4 people have been shot at 1007 & 1005 Fairground Drive, Pemberton Apartments. One shot in the leg. Salisbury Fire Department and Police Department are on the scene. 4 Ambulances have been called in so far. More to come......
UPDATE: Fruitland and Hebron have been called in for two additional shootings above and beyond the 4 already being worked on. This could be 6 patients shot. They're on the second floor and are asking for help to get patients down from second floor. Maryland State Police have just been called in as well.
Welcome to Salisbury, Maryland! How's the Chief of Police working for you now Folks. Bank Robberies one after the other, Ted Shea shot in the parking lot of a Bank, man shot and killed at Shell Gas Station, home invasions, what will it take for Mayor Ireton to get rid of this Chief and finally CATCH some of these criminals still on the loose. Everything seems to be a cold case in Salisbury any more.
Originally posted at 10:49 PM 8-21-09
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
114 comments:
Thank God multiple MSP units on the scene at Fairground Drive. Maybe the Paramedics and Firefighters will be safe now. Maybe the crime will get solved now.
Jim Ireton help is on the way remember!!!! Stupid us, we forgot to ask when.
Mayor Ireton instead of doing your pretty little photo ops with the Fat Man on the plaza you should be meeting with your advisors and come up with a plan to do something about your friend the so called police chief. If you don't want to fire him then maybe the constituents can do a petition to get the SPD consolidated with the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office. My guess is there are enough people to sign the petition on the ballot to make that happen.
Two Societies, even on the Eastern Shore now. The cops better get them before someone else does. How about it to all that were born and raised here, you all had enough to? This is where I was born and this where I want to leave this world. Aint no damn Thugs tough enough. Do any of you understand that its not all Politics sometimes, its Gen-Pop.
Looks like you smoked the local MSM on this one.
The chief of police can't do it all by himself.
i think we have set a record high in shooting in salisbury in one night yea but we have no crime in salisbury. i wonder what mayor this of this now? and will any action be taken. No your right joe they will be cold cases.. WELCOME TO SALISBURY!!!!!!
And alot of good those guard booths at the gate do over there too.If these are subsidized units they should be evicting people who commit felonies and/or harbor felons.The innocent ones are the kids who are caught in the middle of this.The gang mentality needs to stop.
Seems like the Chief is bullet proof...for some reason.
Let's hope Mr. Ireton has some good reason for holding on for so long to what is clearly a necessary firing. Get it over with, for God sake, before more blood is shed, and we're past the point of no return.
They can't catch any criminals. That would be considered racist.
Solution: get rid of renters, promote home ownership! ta-da, do this, and you will see crime plummet!
It's easy to be so critical when you don't offer any solutions Joe. How is the Chief (or any law enforcement officer) supposed to predict crime before it happens? Perhaps if the economy was better, our law enforcement agencies could have more manpower to put a dent in solving some cases. At this point, I would say the fault lies with the prosecution and the courts for cutting deals and letting criminals out of jail. How about some sympathy for the shooting victims instead of a broken record rant?
Suppose some of these "victims" would actually tell the authorities the names of the criminals. That would be different.
Just a thought!
kn
What is this area coming to ? do you have any updates?
Ireton might consider that if the shooters had made their way to the Third Friday event. More of the same I guess.
Well, maybe they will force more to retire, quit or fire them so they can get money from the Gov to say they will use it for cops when in fact add more money in their own pockets. The chief and the mayor dont care. They are just suit and tie people. 1 shakes hands and the other hide in the 3rd room office.
Get used to it the Police force is run likes it's 1950. They are under staffed it's up to the people to arm themselves and clean up the streets.
Did they use the new tower to bring the patients down from the
2nd and 3rd floors? I hope they did, it should be used for everything that it is made for.
Salisbury has become a DANGEROUS place to live! I do not allow my family out at night without me, we do not patronize local businesses and take the by-pass to avoid driving thru town. We are in the process of looking for property away from Salisbury & Wicomico County; I don't have any confidence in the city/county gov't officals to handle these deadly situations.
Wicomico County residents pay the highest piggy-back taxes in the state, and for what? No county-wide fire/ems service, and the police depts. are more interested in traffic violations on the by-pass than protecting tax-paying residents of the county/city.
This comes as no surprise. When is someone going to step up to the plate and get rid of this riff-raft? Probably after its to late!!!
another drug deal gone bad!
