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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Morning Talker: Flint rated most violent city in the nation
TV 25
by Jared Smith
CUTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MEAN SOME VIOLENT CRIME WAS NOT REPORTED. FAR TOO MANY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS AND OTHER ASSAULTS. hURLEY IS A WONDERFUL TRAUMA CENTER, SO MANY OF THE SHOOTONGS AND STABBINGS NEVER BECOME DEATHS.
, Flint most Violent City in Nation, FBI Statistics of Violent Crimes, Flint Ranked most Violent
Are you surprised that Flint was rated the most violent city in the nation according to a recent FBI study?
Chime in now!
A recent FBI study has confirmed that Flint leads the nation in violent crime with nearby Detroit ranking second. This is all according to FBI statistics released this week for cities of over 100-thousand people.
Although crime in Flint slightly declined last year in most categories, it wasn't enough to knock it out of the top spot.
With a population of just over 100,000, Flint reported 2,392 violent crimes in 2011, down from 2,412 the year before. There were also 52 reported murders last year, one less then the 53 reported in 2010. Those statistics mark the highest percentage of violent crimes per capita in the nation.
Following the two Michigan cities, St. Louis, Oakland and Memphis round out the rest fo the top five most violent cities in the nation.
We are asking our facebook fans this morning what can be done to reverse this trend? Are you surprised that Flint is the No. 1 most violent city in the nation?
Chime in now! |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:50 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint No. 1, Detroit second among nation's most violent cities
Published: Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 7:20 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 3:34 AM
By Khalil AlHajal | kalhajal@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- Two Michigan cities once again led the nation in violent crime in 2011, with Flint topping the list and Detroit at No. 2, according to preliminary annual FBI statistics released this week for cities of over 100,000 people.
With 2,337 violent crimes per 100,000 people, Flint residents by far reported the most incidents per capita. Detroit had 2,137 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents.
St. Louis, Oakland and Memphis followed.
Crime actually slightly declined in Flint in most categories, but not enough to knock the city out of the top spot. Flint was also the most violent city in the nation in 2010, when Detroit was No. 2.
Nationwide, the preliminary figures show a 4 percent decline in violent crimes reported in 2011.
The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Burglary, larceny, auto theft, arson and property crime were also measured.
Flint saw increases in property crime, larceny, auto theft and aggravated assault compared to 2010, and slight decreases in each other category.
Detroit had notable increases in homicide, from 310 in 2010 to 344 in 2011, and rape, but saw declines in every other category.
This year, Detroit had 149 homicides as of June 10, up from 144 at that date last year.
In Flint, 27 people have been killed this year, compared to 28 at this time in 2011.
Earlier statistics released in December for the first six months of 2011 indicated declines in Michigan that would have placed St. Louis No. 1, but with the numbers now in for the rest of the year, the Missouri city ranks well below both Detroit and Flint with 1,857 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
The 10 most violent cities, according to the preliminary FBI statistics:
•Flint, 2,337 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
•Detroit, 2,137.
•St. Louis, Mo. 1,857.
•Oakland, Calif. 1,683.
•Memphis, Tenn. 1,583.
•Little Rock, Ark. 1,490.
•Birmingham, Ala. 1483.
•Atlanta, Ga. 1,433.
•Baltimore, Md. 1,417.
•Stockton, Calif. 1,408.
More on the FBI violent crime statistics:
-City leaders focus on public safety plan as Flint tops nation in violent crime
-New patrol strategy will help Flint get off most violent list, says head of public safety
Contact Khalil AlHajal at kalhajal@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter @FlintKhalil or on Facebook at Khalil Flint Journal.
Flint Journal staff writer Kristin Longley and MLive Detroit reporter Gus Burns contributed to this report. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:56 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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wayover50
I was going to comment ..... but why restate the obvious. The only fix for this once proud city become cesspool is to enclose in behind 2 foot thick 20 foot concrete walls, toss in all the guns and ammo needed to let the hoodies have at for as long as it takes until the shooting stops, then bulldoze what's left to the ground and plant grass. Presto - back to square one!
afghantroy, 3000cd, LadyBuggs, exit247 and pickforddick like this.
duckdrive
Lets parole some more. That will cure the problem.
