Wanna fight crime? Do something.
March 29, 2012 | Fairfield Daily Republic
What can we do about the shootings?
by Kelvin Wade
It’s gotten so you’re afraid to open the paper in the morning for fear of more violence and shooting. Monday saw a teenager shot in the vicinity of East Tabor and Dover avenues. Suisun City also had a shooting. These acts aren’t something that’s going away anytime soon. And it’s everyone’s problem.
Growing up in Fairfield, there was a list of places you just stayed away from: Grande Circle, San Marco Street, Phoenix Drive, Crowley Lane and the PACE area, among others. Every city has areas that the locals know to avoid. But it’s naïve of us to think that crime is going to be confined to those areas.
It affects everyone. Last week, the day after a community meeting at Fairview Elementary on local violence, a man was shot in the chest in the parking lot of Chuck E. Cheese’s, the victim of an alleged drug deal gone bad. Lots of people take their kids to Chuck E. Cheese’s for birthday parties. Just imagine walking with a bunch of kids through the parking lot when bullets start flying.
That suspected drug deal could have been set up to meet in the mall parking lot, Walmart, Safeway or anywhere.
So what can we actually do right now instead of cower in our homes?
Does your neighborhood have a Neighborhood Watch and are you involved in it? If not, why not? Do you know your neighbors? Do you know their phone numbers? It’s amazing that we can live across the street from people for years and not know them.
I had a problem neighbor. There were drug deals going on, all-night parties and kids being neglected. It took the neighbors getting together in concert with police and social services to finally get those people out.
When the weather is nice, neighbors might consider strolling around their neighborhood in the evening, not armed with firearms looking for a confrontation. Instead, be armed with open eyes and ears and cellphones looking for anything out of place.
When there are community meetings addressing these issues, do you go? Why not?
How’s your street lighting? How’s the lighting around your house? Years ago, my across-the-street neighbor installed a huge light on his house overlooking his driveway. The thing was like having an additional street light on the street. It was annoying at first, but over time, the neighborhood was glad to have the light.
Are you willing to call police when you see or hear a problem? About 20 years ago, there was a drive-by shooting on my street in broad daylight. There were bullet holes in my brother’s car and shell casings in the street. When we called 911, it was disappointing that only one other call had come in. Call the police.
You can make sure your kids aren’t out after dark.
Parents of troubled youth, what are you doing? Are you searching your child’s room for weapons? Drugs? What are you doing to make sure your kids aren’t associating with the wrong people and out preying on folks?
Do you belong to a church? What’s your church doing?
Are you willing to pay more in local taxes in order to ensure that even though we have big budget cuts coming, public safety and first responders are spared the ax? We know this is one part of our budget that we can’t afford to skimp on.
It’s not enough to read the horrific stories and shake your head. What are you doing? Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I received a cordial email from Fairfield Police Chief Walt Tibbet. He thanked me for the column and vented a bit about the situation in Fairfield. The truth is the police can't be everywhere. We don't have nearly enough officers to provide that kind of blanket security. So that means to solve crimes, people have to be involved. It's why we have so many cameras downtown. They're not necessarily going to prevent crime but they can help us solve crime. People have to get involved in something. Do something. Whether it's better lighting, neighborhood patrols, getting to know your neighbors, attend meetings...do your part.
What can we do about the shootings?
by Kelvin Wade
It’s gotten so you’re afraid to open the paper in the morning for fear of more violence and shooting. Monday saw a teenager shot in the vicinity of East Tabor and Dover avenues. Suisun City also had a shooting. These acts aren’t something that’s going away anytime soon. And it’s everyone’s problem.
Growing up in Fairfield, there was a list of places you just stayed away from: Grande Circle, San Marco Street, Phoenix Drive, Crowley Lane and the PACE area, among others. Every city has areas that the locals know to avoid. But it’s naïve of us to think that crime is going to be confined to those areas.
It affects everyone. Last week, the day after a community meeting at Fairview Elementary on local violence, a man was shot in the chest in the parking lot of Chuck E. Cheese’s, the victim of an alleged drug deal gone bad. Lots of people take their kids to Chuck E. Cheese’s for birthday parties. Just imagine walking with a bunch of kids through the parking lot when bullets start flying.
That suspected drug deal could have been set up to meet in the mall parking lot, Walmart, Safeway or anywhere.
So what can we actually do right now instead of cower in our homes?
Does your neighborhood have a Neighborhood Watch and are you involved in it? If not, why not? Do you know your neighbors? Do you know their phone numbers? It’s amazing that we can live across the street from people for years and not know them.
I had a problem neighbor. There were drug deals going on, all-night parties and kids being neglected. It took the neighbors getting together in concert with police and social services to finally get those people out.
When the weather is nice, neighbors might consider strolling around their neighborhood in the evening, not armed with firearms looking for a confrontation. Instead, be armed with open eyes and ears and cellphones looking for anything out of place.
When there are community meetings addressing these issues, do you go? Why not?
How’s your street lighting? How’s the lighting around your house? Years ago, my across-the-street neighbor installed a huge light on his house overlooking his driveway. The thing was like having an additional street light on the street. It was annoying at first, but over time, the neighborhood was glad to have the light.
Are you willing to call police when you see or hear a problem? About 20 years ago, there was a drive-by shooting on my street in broad daylight. There were bullet holes in my brother’s car and shell casings in the street. When we called 911, it was disappointing that only one other call had come in. Call the police.
You can make sure your kids aren’t out after dark.
Parents of troubled youth, what are you doing? Are you searching your child’s room for weapons? Drugs? What are you doing to make sure your kids aren’t associating with the wrong people and out preying on folks?
Do you belong to a church? What’s your church doing?
Are you willing to pay more in local taxes in order to ensure that even though we have big budget cuts coming, public safety and first responders are spared the ax? We know this is one part of our budget that we can’t afford to skimp on.
It’s not enough to read the horrific stories and shake your head. What are you doing? Peace.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
ADDITIONAL NOTES: I received a cordial email from Fairfield Police Chief Walt Tibbet. He thanked me for the column and vented a bit about the situation in Fairfield. The truth is the police can't be everywhere. We don't have nearly enough officers to provide that kind of blanket security. So that means to solve crimes, people have to be involved. It's why we have so many cameras downtown. They're not necessarily going to prevent crime but they can help us solve crime. People have to get involved in something. Do something. Whether it's better lighting, neighborhood patrols, getting to know your neighbors, attend meetings...do your part.
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