Yep its still the backwards Bury. If you want things to change, relocate. Nothing progresses here. This is what a "laid back lifestyle" gets you. Gotta love multiple shootings and some more crime that will likely go unsolved. Pathetic. This crime is definitely from the big bad cities around us. All the drug trafficking and poverty here has nothing to do with any of it. WAKE UP!
The answer to part of the problem is numbers. Salisbury needs to hire more cops and pay them what they deserve. You cant expect these guys to come in here and work for damn peanuts. We need to flood the city with cops and show that we arent gonna allow these thugs to get away with this anymore.
Chief, it starts with you. With any department when there are problems, you look at the top. You arent doing anything to correct the problem. I know that it isnt a one man show, but something has to be done to correct this problem we have.
I did a ride along in Ocean City about 5 months ago during a car show. That place was overloaded with people, but the police were out in force. It seemed that you couldnt turn a corner without running into a cop. That is the way we need to make Salisbury.
Mayor Ireton, stop using excuses and do something. You have been in office long enough. Remember what you said, "Change is coming".....well when is that gonna happen. I know it takes money to hire cops and pay some OT but if you dont act now, in 5 years, our small lil town will be a small Detroit. The thugs and gangs will have taken over and you will be working for them.
Truth to the matter, we have to do something to get more cops on the street and show a presence of force.
Jeremy Allen
Anonymous said...
Solution: get rid of renters, promote home ownership! ta-da, do this, and you will see crime plummet!
1:33 AM
BINGO!!!
What good tax paying homeowner wants to live in the city limits anymore. Jim Ireton is doing nothing about the the annexations and the rental problem. He must be in bed with them just as Dinglebarrie Tilmon and Bubba was.
why are they still so angry, robbing and shooting people ? Obama is in office. one of their own. fruition of the dream...
I am fed up with this town. You drive through it and see all of the thugs just wondering around. Nobody has jobs, noboy cares. They shoot, rob gas stations, invade homes. There is other towns on delmarva that don't suffer from this crap, and I have decided to move out of salisbury. It's a shame but it's just going to get worse.
Absolutely. I've been saying that for months. I don't think a jury would convict us either.
Anonymous said...
Two Societies, even on the Eastern Shore now. The cops better get them before someone else does. How about it to all that were born and raised here, you all had enough to? This is where I was born and this where I want to leave this world. Aint no damn Thugs tough enough. Do any of you understand that its not all Politics sometimes, its Gen-Pop
anonymous 7:04, it's very simple and I have offered solutions for this exact problem. FIRE THE CHIEF OF POLICE WHO ISN'T WORTH A SH!T.
How many have to die before criminals realize Salisbury is not the Wild West.
My recommendation to ALL citizens of Salisbury right now is, DO NOT PATRONIZE ANY BUSINESS AFTER DARK.
Cut the businesses off, cut the taxes off and believe me, in no time there will be enough pressure on the Mayor for him to finally grow a set and do what sould have been done long ago.
Mayor Ireton, from this point forward ALL of these crimes lie on your shoulders. IF you do NOT get rid of the Police Chief I will place just as much blame on YOU as I will him.
I know you're a better man than this, so do your GD job and start saving some lives. We al know the Chief couldn't have been there last night, simply because he lives 50 miles away in another county. We al know he couldn't get off his a$$ and come into Salisbury after the shootings because he may have had a few and shouldn't be on the road, or whatever excuse he wants to make, maybe his suit wasn't pressed.
Nevertheless, Mike Lewis woulod have been on the scene within minutes and it probably drove him absolutely NUTS knowing something this big was going on within his turf and because it's Websters territory he had to stay away.
Get this Chief out of Office where every criminal knows if you want to commit a crime, do it in Salisbury where they get finger prints and then tell victims, "we're not going to do anything until you give us a suspects name."
Oh yeah, that story will follow some time next week. Grow a pair Jimmy, RIGHT NOW!
Getting the Chief fired or telling the Mayor how to do his job is not a solution. Mike Lewis has his share of problems as well, and I'm not so sure he would do a better job. Just because he seems to be more visible than Webster, it doesn't mean he's more capable. Until there are sweeping reforms with gun control, social services, and the judicial system, crime will continue in the same pattern...especially when we don't have enough of a police presence. Once you drop your personal agenda, Joe, maybe you will start to see the real picture.