LadyBuggs and TransAm(with-a-trailer-hitch) like this.
SayNoToMillages
Yes Detroit and Flint are the top 2. They are also amoung the most TAXED cities in the nation.
WatchingLansing
Which then it makes sense that business will leave, which creates further depression among the local economy. Can't you see how high taxes creates a problem for everybody.
SayNoToMillages
Well said, WatchingLansing.
SayNoToMillages
As more and more people can't afford to live on their incomes because of high taxes, the poverty rate goes up. This will cause an additional drain on the budgets of government social programs. This causes each person not enough to live on.
Many more people in poverty who are unable to find jobs because government overtaxed an economy see businesses leaving the area, going out of business, laying people off, and cutting wages, turn to crime to get the money needed to support their families. This inturn causes the crime rate to go up.
ic23b
The thugs doing all these violent crimes are not doing it to support their families they are doing it to support their habits and partying.
ccnme likes this
SayNoToMillages
Yes Ic, you may be on to something. I would agree there are a percentage that will look to crime to support their habits and partying when they don't have enough money.
The question is, why don't they have enough money? The biggest fault is the government. High taxes that destroyes the economy and the declining value of the dollar (inflation). This too, is a tax. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:04 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Question of the day: What do you think Flint and Genesee County can do to ditch the No. 1 most violent city ranking?
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 9:30 AM
By Bernie Eng | beng1@mlive.com
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FLINT, MI -- Flint again leads the list of most violent cities in the nation.
That gives Flint the title for the second year in a row, a title we need to put behind us. Everybody knows that.
Now we must figure out what we the community can do to move Flint down, and eventually off, that top ten list.
Flint's leaders are concentrating on their public safety plan to turn the tide. With Emergency Manager Michael Brown and Public Safety Administrator Barnett Jones touting the new public safety iniatives to increase both ownership and accountability for citizens and police.
We know the trend of violence cannot continue.
But will the new public safety initiatives work? What do you think Flint and Genesee County, both the citizens and the government, can do to get the city off the top of that list?
(Notice most of these comments come from those outside of Flint)
Flintasite
Regardless how much somebody is paid such as PSA Jones' $135,000/yr salary, one overpaid person is not going to change things. The abandoned and dilapidated homes that are dotted in this community will continue to house trouble. Hiring Mr. Jones is an embarrassment to Mr. Brown tenure with the past murders and shootings throughout Flint in the past few weeks. What has this extra person added to the payroll actually doing to help Flint? It is true, considering a population of 100,000, this area is more dangerous than the Iraq/Afghanistan.
12pointer
Declare Marshall Law, bring in the National Guard, set up check points, go house to house. If your pants hang below your rear end and you wear a hat sideways, then you will be searched without question. If you are a law abiding citizen that wants to live in a safe environment then you should have no problem with this. Watch the rats scurry out of this town if this were to happen. My son is in Afghanistan and it is safer there than it is here right now.
P.S. don't let the good Rev. Jackson and Sharpton past the check points.
gbpacker83
When it comes down to it, there isn't much that can be done to reverse these trends, and as far as the Public Safety Plan goes... It won't make as big of a difference as Michael Brown seems to think. Everyone, to a certain extent, is a product of their environment and their experiences. You can't expect everyone to think like you when their life isn't like yours. When you grow up in an area where crime is frequent, and in some cases is a survival tactic, you get used to it being the norm. That's just how it is. So in order to slow crime down in Flint, you have to try to change the mentality of the majority of the city, which at this point is seemingly impossible. Flint is my hometown and I will always take pride in where I come from, but there is no simple solution to this problem, whether Brown wants to believe it or not.
