Philly's solution to violent crime

rubberneck · 09-14-2007, 07:28

I couldn't make this one up if I tried. The Chief of Police is calling for 10,000 male African American volunteers to patrol the city streets in an effort to reduce crime. This plan has the backing and the support of the Nation of Islam.

It must be great, as a sworn LEO, to wake up to the news that your Chief believes that you cannot get the job done and is calling for a posse to handle it for you. I am sure that their union is going to love the idea.

What happens when, not if, things really get out of hand? Who are they going to turn to then? The National Guard? If the Governor of Pa. had any brains he'd stomp this one out before it goes any further.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070913/D8RKQJ2O0.html

Quote:

Philly Seeks 10,000 Men to Guard Streets
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Sep 13, 5:18 PM (ET)

By MARYCLAIRE DALE

(AP) Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson is seen in Philadelphia, April 2, 2007. The...
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The city's embattled police chief, acknowledging that police alone cannot quell a run of deadly violence, has called on 10,000 black men to patrol the streets to reduce crime.

Sylvester Johnson, who is black, says black men have a duty to protect more vulnerable residents. He wants each volunteer to pledge to work three hours a day for at least 90 days.

"It's time for African-American men to stand up," Johnson told the Philadelphia Daily News, which first reported the story Wednesday. "We have an obligation to protect our women, our children and our elderly. We're going to put men on the street. We're going to train them in conflict resolution."

The program's backers include Dennis Muhammad, a former Nation of Islam official who has been hired by police departments in Detroit, Syracuse, N.Y., and other cities to conduct community-sensitivity training.

Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city, has nearly 1.5 million residents, 44 percent of them black. It has notched 294 homicides this year. More than 80 percent of the slayings involve handguns, and most involve young black males.

Johnson plans to introduce the "Call to Action: 10,000 Men, It's a New Day" program on Oct. 21, three months before his planned retirement.

"He won't get anywhere near that number. If he gets 1,000 people, it will be great," said Heather DeRussy, who leads a local Guardian Angels chapter that has recruited just seven members in the past two years. Given its size, the group focuses on a single north Philadelphia park plagued by prostitution and drug use.

DeRussy lauded Johnson for his effort but said she fears the volunteers will find it dangerous to patrol their home turf.

"In their own neighborhoods, with the 'Don't snitch' mentality, they're kind of putting themselves in harm's way, because there are going to be people who disagree with what they're doing," DeRussy said.

The men who join Johnson's program will not carry weapons or make arrests but will instead emphasize conflict resolution, similar to the Guardian Angels' ground rules.

Police in other cities have hired Muhammad in recent years to provide sensitivity training to officers and community members, but it was not immediately clear whether any have deployed a volunteer patrol force.

Johnson, who had led the police department for seven years, appears increasingly frustrated by the daily gun violence. He and other city leaders have blamed the Legislature for not passing gun-control measures.

Mayor John F. Street, whose term is up at the beginning of 2008, has voiced support for the program, but it was not clear whether he would become involved. His office did not return a call for comment Thursday, nor did Johnson's office.

Street and Johnson have both endured withering criticism from frustrated residents and community leaders who say they should do more to halt the violence.

One gun-violence researcher said the idea of putting citizens on patrol had the potential to show children that adults care.

"A steady exposure to violence just creates this toxic environment for children and youth. As adults, we don't want them to think they have to handle it on their own," said Rose Cheney, executive director of the Firearm and Injury Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

"If, by putting people out there - not just as a town watch, but as resources who connect them to what they need from adults - that can be very promising," she said.

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On the Net:

http://www.10000menphilly.com/

HOLLiS · 09-14-2007, 09:04

Rubbeneck policing has always been a community issue, Neighborhood watch along with citizens patrols. One city I was in had a evening patrol in the old downtown area. It worked very well. Most officer will tell you they do not prevent crime as much as they report crime.

IMHO, anything dealing with NOI is a sticky issue. That may convoluted this program.

**Eagle5US** · 09-14-2007, 10:05

IMHO, this stopped being a "neighborhood watch" issue when they called for "10000 BLACK MEN to patrol the streets and reduce crime.
It's no different then when the mayor of New Orleans was calling for a revival of the "Chocolate City".

Community leaders such as these do little more than PROMOTE racism and segregation. It has the support of the Nation of Islam? Terrific, a pseudomilitant organization is going to be doing "conflict resolution work".
This is the 1960's all over again. Talk about a tremendous step backwards.

Scenario:

Two patrolmen come up on a disturbance of 30-40 "resolving a conflict"...
LEO: What's going on here?
Posse: Nothing Officer-we have it handled....you can move on your way
LEO: Stand aside, we'll take it from here
Posse: I don't think you understand officer...WE are handling this on OUR OWN...MOVE ALONG.

We have in effect deputized and enabled mob mentality...very sad...

Eagle

HOLLiS · 09-14-2007, 10:20

Eagle, I am too troubled because of NOI's involvement. The article seemed to put a positive twist on the concept;

"The men who join Johnson's program will not carry weapons or make arrests but will instead emphasize conflict resolution, similar to the Guardian Angels' ground rules."

When I was a elected official (city Councilor) one contribution I was a part of was establishing a community conflict resolution program, especially for issues that ate up a lot of officers time that were really not a police issue, such as "spite fencing".

I also think the positive aspect is that placing self responsibility on a specific community that has probably had to much of the entitlement mentality thrown on them.

Again, with NOI's involvement it may become as your scenario pointed out.

82ndtrooper · 09-14-2007, 10:29

If I were deputized I'd want to be armed. Not for appearance or seeking authority posture but merely for my own self defense and safety.

That's just me.

Additionaly, I find this a petri dish experiment with unknown results. Will it work ? I hope for their sake it results in positive outcomes without negative repurcussions.

**Eagle5US** · 09-14-2007, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by 82ndtrooper

If I were deputized I'd want to be armed.

My deputization comment was a perception of events...I do not believe the article relates that these men will be considered for official deputy types duties.

Eagle

**The Reaper** · 09-14-2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by 82ndtrooper

If I were deputized I'd want to be armed. Not for appearance or seeking authority posture but merely for my own self defense and safety.

That's just me.

Additionaly, I find this a petri dish experiment with unknown results. Will it work ? I hope for their sake it results in positive outcomes without negative repurcussions.

Hey, I thought you were fleeing Federal apprehension in a murder case right now?

You are a conservative white firearms owner with prior military experience, you are clearly NOT the type of person that they want policing the streets.

You might actually appreheld or injure one of the perps in the act.

Seriously, given the extreme likelihood of violent crime being black on black, perhaps this was an effort to get members of the community to acknowledge the problem and become a part of the solution.

Just a thought.

TR

rubberneck · 09-14-2007, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Seriously, given the extreme likelihood of violent crime being black on black, perhaps this was an effort to get members of the community to acknowledge the problem and become a part of the solution.
TR

Sadly in most urban areas cooperation with the police is just about the only unpardonable sin in the eyes of the community. Best case scenario for the city is that this plan doesn't work at all and dies quickly. The worst case is that the criminal enterprises located throughout the city use this program to support their on going efforts.

82ndtrooper · 09-14-2007, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Hey, I thought you were fleeing Federal apprehension in a murder case right now?

You are a conservative white firearms owner with prior military experience, you are clearly NOT the type of person that they want policing the streets.

You might actually appreheld or injure one of the perps in the act.

Seriously, given the extreme likelihood of violent crime being black on black, perhaps this was an effort to get members of the community to acknowledge the problem and become a part of the solution.

Just a thought.

TR

Obviously I will graciously take that as a compliment.