Article: Police redeployment plan stirs reaction from residents; Politicians should let police do police work Ald. Michael Murphy was wrong to criticize Milwaukee Police Chief Arthur Jones' "area specific policing" plan before the plan has even been implemented. Jones has come up with more crime-fighting strategies in his first months than his predecessor did in seven years. Jones has shown that he is flexible and willing to change plans when needed. Murphy points to neighborhood foot patrol hours that have not been filled. This strategy has been questionable in reducing crime and is far less aggressive than Jones' plans. Murphy's only initiative has been to decriminalize drug use that plagues high-crime areas of the city. I am fortunate that I do not live in the high-crime areas of the city. I have experience working in those areas and have seen the chaos in which residents of those areas must live. We must be responsive to reducing that chaos, even if it means slower service in less crime-ridden areas. I am confident that Jones will not let areas of the city go unprotected. It is time for politicians to stand back, stop criticizing and allow the police professionals to do what they were hired to do. James C. Cleveland Milwaukee; Yes, go back to strong, tough law enforcement Police Chief Arthur Jones has announced a redeployment plan for high crime areas of the city and further warned that "there will be a lot of us." Jones also announced that this decision was based on COMSTAT, detailed computer mapping of crime statistics, pinpointing high-crime areas in Milwaukee. Jones stated that the two target areas produce 75% of the crime in the city. He is also sending a message to those committing the crimes that he will be after them 24 hours a day. I would like to point out that prior to the advent of community policing in Chief Philip Arreola's term, all of the officers, including detectives who worked closely with the tactical enforcement unit and the gang squad, did saturate high-crime areas and were successful in keeping a lid on the increasing crime in the areas. We were well aware where the high-crime areas were, without the aid of detailed maps on computers. During Arreola's term, his community policing philosophy, which was a dismal failure, succeeded in dismantling our strong law enforcement position into being "Officer Friendlys." Now we should go back to tough, strong law enforcement and leave the politics out of it. Van E. Vergetis Retired deputy police inspector Milwaukee Police Department; Little things and big show need for police effort I would like to comment on the crime articles that tell us more police protection and more patrols will be in the works for some areas. I would like to mention a few things that show we need the police help, such as drivers double-parked in the middle of the street, talking to each other. When you want to pass, a young driver calls you filthy names or tells you to go around them so they can chit-chat. Or groups

Article from:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)

Article date:

October 26, 1997

CopyrightCopyright 1997 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)