Is it safe? Council calls emergency meeting
With a welcome sense of urgency, the new Greensboro City Council has called an emergency meeting for tonight to address the recent spate of violence, especially in December.
The special meeting is a response to citizen concerns about 32 homicides this year, which are only slightly above average but which seemed to have come lately in bunches.
Among the latest killings is a shooting possibly linked to gang activiity.
Homicides are a tough nut to crack, because they typically defy patterns that police can tangibly address. The gang issue already has been addressed with a new police unit formed expressly to focus on that growing problem, as well as a series of community forums.
In addition, Chief Tim Bellamy has created a temporary task force to pace special emphasis on a wave of robberies, especially in the East Market Street area.
But there are other issues: response times, officer staffing levels, community relations with the police.
The council and the city will benefit from an open, frank discussion about what is happening and what more can be done about it.
Comments (5)
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Now, I know that this is going to sound maybe a little "out there", but maybe it's time to...well, let's get a columnist at the N&R to maybe think about helping get rid of the police chief. You know, maybe kind of write an article saying the current chief is biased against somebody or other or in some other way maybe is just not right, you know, to kind of ease him out the door.
It might work.
Posted on December 11, 2007 2:30 PM
Perhaps Chief Tim Bellamy would like to come to London and help us out here! We sure need him!
Posted on January 7, 2008 4:34 PM
Perhaps Chief Tim Bellamy would like to come to London and help us out here! We sure need him!
Posted on January 7, 2008 4:34 PM
Perhaps Chief Tim Bellamy would like to come to London and help us out here! We sure need him!
Posted on January 7, 2008 4:34 PM
Perhaps Chief Tim Bellamy would like to come to London and help us out here! We sure need him!
Posted on January 7, 2008 4:35 PM