home

Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Sat Nov 19, 2005 at 09:58:37 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

While more cities are using surveillance cameras as a crime-fighting measure, bound to fail in my opinion, some police chiefs actually have a clue...check out LA Police Chief Bill Bratton's latest program, instituted last week:

Police academy graduates hired by the force will begin their careers walking the beat in 8 hour shifts, getting to know the community, the residents, the business owners. This gets the police out of their patrol cars, and away from responding to emergencies 24/7.

Crime is already down in these districts, and the residents are happy to see police who aren't just out to bust.

The new program, which Zingo said is the first of its type in the nation, gives rookies the chance to see that most people aren't criminals. Too often their perceptions are shaded from the seat of their patrol cars, which they seldom leave, he said.

"This deployment allows them to have contact with business owners, families out shopping, people going on with their lives," said Capt. Rick Jacobs, commanding officer of the Training Division. For the rookies, it gives them a crash course in crime fighting, community interaction and basic, street-level police work.

Here's an example of how it works:

With her factory-fresh police belt holding revolver, mace, two nightsticks, and one radio, Jeanine Giordano strides into Hollywood Star Market. "Sir, we are just walking a foot beat up and down the street. ... I'm sure you've seen us," says the young police recruit to a Korean working behind displays of beef jerky and pen lighters. "If you have any problems or questions," she adds after a conversation, "go ahead and let us know."

The clerk's nervous frown melts into a broad smile.

Good for Bratton, and good for LA.

< Ex-CIA Officers Reveal Torture Details | Saturday Open Thread >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#1)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:16 PM EST
    "Police academy graduates hired by the force will begin their careers walking the beat in 8 hour shifts, getting to know the community, the residents, the business owners. This gets the police out of their patrol cars, and away from responding to emergencies 24/7." Yes, responding to emergencies is waaay overated. I guess this is this why there was no LAPD response last night after my security co. alerted them that someone was trying to break into my business? Or why just last month they couldn't knock on the door of the apartment a couple blocks from my business where some punk who stole my credit card number had about 10K worth of diamond rings and computer equipment delivered to? Noooo, the LAPD don't have no time for that kind o' nonsense because they're out meetin' and greetin'. Sarcasm aside, I think the new program is all fine and good in the abstract, but not if it conflicts with their main duty - enforcing laws and busting scumbag criminals.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#2)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:16 PM EST
    Sorry for the language, I was up for most of last night.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#3)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:16 PM EST
    I think it is a great idea... While TL's post was poorly worded, I am sure she didn't mean it was more important for cops to meet store owners than to respond to emergency calls... Sarc, this is their job. Cops walking a beat have a better chance to perhaps DETER crime, rather than be glorified "first responders"....

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#4)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:16 PM EST
    Speaking of deterring crime, if this gets the LAPD to stop beating up minorities for traffic violations, that'd be swell.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:16 PM EST
    It really is a good idea. It has worked in my small city but isn't feasable all the time as there are only a limited amount of recruits at any given time. We've had better luck with bicycle patrols that give a more personal police presence but still gives them more mobility but being in upstate NY the winters are a deterent to the Bike patrols. Of course the winter also serves as a bit of hinderence to street crime as well. Sarc, sorry for your troubles but life in the big city entails this kind of stuff. I hope it works out for you. Roy, it depends on the violation.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:17 PM EST
    For many reasons I think this is a fantastic idea. I mean I really do.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:17 PM EST
    Actually the lesson I draw from the body of work of the above author is that street officer should not be a career, but be a 5-10 year stop in almost any other career. You don't get good for 5 years. After 10 years you're so cynical you become corrupt and ruin the n00bs.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:17 PM EST
    Bratton, Ray Kelly and *ugh* Bernard Kerik all learned this in the NYC police department. Under Mayor David Dinkins (not Rudy Giuliani, altho he grabs credit for it) two new policies were established: Hire more cops (we got a ten percent increase) and make them walk a beat. Prior to that, we had single officer patrol cars cruising. Crime began its slide just after this policy was instituted, ticked upwards when Rudy replaced Bratton, and cops were allowed to use cars again, and slipped back down as that foolishness was learned. No, it doesn't prevent all crime (wait til Bratton trots out the "quality of life" arrests, if you think cops focus on the petty now!), but it adds an element of randomness to possible police encounters while committing a crime and it also puts a human face on police officers in the community, someone people fell comfortable talking to.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#9)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:19 PM EST
    "How many of these reports have they gotten from the location in the past?" One. From two years ago when the pukes smashed a window, broke in, and, finding everything else of value tied down, stole my computer. "WAS someone trying to break into your business, or is the alarm tape old and brittle? Was there any evidence of a break-in?" Yes, they were trying to smash the front door window with a brick. "Which is a job for DETECTIVES, not street cops. If you have that kind of information, I'm sure they would like to hear from you." True. The detectives have the info and I followed up several times w/them - they were too busy then and too much time has passed now. I'm not bagging on Bratton, I think he has done a good job in general. My point was that "meeting and greeting" is a good idea but not if it conflicts with their other more critical duties - like responding to emergencies and crimes.

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#10)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:20 PM EST
    It's partly a perspective problem. If the cops deter crime, their success is hidden from view. If they fail to deter a crime by responding to an emergency, their failure is highly visible. Let's say Officer Bob prevents two burglaries by walking down 1st Street. That same night, no cops respond to a burglary in progress on 42nd street. Which event is more likely to show up in the paper or a blog post?

    Re: Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:20 PM EST
    I've got to disagree here, I'd rather police respond to actual crime. Cops on the beat just means more arrests for marijuana possesion, loitering, drinking in public and what not. In other words, cops breaking people's balls for petty stuff. This makes more enemies for police, not friends. Less street cops, more detectives to investigate break-ins, murders, rapes, etc.

    Fighting Crime the Old Fashioned Way | 11 comments (11 topical)