Creeker40
The daily crime-rate statistics stagger the minds of our citizens. But until certain members the community change their attitude/culture about violence, nothing will change. We are weary of the street-rallies attempting to make statements - the thugs are not in the audience or in the church congregations to hear those messages. All the police in the world cannot contain the violence of person-to-person crimes - especially toward innocent victims. Directing negative statements at the current emergency manager, Mayor Walling, or council members will not alter the behavior either. Making a difference starts in the home. If there is no value placed on a life in that setting, outsiders cannot change that hate-ridden mentality. Schools have tried, to no avail. There is no jail large enough to hold all these renegades - many of them just plain cowards!! The recent comments from the leaders of the police department demonstrate their lack of understanding and/or commitment. We keep hearing about plans to solve the matters, but so far we've seen no action. Perhaps we truly do need less leaders at the top and more police on the streets. Time will tell, won't it?
wasit4sure
Fire Mike Brown and use his $170,000.00 to rent a few bulldozers.
jkb01
Simple, take all the energy and anger directed towards fighting the Emergency Manager and redirect it towards the street cowards. Instead of protesting crime on the lawn of City Hall, stage a 24 hour, 1000 person protest at Dayton and Forest Hill, or Pierson and Flemming or Leith and Broadway. Let the idiots know that people are watching and will not tolerate their terrorism. No amount of police can stand as strong as a city united. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:47 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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City leaders focus on public safety plan as Flint tops nation in violent crime
Published: Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 9:09 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 3:31 AM
By Khalil AlHajal | kalhajal@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- Newly released FBI statistics provide another indicator of just how bad violent crime is in Flint, but city leaders say they don't need any more unflattering lists to tell them they've got a huge problem.
"We know we've got a real challenge in terms of the safety of our community, whether we're No. 5, No. 8 or No. 1," said Flint's emergency manager Michael Brown.
It looked as if Flint would make it's way out of the top spot among the nation's most violent cities when statistics for the first half of 2011 were released in December.
But with the rest of the numbers in, preliminary FBI statistics show that Flint once again had more violent crimes per capita than any other city of over 100,000 residents.
"These are immense challenges we've got," said Brown. "The good news is we're working at it. We've got a plan now. We've got good leadership around public safety."
Brown laid out a public safety plan last month that focused on working more with state police, reopening a city lockup facility and overhauling patrol strategies.
"I believe we're going to make strides," Brown said. "We have a partnership with state police that we've been working on for the past 6 months to expand... We've developed a plan. It's not perfect but it's in place.
"It is certainly something that we've put up at the top of the priority list. Even in this budget year when we were facing this $25 million gap."
He said a lockup facility, which has been a major need expressed by Police Chief Alvern Lock, Public Safety Administrator Barnett Jones and Michigan State Police Director Kriste Kibbey Etue, is on track to be opened by the end of September.
Mayor Dayne Walling said a city lockup will make a difference, but that much larger public safety investments "by the community and all of our government partners to break this long cycle of crime."
"From what has staken place over the last few years," Walling said, "it's clear that it will take an unprecedented commitment at all levels of the community to drive down the unacceptable rate of crime."
Contact Khalil AlHajal at kalhajal@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter @FlintKhalil or on Facebook at Khalil Flint Journal. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:55 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint No. 1 in violent crime; Police chief says city needs 200 police officers, reopened city lockup
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 11:30 AM Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 11:58 AM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
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FLINT, MI -- With Flint once again No. 1 in the nation for violent crime, police Chief Alvern Lock has a solution for getting a handle on the criminals who plague Flint neighborhoods: 200 police officers and a functioning city lockup.
Why 200? His answer is simple.
"We need that many," he said, adding that his calculation is based on his 30 years of experience. "Knowing how we operated (before staffing cuts) and now operating from the top, I know the capabilities and weaknesses of what we have, and we need a minimum of 200."
