year ago. The city saw a 24 percent jump in the leading crime categories, including 44 percent increase in auto theft and 23 percent increase in burglary.
Marsh said the city can't count on federal or state government to refresh its coffers, but needs to find its own solution. Another challenge is statewide public safety realignment, which obligates the county to jail nonviolent offenders and monitor low-level prison parolees.
Former Mayor
Some people taking part in group discussions Friday doubted that throwing money at the problem was the solution. About a dozen groups talked about nontraditional tactics for crime prevention and better management of available resources for public safety.
One group called for combining the police force and fire service into one department, as is done in
Suggestions from other groups:
--Remove barriers to economic growth so the city can enhance its revenue from property and sales tax.
--Explore options for the
--Better coordination of neighborhood watch groups and other volunteers, recognition for watch captains and getting groups together to work on solutions.
--Consistent rules for issuing concealed weapon permits. Store owners in high-crime areas could be trained by police to protect themselves.
--Encourage city employees such as those in public works to report illegal activity they encounter.
--Form a citizens oversight committee to review law enforcement.
--Create programs to deal with family dysfunction and get young offenders back on the right path.
At one table, interim Fire Chief
The group also discussed conditions created by vacant commercial buildings, including vandalism downtown and shopping centers frequented by panhandlers and drug dealers. With staff reductions, those violations fall lower on the priority list for police.
Another group focused on social problems and the effects of poverty, which are thought to contribute to increased crime.
After most members admitted they could not name their neighborhood watch captain, they advanced an idea to map neighborhood groups and share information through social media. Sutton suggested schools could tap their neighborhoods for volunteers to work with young people.
"My wife and I are mostly retired," Sutton said. "The school in our neighborhood has no relationship with us whatsoever. If they were to ask me to volunteer, I probably would."
Bee staff writer
For further background on the new police chief, go to this story at www.modbee.com/local.
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