Police Walking Patrols to Combat Summer Violence (Pittsburgh, Homewood: violent crime, neighborhoods)

[PghYinzer]

The rash of killings that have brought this to light were in the North Side, however they put the feet on the ground in the eastern neighborhoods.

Does the housing authority have it's own police force?

Police to step up walking patrols to help combat wave of violence | TribLIVE

I am a fan of the mayor and I hope Bucar can make some changes, but how about we get some cops out of the cars in ALL of the neighborhoods of the city that are walkable?

[wpipkins2]

I agree. Beat cops can be a deterrent for most crimes. The random shootings are out of control and some action is needed.

[grapeh8]

I thought that adding additional walking patrols to only the east end was a bit odd, then I remembered who the mayor is and since it seems like he is controlled by east end developers it made a lot more sense.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

I agree. Beat cops can be a deterrent for most crimes. The random shootings are out of control and some action is needed.

I don't really think these shootings are "random". Do you really think one male is walking into the projects and just shooting the first other male he sees? These are all related to drug deals gone bad, someone feeling "disrespected", someone owing a debt, someone fighting over a female, etc., etc. The problem is that people in the "community" have the "I ain't not seen nothin" mentality towards the police and are protecting these murderers for some reason or other.

[fleetiebelle]

A few years ago I read about a program in some cities (not Pittsburgh, I don't think) where community members would sit together outside in "bad" neighborhoods in the evenings, talking to people and keeping and eye on things. Crime in those areas did decrease, but some places might not be conducive to that.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I don't really think these shootings are "random". Do you really think one male is walking into the projects and just shooting the first other male he sees? These are all related to drug deals gone bad, someone feeling "disrespected", someone owing a debt, someone fighting over a female, etc., etc. The problem is that people in the "community" have the "I ain't not seen nothin" mentality towards the police and are protecting these murderers for some reason or other.

I was referring to the recent shooting in the Strip where five people were shot. The "community" is not protecting the murderers, they are protecting themselves. The fear of retaliation is what keeps the "community" silent. Nevermind the media hyped " do not snitch" code. Don't believe the hype SCR.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

A few years ago I read about a program in some cities (not Pittsburgh, I don't think) where community members would sit together outside in "bad" neighborhoods in the evenings, talking to people and keeping and eye on things. Crime in those areas did decrease, but some places might not be conducive to that.

This was popular in the 90s and was done here as well. Most of the efforts were led by church groups. The suburbanation of the black church has led to fewer voices in communties affected by violent crime. Homewood lost another 10% of its population over the past ten years. Most of the decrease was do to older middle class black residents dying and working and middle class families moving away.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I don't really think these shootings are "random". Do you really think one male is walking into the projects and just shooting the first other male he sees? These are all related to drug deals gone bad, someone feeling "disrespected", someone owing a debt, someone fighting over a female, etc., etc. The problem is that people in the "community" have the "I ain't not seen nothin" mentality towards the police and are protecting these murderers for some reason or other.

"I ain't not seen nothin"? Really?

[doo dah]

Tomorrow, August 5, is National Night Out.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

...but how about we get some cops out of the cars in ALL of the neighborhoods of the city that are walkable?

Good luck with that. They won't even get out of their cars when a crime is committed.