But Lock and other city leaders know getting to that number won't happen anytime soon. Even as FBI statistics show Flint has the most violent crimes per capita, the city's police force has gotten smaller.
The number of sworn officers in the department is currently hovering around 122 following recent retirements, Lock said.
Five years ago, the city had 265 officers but the number has dwindled largely because of layoffs during budget cuts spanning three mayoral administrations.
"Not having enough even before (the recent retirements), you can imagine what that means now," Lock said about Flint's staffing level. "You have fewer people doing the job and we didn't have enough to start... But they're out there and they're working and they're doing the best they can."
It's still uncertain whether Flint will be able to maintain the same number of officers it had this year, let alone add to the number of boots on street.
Emergency manager Michael Brown couldn't be reached for comment on Lock's statements but has said he doesn't expect to lay off any police or firefighters. As of this morning, Brown's office still did not have word on a C.S. Mott Foundation grant request for filling those positions.
Lock said the department needs more officers to be able to arrest offenders, respond to calls for service and be a visible presence in the community.
The city's new Public Safety Administrator Barnett Jones said a new patrol strategy, increased partnerships with Michigan State Police and new technologies will also help knock Flint off the top of the FBI list.
Flint had 2,337 violent crimes per 100,000 people, according to the 2011 statistics released this week by the FBI. At No. 2 on the list, Detroit had 2,137 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents.
Lock said a key part of the solution is opening the city jail so officers can lodge criminals instead of handing out appearance tickets.
"Having more officers and the lockup means we can do more active police work," he said. "We need to break the cycle of violence in the city and that's how we're able to do that."
There's no cookie-cutter model for determining optimum staffing levels, but the Flint police department is currently understaffed based on its workload, said Jerry Boles, a former police chief and associate director of the Regional Community Policing Institute at Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice.
Boles is part of a team of MSU researchers who studied the Flint police department and issued recommendations on how to function more efficiently with reduced staffing.
Boles said one method of determining ideal staffing is to figure two officers for every 1,000 people. That would put Flint at 205 officers.
But that formula is "old school" and outdated as many communities across the country are dealing with declining tax revenue and stark budget realities, Boles said.
As for the police chief's request, Boles said Lock isn't off base in requesting 200 officers -- but having a properly functioning police department is about more than just the number.
"It's about numbers and efficiencies and how you utilize them (the officers)," he said. "When we first started working with (the Flint police), they were at 180 before the reduction. If they could get back to that 180 number they could do a lot of good things."
The city's new head of public safety said the new patrol strategy -- in which the city is divided into four patrol districts -- is expected to be in place by the end of the year. The city is also on track to have the city lockup reopened by the fall, officials said.
"It's a shame," Jones said about Flint's top ranking among violent cities, "but we have put a public safety plan in place that is going to give some ownership to the police officers that are there."
Jones said the city's residents should also feel responsible.
"The ownership is not just on the police," Jones said. "Doggonit, the people in the community have got to step up and stop tolerating this stuff. Start turning in the bad guys and the bad girls
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"It's going to go back to not only good police work, but also the community for being responsible to get the information to police. We are inseparable in this... They know who the bad guys are."
As for a long-term solution, Lock said the city is still in the beginning stages of forming a plan to talk to community members about putting a police or public safety millage before voters.
Jones and Lock have said the city relies too much on grants to pay for its police and firefighters, and too often is left scrambling for funding when the grants expire.
"I appreciate the grants but it's not a permanent way of funding public safety," Lock said. "When they run out, we're still sitting here wondering what we're going to do. We need to come up with a better solution."
Staff writer Khalil AlHajal contributed to this report.
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:02 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Officers based their lifestyle on a living wage and now that wage and benefits has been cut by 28%. This will financially impact their ability to maintain their homes, etc and yes the morale is low.
look at countries with low paid police and you will find a country where there is a strong temptation for corruption.
