YEAH IT'S BAD BUT NO VIGILANTES

March 22, 2012 | Fairfield Daily Republic
Fairfield doesn’t need vigilantes
by Kelvin Wade

The Feb. 26 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., by a 28-year-old self-appointed neighborhood protector, George Zimmerman, has caused national outrage. Zimmerman pursued the unarmed teenager as the boy talked to his girlfriend on his cellphone while walking home through Zimmerman’s neighborhood. A 911 operator told Zimmerman that he didn’t need to pursue the young man.

A confrontation ensued and Zimmerman shot the teen dead. While the unfolding story centers on race, vigilantism and allegations of cold-blooded murder, there are some lessons here for Fairfield given our recent spate of violence.

This year isn’t three months old and already Fairfield seems like Tombstone. Just last month, the Daily Republic trumpeted 2011′s lower crime rate. Last year, violent crime fell 14 percent while property crimes dipped 11.4 percent from 2010 levels.

But by the time that headline appeared, we’d seen two homicides. Quincy Quinney, 26, was shot and killed Jan. 7 at a Clay Bank Road apartment complex. His killing remains unsolved with no suspects.

Also, Jesus “Jessie” Amaya was killed on Hayes Street prior to that headline. Police Chief Walt Tibbet was quoted in the article and appeared on a cable access show hosted by City Councilman John Mraz, talking about what steps police have taken to address crime in Fairfield.

The recent double homicide at Parkway Gardens and the killing of 47-year-old Clarence James while he stood on his driveway on Hayes Street last week rattled the nerves of residents and completely exhausted whatever relief we may have felt over the falling crime numbers.

The Trayvon Martin case is relevant because given this backdrop of violence in our city, such a scenario could easily play out here.

Last year was a record year for gun sales. Whether it’s driven by the irrational fear that President Barack Obama is going to crack down on guns or people stocking up during uncertain fiscal times, the point is there are a lot more guns on the street.

Secondly, California is returning prison inmates to county jails to ease overcrowding in prisons.

Third, many communities have had to make cuts in public safety staffing. Cuts in public safety are not out of the question here.

With a community frightened by crime, the fear that the local police don’t have a handle on the situation and that our district attorney won’t prosecute to the fullest extent, it raises the likelihood of more Fairfielders arming themselves to protect their person, homes and neighborhoods.

Some don’t mind gangbangers and drug dealers killing each other. And to be honest, it’s hard for me to muster up sympathy for someone whose violent life catches up with them. But our own Matt Garcia’s mistaken-identity murder is testament to the fact that when bullets are flying, we’re all in jeopardy.

While we need legitimate Neighborhood Watch groups observing and reporting with cellphones, we don’t need self-appointed, armed do-gooders roaming the streets. We can assist the police with our eyes and ears. If we introduce more guns to the equation, things will get a lot worse. Peace.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES: It adds insult to injury having yet another shooting the day after a community meeting on the recent violence. A man was shot in the Chuck E. Cheese parking lot this afternoon in Fairfield. It's beyond frustrating and pushes us further down the path where residents may start feeling the police can't protect them. And to a great extent, it's true. These events can keep happening just as long as idiots are willing to solve their problems with firearms. Police Chief Tibbet was talking about sending the message to criminals that Fairfield wasn't a great place to commit crimes...well, they haven't got that message. And the reason they haven't gotten it is that Fairfield seems ripe for the picking lately.

No amount of policing, Neighborhood Watch or lighting would've prevented the broad daylight shootout today. That stupid of a criminal is just going to twist off like that. It's sad that such dangerous people are in possession of weapons but that's where we are in 2012. We can do better to organize, report, police and prosecute thugs. But some things are beyond prevention.

I just hope people don't get so scared or angry that more people arm themselves and decide to become judge, jury and executioner out there. I understand the desire. There was a time when I used to carry a .380 on me. But the introduction of more bullets flying, especially by untrained shooters, isn't the solution.