Our Views: Crime stats show need

Beyond the heated politics concerning the recent firing of Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White, there remains much work to do in advancing public safety in Baton Rouge.

The urgency of that mission was underscored recently with the release of new statistics that show the continuing crime challenge in Baton Rouge.

Reported murders, rapes and robberies increased in Baton Rouge last year, although there was an overall decrease in major crimes when compared with 2011, according to the figures. One domestic-abuse expert suggested that reported rapes might have increased because more assaults are being reported, rather than more rapes actually occurring.

Property crimes dropped 4.66 percent, while violent crimes against people increased by 1.62 percent. Those categories combined accounted for a 3.65 percent decrease in major crimes, which police suggested was part of a long-term downward trend.

But murders increased from 64 in 2011 to 66 in 2012. A drop in murders in the second half of 2012 might indicate that a new program aimed at reducing violence in Baton Rouge’s most-troubled neighborhoods is working, although the brief existence of the program makes such a conclusion tenuous.

That program, the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination project, or BRAVE, brings together a number of agencies and civic groups, including law enforcement personnel, social-service workers and churches, in a targeted effort against repeat offenders.

Such collaboration suggests a useful acknowledgment that fighting crime in Baton Rouge can’t be a mission limited to law enforcement officials alone. The challenges of crime are big ones, and we’ll all have to do our parts to make a difference.

Comments

1) Comment by TheAgonyOfTruth - 06/03/2013

Dear crazyeyes: It is evident that you have not the least notion when you trash a good man. Pill popping?? Really now how would you know? Running around on his wife?? That is an ignorant statement!! Oh wait a second, you are probably mixed him up with the Kipster. He constantly runs around on his wife. Most of Baton Rouge probably knows it but reelected him anyway. You must be in Kippy's moral category.

2) Comment by crazyeyes - 05/03/2013

yeah yeah yeah.....Dewayne "pillhead, cheating on his wife" White is an idiot. Crime is a problem within society. You cant Police people into GOOD GUYS! Grow a brain folks

3) Comment by ScotB - 01/03/2013

When 70% of kids have no father and 50% drop out of school, you are going to have a pretty good crop of criminals.

4) Comment by Bouncer - 01/03/2013

Once the "snitches belong in ditches" philosophy is abandoned, then some kind of headway can perhaps be made. People have to understand that helping to bring perpetrators of evil, heinous acts to justice is pretty much a moral imperative. It's not like tattling to the teacher because someone called you "ugly."

5) Comment by DMJ - 01/03/2013

Well.....there have been fewer murders in the 1st 2 months of 2013 than this time last year. That's something.

6) Comment by nimby? - 01/03/2013

doesn't matter what we write here , those causing the problem don't read the paper , have little regard for anyone/anything else . our police force can only act after the fact . secure your home , vehicle . be careful where you park , alert when you walk or cycle . if you feel the need to arm yourself consult an expert , you don't need a "dirty harry gun" . respect the weapon , get proper training , as well all family members of age . secure the weapon when not in use . never leave it in a vehicle . and don't be afraid to use it , if necessary ...

7) Comment by phil - 01/03/2013

Crime in BR seems to be great for the economy. I wonder who makes money on all of the added security in all of those new crime prevention districts, and who makes money at the very top of illegal drug activity (and money laundering)? If I was in those businesses I might not really want crime to go away. This is just something to think about..

8) Comment by Whatnow - 01/03/2013

[e-mail], bingo! But, maybe if more people will become willing witnesses to crime instead of worrying about being snitches, there might be an improvement. It's a sad state of affairs when people are fearful of retaliation from a criminal or their partners in crime.

9) Comment by bourbon-soda - 01/03/2013

An increase from 2469 to 2509 in "violent crimes against people," meaning homicides, rapes, robberies, and assaults (from 2/26 "‘Major crime’ down in BR in ’12"), corresponding to 1.62 percent, is not statistically significant for any reasonable estimate of the size of population involved, and property crimes actually decreased. There is no statistically significant change on which to base any conclusion or recommendation. The variable rate of crime reporting suggested by a "domestic abuse expert" further impugns any purported usefulness of the statistics in question. Business as usual. Nothing to see here. Move on.

10) Comment by tradewinns - 01/03/2013

crime will continue to grow till the punishment exceeds the perceived value of the crime.

11) Comment by [e-mail] - 01/03/2013

We all have to do our part? Right, I forgot that it's really our fault.

12) Comment by Hello Baton Rouge - 01/03/2013

Duckyluve once again makes a perfect point without ranting a whole paragraph. Its evident that all White wanted to do was make the BRPD one that was respected because of hard work and professionalism. When that happened, Stewart cried like a little girl and got his way. I can't wait til the next chief orders him to do something and he whines again. Your 'kiss up to the mayor' trump card has been played, Stewart. Time to get to work for that paycheck.

13) Comment by Duckyluve - 01/03/2013

They could start by finding a way to keep the union from crying about EVERYTHING and blocking thngs when their little members might have to actually work.