One good shooting or bad shooting in this case deserves another...gang warfare, I love it.
salisbury arms yourselves thats all i can say i see a revolution in the near future anyways.or maybe youll see some vigilantes and some wild west action since the cops dont seem do be doing anything.most of the salisbury police force looks like little virgin boys i bet the criminals shake in fear when they show up hire some big guys who look like they have some experience and wisdom not little boys right out of high school who have no clue.
Joe, you're right BUT WAIT!
The people who need the pressure to get rid of the Chief are:
Louise Smith
Shanie Shields
Gary Comegys
THESE THREE stand in the way of Salisbury being a safer place.
Ireton needs a third vote to get rid of Webster.
Why Salisbury citizens are not screaming at the top of their lungs at their city council is unbelievable.
Whenever you get this many shootings in one night; its a gang problem. I wouldnt be surprised if both shootings are linked together in a take over or retailiation.
Non-active police cheif, low paid cops, declining industry, high number of rental properties all lead to the decline.
Remember: If your not growing, your dying.
I know you are tired of hearing it, however, the "erstwhile buffoon", City Councilwoman Shanie Shields, is on record as saying crime is not a problem in Salisbury.I do not believe she and her partners,Smith and Comegys, will agree to the removal of Webster, nor will they approve of a substantial increase in police officers. They prefer to flush money down the toilet buying contaminated property.
The SPD has been is some serious training lately at the request of Cheif Webster. They have had intense trainig in how to break up a college party, issue underage drinking citations, as well as noise ordinace violations to out of town students. Forget shootings and armed robberies, the real problem is those darn college students who invade this city each year. The Cheif has his priorities mixed up at the bequest of the former mayor.
I went to the Post Office the other evening and there was 15 people hanging on the corner of Church and Naylor Streets. Clearly the police need to disperse these large groups loitering on corners of our city. It is just a serious problem waiting to happen. Shake down anyone hanging out after dark and make it uncomfortable to do their crimes in Salisbury.
Anonymous said...
Getting the Chief fired or telling the Mayor how to do his job is not a solution......
10:47 AM
Chuck, is that you again? Nothing like damage control for your boy.
Whether you like it or not your boy Ireton is a major part of the problem. Help is on the way remember? However you all neglected to tell us how. One thing you did was hint that Webster would be gone and all of us law abiding, tax paying citizens bought this farce from you. I want my vote back.
Anon 11:31 AM or they waste money paying health insurance for part time council members.
Joe, keep up the good work by keeping pressure on the Mayor and Council. One way do to that is to keep this post at the top until we get results. Jim and Bubba are you listening?
If the police department had a decent budget to work with, perhaps they could have informants. SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS A GRUDGE. This town might be too small for undercover cops, but it might be helpful to have the gangs infiltrated for fact-finding purposes. Of course, The Three Stooges would never agree to anything to help our police officers.
What happened last night is a shame but it is NOT Jim's fault!!!
You know EXACTLY why he can't dump that SOB Webester Joe... These things take time. Granted it's time that we don't have, but it's the truth.
I am very disgusted in the way this city has been run. Change takes time!!! Stop dumping on one of the FEW who really do give a crap about this city!
I wonder if the MSP could "borrow" officers from the Baltimore area to go undercover. Those officers are quite good at what they do. (Guess I've been watching too much TV.)
1. Limit the number of rental units in Salisbury to no more than 35% of all residential properties.
2. Limit the number of section 8/welfare/subsidized units in Salisbury to no more than 10% of the total residential units available.
3. Make 2nd DUI/possession arrest/any drug arrest require mandatory jail time, even if it is just 7-10 days.
4. Play hardball with the Sec 8 accepting landlords, like Worcester Co is - if they don't keep up the properties AND enforce the laws by keeping track of any arrests/complaints about their tenants and kicking them out, pull and tax breaks, etc. they are getting.
None of these is THAT big of a deal - just do it, end of story. Quit giving rental licences, crack down on the landlords, refuse additional Sec 8 permits, tell the judges to man up.
But just those 4 things would REALLY clean out Salisbury!
look out chestnut manor apartments will be next. in delmar maryland. if something is not done out here soon....
Anon 7:56 and 10:01
You both raise very good points.Odds are "nobody saw nothing",even when the bullets were flying.
And while Salisbury has more thugs per capita,it isnt the only city they are in,ride thru any Shore town,and you see able-bodied grown men hanging out in yards,porches or street corners in the middle of a weekday doing nothing productive.Especially in apartment complexes like Pemberton.I see it every day on my way to work and they are usually out there "slinging".They can shoot each other for all I care but they need to do it where innocent people will not get hurt.
what they need to do is just fence over top the pemberton section 8 compound and let them kill one another . just drop a months supply of crack,a few pistols and shot guns in, and utmost! endless supplies of 40,s, newports and koolaid.
