Dr. Gabe's Prescription To Remedy The Crime Epidemic In Williamsport... Is It A Miracle Cure or More Snake Oil?

In keeping with his successful mayoral campaign theme, Mayor Campana recently announced yet another anti-crime measure. This program involves the installation of brighter street lights in “high risk” areas. On the surface it makes sense to eliminate the shadows that have become a haven for the growing number of undesirables inhabiting our city.

However as one of our readers recently pointed out, this program will fail if additional steps are not taken. Most importantly additional steps must be built not in addition to but in concert with this first step. Camera networks like those enjoying success in London and more recently in Philadelphia would also be a logical next step now that sufficient lighting will be available. But as our reader points out, equipment alone is not the solution.

Crime and drugs are a disease on our society and should be approached the same way the medical profession approaches any disease. Added lighting on a crime ridden street is only the x-ray that proves there is a disease. More professional if not surgical action needs to be taken to cure the disease.

Installation of cameras would be a logical approach but it will take skilled professionals to monitor the video feeds just as trained technicians monitor diagnostic equipment. Additionally, the entire system is useless if a trained rapid response team is not immediately available to react instantly to a crime in progress much like the crash teams or trauma teams in hospitals.

Medical professionals also constantly monitor the patient’s health. This can only be done with a constant, visible, and approachable law enforcement presence in the form of foot patrols, community policing or other one-to-one initiatives. Personal contact is critical to the daily evaluation of the situation and developing trust with the patient/residents.

With all this in place, the city could then begin to attempt to cure the real disease and treat the cause of the affliction. As in all health issues, the patient has to want to get better. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a healthy neighborhood are also very similar. Residents must want to rid their neighborhood of the dealers and thugs and must take action to do so. By developing a trust-based relationship with residents, the city can learn more about illegal activities and take proactive steps by providing advice and guidance rather than simply taking reactive measures of punishment after the fact.

The fact is, more law enforcement personnel AND tools are needed. But we need the right personnel and the right tools for the job. Williamsport does not need to pick up the tab for another retired chief after each election. But the police do need a city administration that allows them to replace an officer that calls in sick rather than work shorthanded as this administration has mandated. Williamsport needs the city administration and the FOP to work together, as a team and not as adversaries in order to cure this problem once and for all.