Fkint has strong gang elements here, some with Chicago connections and the citizens expect the officers to risk their lives for bargain basement salaries.
leotruth
You could have 300 police officers on the payroll and it would do no good if the officers do not feel appreciated. They are going to be responsible for more. The city wants more and more out of each officer while taking more and more away from them. They are constantly being threatened of more layoffs, wage reductions, benefit reductions and anything else they can take. At the end of the shift a city of flint police officer is drained. Why would he want to continue draining himself for half the pay? When an officer requests a day off and it is denied, do you think that officer is going to be glad he is at work that day? Every dog needs a bone once in a while. Try throwing the officers one soon or i am afraid of what could happen.
jkb01
It is not taking if they don't have the money to give!
leotruth
yes it is. There is, or should i say was, a contract that states how much officers and retirees make including their benefits. That is something that officers and retirees have based their livelihoods on. Twenty years ago i could eat steak. Now its more like ramen noodles. They take anything else we cant eat. So... yes they are taking away and leaving nothing. Police should concentrate on helping the bums in the area. Soon they will be sleeping in the box next to them. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:20 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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| We're also number 1 in the arson rate. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:48 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint holds onto dubious title of arson capital of the nation, despite downturn in fires
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 4:30 PM
By David Harris | dharris5@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- A downturn in the number of intentionally set fires last year was not enough for the city to relinquish its title of "arson capital" of the nation.
FBI statistics show Flint had 287 arsons in 2011, putting the city nearly 100 fires per capita ahead of the second place city, Toledo, Ohio.
Detroit, Buffalo, N.Y. and Cincinnati, Ohio, round out the top five.
The Flint's arson numbers are part of newly released FBI statistics that also ranked the city No. 1 in violent crimes.
With 343 arson fires reported to the FBI two years ago, the city has led the nation in per capita arsons for two years running -- a combined total of 623 arsons over the span. The city logged a total of 320 arsons combined from 2008-09.
The city's own arson statistics puts the number even higher than the FBI's figures, which only counts arsons that are investigated by police.
By the city fire department's count, Flint had 362 fires set in vacant buildings last year and 478 such fires in 2010 -- a two-year total of 840 arsons.
Arson fires took off in March 2010 after the layoff of firefighters, and has only slowed a little bit ever since.
Flint Police arson investigator David Bigelow said police have been making arrests, although he didn't have exact numbers.
"We are doing everything we can to keep it from being No. 1," he said.
Despite the repeat of the dubious distinction as arson capital, one city firefighter is hopeful the city is on its way to losing that ranking.
"I hope that were making progress," said Flint Fire Battalion Chief Andy Graves. "The city is making progress on tearing down some of these vacant structures. We hope that as time goes by that these numbers go down."
But city firefighters haven't gotten much of a break this year as arsons so far this year have outpaced 2011. Through last week, there were 139 vacant structure fires in compared to 101 through the same time period last year.
"We're running at a pretty steady pace," said Graves. "Hopefully that will change over time."
Jessica Miller, who lives in the area of King Avenue and Welch Boulevard where a pair of arsons has knocked out neighboring homes in the last couple weeks, said the distinction of having the most fires per capita in the nation is not a proud one.
"In a way, we are fitting the stereotype that Flint has a lot of crime," said Miller, 29, who grew up in the neighborhood.
"You look and see what this neighborhood has come to and it's really sad," she said.
Flint resident Jerome Harris said the homes that are burned are often an eyesore.
"I think there's just too many vacant homes," Harris, 62, said. "People are thinking that the city is not moving fast enough in tearing these houses down. |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:30 pm |
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pan8
F L I N T O I D
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You know da ghetto thugs wear this distinction like a badge of honor. What a screwed up culture and no, it won't change. Drug test anyone receiving public assistance of any sort and if they turn positive cut them off. My 87 year old mother while alive had an EBT card and would have never turned positive on a drug test. What the hell is wrong with liberals? Sure as hell ain't conservatives gang banging!
Pan8 |
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Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:34 pm |
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