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Crime in city down through May compared to a year ago
By Aaron Nicodemus
Standard-Times staff writer
 NEW
BEDFORD — Violent crime in the Whaling City is down in
every category for the first five months of the year
compared to last year, and property crime is down in
every category except larceny, according to city
statistics.
Rape reports are down 36 percent from January to May
2007 compared to the same period a year ago, while
robbery dropped 15 percent and assault by 12 percent.
There were two murders in the city by the end of May
2006; the city has not had a homicide this year.
Gun violence and the number of guns seized were both
down as well. In the first five months of 2006, there
were 37 reports of shots fired, 14 shooting victims and
two murders. This year, there have been 14 reports of
shots fired, one victim and no murders. The numbers of
guns seized has dropped as well, from 32 last year to 12
this year.
In property crimes, auto theft is down 26 percent, arson
20 percent and burglary 15 percent. Only larceny — the
theft of goods without the victim being present — went
up, by 8 percent.
"I wish I could say conclusively what factors are
responsible, because I'd double or triple my resources
in those areas," said Police Chief Ronald A. Teachman.
Nationally, violent crime was up 1.3 percent last year,
according to the FBI. But the crime uptick was unevenly
distributed, as murders in big cities rose sharply while
murders in small towns and mid-size cities (like New
Bedford) declined by almost 12 percent. The growing
homicide numbers contributed to an overall 1.3 percent
hike in violent crime nationwide in 2006. A year
earlier, violent crime rose by 2.3 percent, the first
increase since 2001. Violent crime was up in every
region of the country except New England, the FBI said.
Chief Teachman noted there are several changes in place
this year in the city's fight against crime that may be
helping to make the streets safer. Coordination between
the city police, as well as state, federal and county
officials has never been better, he said, noting
particularly the recent sweep of 37 Latin Kings gang
members.
The Hope Collaborative and the state-funded, anti-gang
grant have provided outreach to the city's youth, he
said. And the Police Department has been decentralized
to the point where police can more quickly respond to
crime hot spots, then keep the police presence in those
areas.
"We've been more strategic in the allocation of our
resources," Chief Teachman said. "We're working on those
impact players and removing them from the street."
Asked if he is concerned that gun seizures are down,
Chief Teachman said he is encouraged because it says to
him there are fewer guns on the street.
"If we'd had more shootings this year than last year,
and gun seizures were down, I'd say there is a problem,"
he said. "But I think that guns are not as readily
available on the streets as they were last year, and I
think people are not as bold about putting them in their
waistband and using them to threaten people. It's a good
sign."
Mayor Scott W. Lang said he hopes the crime statistics
signal the beginning of a trend.
"I think the police are fully engaged in the different
neighborhoods; they're getting to know very clearly
where the problem spots are," he said. "We're beginning
to establish a trend that people want safe streets and
are willing to work for it."
He said the city is doing "everything it can" to provide
more after-school activities and safe places for city
youths to go.
"Anyone who has a problem we can help with, we've got
our hand out," he said. "We're telling our youth that
the day that someone is going to turn a shoulder on you
are over."
Violent crime, particularly murder, has historically
risen in the summer months.
Chief Teachman said the Police Department has held back
from spending some grant money in preparation for the
summer.
"We're preparing for it, we're bracing for it, we're
going to be picking up our efforts through the summer
months," he said.
Contact Aaron Nicodemus at
anicodemus@s-t.com
Publication date: June 05, 2007 |
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