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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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It is not on line yet, but i just saw part 2 of Russel's report on violence in Flint. Excellent piece and well balanced. Here is last nights report.
America's most violent city - Why is violence increasing in Flint?
by Kim Russell
Posted: 05.24.2011 at 7:45 PM
savesendprint
Kim Russell
Kim Russell is a news anchor and reporter with NBC25.
The FBI's preliminary crime report named Flint the most violent city in the country.
The FBI’s preliminary violent crime report found Flint to be the most violent city in America. The report looked at per capita crime rates in cities with populations above 100,000.
“The FBI crime stats show Flint to have the terrible distinction of being the city in the country with the worst violent crime rate,” said Mayor Dayne Walling.
Michigan State Police tell NBC25 the city should look to Saginaw. Troopers working the city say crime rates have been decreasing in Saginaw.
In 2010, the FBI reports Flint saw 53 murders, and Saginaw, a city half its size, eight. It is notable because Saginaw has taken the title of most violent city in the past when cities with smaller populations are analyzed.
NBC25 decided to take a look at why.
Law Enforcement leaders in Saginaw say police cuts may have contributed. Saginaw only has about ten fewer officers on the streets than Flint.
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling cut the police force by approximately 25% last year, but says that is not the cause of violence.
“This is a community problem. It is not a police problem.”
Saginaw also has benefited from strong community activism. Saginaw’s Parishioners on Patrol succeeded in taking back their streets by patrolling the worst neighborhoods at night.
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling says volunteers are working to do the same thing in Flint.
Another issue is jail space.
Genesee County has a population of just over 424 thousand, and has a jail capacity of 580 inmates. Saginaw County has less than half the population, and can house 512 inmates.
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell says almost everyday his jail is above capacity.
“The only thing helping (with jail overcrowding) right now is that because there are less police on the street, there are fewer people being arrested. But – it is not good for the community,” said Sheriff Pickell.
NBC25 decided to ride along with MSP troopers to see just how the jail overcrowding problem is affecting their ability to fight crime. That report airs on Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
What do you think?
Why is violence increasing in Flint?
Not enough police.
11%
The poor economy.
15%
No where to lodge suspected criminals.
8%
All of the above.
66%
Total Votes: 79 |
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Wed May 25, 2011 5:47 pm |
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twotap
F L I N T O I D
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| They left out the fact that the same subculture responsible for 99% of Flints violent crime just keeps adding to the gene pool. |
_________________
"If you like your current healthcare you can keep it, Period"!!
Barack Hussein Obama--- multiple times. |
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Wed May 25, 2011 7:41 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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NBC25 Exclusive- On patrol in Flint, America's most violent city
by Kim Russell
Posted: 1 hr, 43 mins ago
savesendprint
Kim Russell
Kim Russell is a news anchor and reporter with NBC25.
read more »
Friend Kim Follow Kim Contact Kim Kim's feed 07|moreVideoImagesWorking in America's most violent city / Rob Zielesch
Photo: 1 of 3 More slideshows »Read more: Local, Crime, Flint, Michigan State Police, Saginaw, Genesee County, Sheriff Robert Pickell, Saginaw County, Sheriff William Federspiel, Jail Space, Jail Overcrowding, Violence in Flint, Crime in Saginaw, Troopers, Police in Flint, Flint Police, Kim Russell
FLINT -- Michigan State Police troopers allowed NBC25 an exclusive first hand look at what it is like to patrol America’s most violent city.
They say Genesee County needs to make many changes to stop the trend of violence in Flint.
They say there simply are not enough police to respond to all the residents in need of help. The city over the past year has cut dozens of officers.
“You hear the radio?” asks Trooper Dan Fiebernitz. “A call came out at 9:30 p.m. and they are just dispatching a car at 1:05 a.m.”
Police in Flint are always trying to catch up. Trooper Fiebernitz is assigned to traffic patrol.
He and Trooper Brad Ross pull over a man speeding down the road. They find he has an extremely long record, including drunk driving violations. His license is suspended. In other counties, he would be lodged in jail. In Genesee County he gets a ticket.
“Thank you for being so cool,” says the man to troopers. “This could have been a lot worse.”
Little does he know, he didn’t avoid jail because these troopers are “cool”. He avoided jail because the Genesee County Jail is overcrowded.
“One time we had over 700 people in jail,” said Sheriff Robert Pickell. “It was 120 over max capacity.”
The sheriff says the jail is overcrowded almost everyday.
“One of the inspectors from the state came in and said, ‘Sheriff, you can’t have this. You have to let some of these people go.’ I said, ‘Yeah, what ones would you like me to release. You can’t just release them they’re in jail.’”
He has asked for funding to build on to the jail.
“There’s just no money.”
To keep the jail below capacity, the sheriff let a committee of judges, social workers, probation officers, and police make a list of offenses for which folks would be locked up. Those who drive drunk or are suspected of felonies and violent crimes go to jail. Many others do not.
“Without a jail that is open to all misdemeanants and all felons, you could have some severe problems,” said Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel.
The Saginaw County sheriff is grateful to voters that he has room in his jail. Voters passed a millage in early May to make sure it remains open for inmates. Saginaw County has about half the population of Genesee County, but its jail is about the same size.
“If someone is arrested for a crime in Saginaw County, they will probably be lodged.”
Michigan State Police say the available jail space has allowed them to take a zero-tolerance approach to crime, putting crime rates on the downtrend in Saginaw County.
MSP Captain Dan Atkinson says he is willing to assign two squads, a total of 10 people, to patrol the streets of Flint, but only if jail space is made available.
“We have made a difference in the City of Saginaw. We can do the same thing in the City of Flint.”
In the meantime, MSP troopers working in Genesee County say they will do the best they can to crack down on crime, but if often feels futile. They see the same criminals again and again, committing the same crimes, and each time get a ticket.
Those tickets often carry little in consequences. There are 40,000 outstanding warrants in Genesee County. Many of them are for people given an appearance ticket by police, who never show up at court.
Related Links
America's most violent city - Why is violence increasing in Flint?
What are your thoughts?
Would you vote for a millage to fund an expansion of the Genesee County Jail?
Yes. It is needed.
No. I cannot afford more taxes. |
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Wed May 25, 2011 7:41 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Kim russel is going to Channel 7 in Detroit soon. She will be missed! |
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Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:59 am |
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