Recent uptick in DSM violence (Des Moines, West Des Moines: violent crime, unemployment, neighborhoods)

[fezzador]

Maybe there's a reason why this isn't being discussed, but considering the abnormally high homicide rate DSM has been experiencing this year, I'm sort of surprised it hasn't been touched yet. Sunday morning DSM recorded its 15th homicide for the year (that's almost 1 homicide per week). It's gotten so bad that DMPD held a press conference today in an effort to try an curtail the violence.

What's even weirder is that there isn't a discernable pattern (i.e. gang/drug activity, isolated to a certain neighborhood, etc). They're happening in virtually every corner of the city and involving people from all walks of life.

[capitalcityguy]

It isn't' being discussed? Whoa...that seems to be is all I hear about these days.

See Des Moines city website of news conference held this morning. It is all hands on deck to address.

[fezzador]

Sorry, I meant to say it isn't being discussed much here in C-D (at least the Iowa forums).

[ktulu7]

Yeah it has been a bit disconcerting. I've noticed quite a few shootings have occurred in and around Beaverdale too, and there was a shooting a day or two ago in West Des Moines. I can't come up with a reason either, because the economy and unemployment are doing well here at least, so what is the problem? I know the metro is growing rather rapidly, but not so much as to have THAT kind of violence increase.

There have been 15 murders in DSM proper thus far, but even more shootings that just haven't killed the victim. Almost none of the victims ever talk either, which leads one to think of gang warfare and drug-related crime.

[capitalcityguy]

The DM police have repeatedly said this is a problem that they believe is isolated to same group of bad seeds. I read this as gang related .

[Meemur]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

The DM police have repeatedly said this is a problem that they believe is isolated to same group of bad seeds. I read this as gang related .

Yes. They need to be rounded up and sent back to Chicago.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by Meemur

Yes. They need to be rounded up and sent back to Chicago.

Unfortunately it appears they may have infiltrated some of the local refugee community.

[Meemur]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Unfortunately it appears they may have infiltrated some of the local refugee community.

Yikes! I'll look into this a little more later today. If so, we really will have to galvanize the neighborhoods.

[ktulu7]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Unfortunately it appears they may have infiltrated some of the local refugee community.

I did see that some Sudanese were involved in one of the most recent shootouts, so that's possible.

[jmgg]

This whole thing in Des Moines mirrors what's going on in Sioux Falls as well.


Sioux Falls, for those that haven't been there, is pretty much the same city as Des Moines minus about 100k people.


The last 5-10 years have seen crime explode in our city. 10 years ago I would have walked in any neighborhood in the city after dark. Wouldn't dream of it now in MANY of the neighborhoods.


Where's the problem?


Just watch the news. As we watch the perp. walks on TV we hear the names of those arrested for the violent crimes. Most of the names are un-pronounceable names from pick your favorite immigrant nation OR they're products of our major city ghettos from the Twin Cities or Chicago. Few exceptions.


Make sure to up your donations to Lutheran Social Services.


Oh my GOD, what racist comments. Yes, maybe so, but IT'S THE REALITY.