Washington, D.C., Police Chief Charles Ramsey says that more aggressive policing is having an effect in the city, citing a drop in crime since he declared an emergency nearly two months ago. “The spike in violent crime has been reversed,” he declared, the Washington Post reports. Ramsey hopes the trend continues even after police begin scaling back the use of overtime to put more officers on the street. He said the department does not have the funds or the stamina to keep most officers working six-day weeks. Officers now will work six days every other week.
From July 12 through Sept. 3, the city recorded 1,297 violent crimes, an 11 percent drop from the same period a year ago. There were 3,651 property crimes, a 12.9 percent drop. Since an earlier curfew was put in place, juveniles have been committing fewer crimes and are being victimized less during curfew hours since the times were adjusted, Ramsey said. Separately, D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton told Crime & Justice News she believes her work in beefing up police presence on the Mall “has had the desired deterrent affect in signaling to tourists that the Mall is safe.” Norton thanked the U.S. Park Police for their work in capturing five suspects in mugging tourists. All five have pleaded guilty.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/06/AR2006090601254.html