Giving back ...
Welcome back from Thanksgiving.
It appears to have been a relatively routine holiday on the crime front, though we did learn that a man attacked 14 months ago -- possibly because was gay -- died this month after a long stay at Maryland Shock Trauma. Police haven't made any arrests.
In other news, a 15-year-old boy was shot in Southwest Baltimore and two teen-agers were stabbed near the Lake Clifton high school campus.
The better story to read today is Justin Fenton's article on Shomrim, a Jewish crime-fighting group in Northwest Baltimore (the Hebrew name means "Watchers"). These guys do more than walk though neighborhoods -- they actually respond to calls, though they're careful to act as "eyes and ears" and not get into any confrontations. Here is a video.
Above: Shomrim members Marc Rosenbluth, left, and Alf Klainberg, right, check on a minivan left unattended in the same spot for two weeks. Photo was taken by The Sun's Kenneth K. Lam.
It's a good read for anyone wanting to step up their activities fighting crime, though it's apparent from the story that this takes significant time and commitment.
Meanwhile, I watched a video of the drug trial for which I was part of a jury pool but didn't get seated. It was a typical drug case in Baltimore -- cop says he saw a man on a corner drop drugs and the man says the drugs were planted.
It came down to whether you believe the officer or the young suspect. What troubled me wa that police didn't take fingerprints from the small bags of drugs; that would've proved it one way or the other. The reason they didn't, the prosecutor told the jury: the city doesn't have enough money.
As I said in Sunday's crime column, if we're going to actually put people in jail for drugs, we need to fight this war correctly. I would've loved to have been on the jury to hear what they thought.
Comments
Giving back to our local communities is not only a vital part of being an upstanding citizen but our moral responsibility to uphold. If nothing else, it is important to inform the Police about any suspicious happenings or unclaimed objects that are found in suspicious circumstances. Extending full cooperation to the Police is with a doubt a must in the rectification of this particular situation. Honestly, when it comes down to public safety and the overall prevention of crime I don't necessarily believe whole-heartily that the Law Enforcement's level of understanding has a sound grasp of what is exactly required in resolving the criminal activity in most residential areas, at least not without the full support of the members associated in these community operations(like neighborhood watches).
The contribution given by these brave individuals is a prime example of what you get when you coordinate true camaraderie with a vast amount of time and dedication. The valiant actions presented by these men is what I would consider to be the definition of commendable. I definitely tip my hat's off to the individuals who made it their business to do what they thought was right for their community well-being.
Watch groups are a foundation of community crime prevention, they can be a stepping stone to community revitalization. Though, there are times when crime drops or the neighborhood problem is alleviated, and some watch programs slowly lose momentum. To keep a Neighborhood Watch programs vital, blend crime prevention into other community concerns. These complimentary programs are designed to protect the satiety of a communities social infrastructures in regards to neighborhood organizations set forth by its members. For example:
http://www.usaonwatch.org/ (This program's role wasn't only developed to help neighborhoods focus on rudimentary issues like purely resolving domestic disputes and/ crime activity but also teaching individuals the importance of disaster preparedness)
In addition, drug rehabilitation centers also have been known to take part in large anti-drug rallies, and starting neighborhood watch programs. By coercing with members of certain types of Rehabilitation committees about these issues can in fact place the law enforcement officers involved in a opportune position to better monitor drug cases from arraignment to sentencing in local courts.
- Mike Slinskey
Posted by: Mike Slinskey | December 13, 2009 11:27 PM
Giving back to our local communities is not only a vital part of being an upstanding citizen but our moral responsibility to uphold. If nothing else, it is important to inform the Police about any suspicious happenings or unclaimed objects that are found in suspicious circumstances. Extending full cooperation to the Police is with a doubt a must in the rectification of this particular situation. Honestly, when it comes down to public safety and the overall prevention of crime I don't necessarily believe whole-heartily that the Law Enforcement's level of understanding has a sound grasp of what is exactly required in resolving the criminal activity in most residential areas, at least not without the full support of the members associated in these community operations(like neighborhood watches).
The contribution given by these brave individuals is a prime example of what you get when you coordinate true camaraderie with a vast amount of time and dedication. The valiant actions presented by these men is what I would consider to be the definition of commendable. I definitely tip my hat's off to the individuals who made it their business to do what they thought was right for their community well-being.
Watch groups are a foundation of community crime prevention, they can be a stepping stone to community revitalization. Though, there are times when crime drops or the neighborhood problem is alleviated, and some watch programs slowly lose momentum. To keep a Neighborhood Watch programs vital, blend crime prevention into other community concerns. These complimentary programs are designed to protect the satiety of a communities social infrastructures in regards to neighborhood organizations set forth by its members. For example:
http://www.usaonwatch.org/ (This program's role wasn't only developed to help neighborhoods focus on rudimentary issues like purely resolving domestic disputes and/ crime activity but also teaching individuals the importance of disaster preparedness)
In addition, drug rehabilitation centers also have been known to take part in large anti-drug rallies, and starting neighborhood watch programs. By coercing with members of certain types of Rehabilitation committees about these issues can in fact place the law enforcement officers involved in a opportune position to better monitor drug cases from arraignment to sentencing in local courts.
Posted by: Mike Slinskey | December 16, 2009 7:37 AM