PC set to cops: Don't think
It's quite a comment on our day and age: When the police propose sending more patrols into high-crime areas, they're denounced as racist. They haven't even said where those areas are yet, and already they're being called out for targeting minority groups. The more we think about it, the crazier it seems.
| Posted at 1:46 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (9)
"...40 percent of crime in the city happens in just 3.5 percent of the areas..."
Wow.
Posted by m | March 26, 2013 2:49 PM
It ain't racial profiling, it's reality profiling.
Posted by TheOtherDave | March 26, 2013 3:39 PM
I've always said that its not racism, its sociology and applied statistics...
Posted by It's Mike | March 26, 2013 3:53 PM
I am surprised that the police dept. is not doing this now. So far behind common sense. But the areas also need better transit services so that the people can get to more job opportunities. One example of this is the poor service between Killingsworth/ MLK Jr and the Rivergate Industrial Park. No or limited bus service means that people living in that area do not have access to the potential jobs there, but Trimet has other interest than helping reduce joblessness in the city.
Posted by James Donovan | March 26, 2013 4:46 PM
Nice concept, but if there is no money for jails or prosecutions that dog won't hunt. If the effort will curb crime I'm all for it, but it takes an entire criminal justice effort. If the purpose is just to let street cops get in the face of street punks, then expect claims from everyone contacted they have been unfairly singled out, for whatever reason. There has to be a bite to their bark.
Posted by gibby | March 26, 2013 5:03 PM
The irony is if the police DON'T patrol in minority neighborhoods then they are called racists...
Posted by tankfixer | March 26, 2013 5:34 PM
If I lived in an area where there was a lot of street crime I'd welcome an enhanced police presence. I'd even offer donuts and coffee if a cop would sit in my driveway all day long while I was at work.
Posted by Andy | March 26, 2013 6:56 PM
By all means, oppose rampant police brutality and unfair sentencing, and the plethora of actually racist elements of our criminal justice system. But the failure to sufficiently respond in high-crime areas IS one of those elements.
I understand and fully agree that PPB has done nothing to earn the trust of its citizenry, especially those who are most vulnerable to its abuses. There is reason to be cautious about any measure taken by PPB, but whatever benefit of the doubt is due to our cops is due here. Reducing crime where it is harming neighborhoods and the people who live there, rather than trolling around looking for crimes to which they can overreact, is precisely what a responsible and racially just police bureau should be doing.
If and only if this turns into something akin to "stop and frisk," then we have a problem. Otherwise, we should hope that this represents a positive direction.
Posted by LURid | March 26, 2013 8:03 PM
The funny thing is those denouncing this are the ones affirming racism. Police just say they're going to patrol high crime areas -- those saying otherwise are basically saying crime occurs in minority areas. The police didn't say it, the detractors did.
Does even the most PC person really think it's a good idea for police to patrol Dunthorpe? Granted it's in unincorporated county area, but regardless of who patrols that area it would be a waste of resources.
Go where the crime is, please.
Posted by ws | March 26, 2013 10:33 PM