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Adam Ford
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Crime increases in Flint in the first six months of 2006, compared to the same period in 2005 (in percent)
Homicides +30%
Robberies +3%
Assaults +15%
Source: Preliminary figures supplied by Police Chief Gary Hagler.
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-38/1157120478157250.xml&coll=5
FLINT - Violent crime is on the rise in Flint, but the city is not alone in its battle to turn the tide against escalating homicides, robberies and assaults, said acting Flint Police Chief Gary Hagler.
Hagler joined chiefs from 40 cities across the country in Washington, D.C., this week for a National Violent Crime Summit, sponsored by the Police Executive Research Forum.
In addition to the police chiefs, the summit included mayors and other government officials. A total of 170 people were invited to the event.
Like Flint, large and small cities around the country are reporting a marked increase in violent crimes after a five-year drop.
So far, more than 35 people have been killed in Flint this year, sparking numerous calls to reduce violence, especially among young people.
Homicides are up 30 percent compared to this time last year and robberies a modest 3 percent, Hagler said.
Serious assaults have increased 15 percent. Just this week a Taco Bell manager in Flint was shot during a robbery, mirroring a trend reported at the summit of increased shootings at robberies.
In a USA Today article this week, Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher discussed that new, disturbing trend.
"There's almost a different code on the street, that it's not a robbery unless you shoot somebody," Streicher was quoted in the USA Today article.
Said Hagler: "Some cities are worse off than we are. Flint is not alone in this problem."
Police chiefs agreed that much of the problem can be traced to reduced federal funding for local police since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Hagler said.
In the late 1990s, Flint's police department had about 35 officers funded through federal law enforcement grants. Today, it has none, Hagler said.
Department of Justice assistance that used to be more than $1 million a year is only about $100,000 this year and may be reduced or eliminated in future years, he said.
To find additional money for the department, Hagler said he is active in groups such as the Great Lakes Foundation and the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, which is interested in funding a reduction in gun violence.
In addition to more funding, Hagler said the key to combating violent crimes is addressing issues of poverty, absentee parents and violent video games.
"Kids win these games by killing more people, treating women badly and shooting police officers," the chief said. "They may be winners in those games, but they are losers in life."
The police department is working with groups such as the Concerned Pastors for Social Action to find ways to positively influence young people, Hagler said. |
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Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:43 pm |
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arturo
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| It wold be be more appropiate to state violent crime is rising in the nation as a whole. |
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Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:41 pm |
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Ted Jankowski
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So are you implying that crime has rising accros the Nation 30 percent in two years? The rest of the nation is talking about a few percentage points. flint is talking 17 percent in 2004 and 12 percent in 2005 and the City isn't raeporting monthly on the cuty website as they have done in the past.
Nation Wide "
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Robberies were up 4.5 percent and aggravated assaults 1.9 percent, according to preliminary data. Alone among violent crime categories, the number of rapes fell 1.9 percent.
Flint Robberies up 29% in 2004
Rape did Jump up in 2004 but did drop drastically in 2005. But that was the only stat in Flint that went down in 2005. |
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Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:50 pm |
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