Why not let the thugs and gang members shoot and kill each. After a while, Salisbury would be thug and gang-free. It would save the taxpayers a lot of money, and our communities would be a lot safer.
Drug dealers robbing drug dealers most likely, section eight housing to boot. Two societies, one does nothing but take from life and the other is getting sick and tired of paying for them to do it.
The police need to do some suprise road checks in the areas where they know there is gang activity (If they have a clue what gang activity is)Without a Chief to head things when there is a problem you can't expect young policemen to risk their lives fighting gangs with out directions.Pemberton apartments is a hotbed of criminal activity.... always has been. Do something about it Mayor.....This is asking too much for the citizens to put up with.
Excuses, excuses, excuses! Everything revolves around more money to the police officers, NOT!
It revolves around LEADERSHIP and eing trained by wisdom and experience. Webster has clearly forgoten his roots and will come down hard and heavy on his Staf because of pressure from the Press.
Sadly, nothing will ever work properly until you get a new leader in there who WANTS to live in the community, like Mike Lewis has in Wicomico County.
I do blame Jim Ireton as well as he clearly stated CRIME was his #1 issue and he turned on everyone. Chuck and the rest of his buddies all said it was going to CHANGE months ago and they too lied to everyone. It was all about wining an election and had nothing to do with the best leadership.
Mind you, Ireton was the better of the two but it didn'tmean it was a good choice, MUCH LIKE OBAMA.
The fact remains, Webster is useless and the thugs know it. If you were a criminal, where would you go to commit crime, HELLO! Again, far too many cold cases and like I said, we will be providing an article this coming week clearly showing how corrupt the SPD is and I have evidence and proof.
My goal is to start pulling together victims of similar crimes and educate the public as to what's realy going on out there. Watch out Webster because the pressure is just beginning. It's time I do what I can to force you out and the people will stand behind me because of how you have trained and encouraged your Officers to write up crime and or NOT do anything at all.
The storm is on its way Folks.
Let me also remond ALL of you of a very important fact. THERE WERE NO GANGS IN SALISBURY before Salisbury News came along!
WE exposed the Gangs, we exposed the graffiti and we have kept crime on the front line here each and every day.
It was Salisbury News that pressured the Daily Times to start exposing crime other than murders. They never exposed anything.
It took competition, LAWSUITS and hard work to bring press releases to you daily.
Webster and Tilghman have been feeding another Blogger out of revenge towards me in the hopes of shutting me down. Sadly they have yet to learn that the more they retaliate against me the more I expose. Stupid is as stupid does.
First off, I've never considered anything west of the river to be Salisbury proper. Seriously, who has?
Secondly, Joe, if you hate Salisbury and everything and everyone in it then why they hell did you move here and why do you stay? Surely you could have bought much more property in North Carolina. Perhaps you could buy a barony in NW Scotland. You really could do so much better, according to you anyway.
Salisbury is making news all over Maryland. Why is there such a problem for such a small town? Don't you have law enforcement? Or is your law enforcement ineffective? Ordinary citizens have a lot of information, but why put yourself and loved ones in jeopardy when you probably won't be protected. Salisbury's situation is a three-ring circus.
Maybe Jim just doesnt care.
Thanks for keeping us informed, Joe! Keep up the good work.
May the hand of God be on Mr. Albero
djh, I live in Delmar, Delaware. Enough said.
This kind of thing is not good for property values. How many innocent people will have to die before something is done. I quess you cant get a boy to do a mans job, what say you Jim???
Keep up the good work, Joe! Many of us would not be in the know if it weren't for you. And do not EVER become intimidated by anyone.
Then why don't you stay in Delmar, Delaware. You haven't contributed ONE good thing to Salisbury, Maryland.
Why does everyone think paying the police more would solve the issue? I think they are paid more than they are worth right now because they sure aren't doing all they can do to protect the citizens of Salisbury.
Ireton spent the evening palling aouund downtown -- saw him near his hangout, Flavors.
Joe,
I don't disagree that the leadership has a profound effect on what's going on, however, a big part of the problem IS the pay for police officers. Getting the pay up will KEEP qualified officers from leaving after 3 years and in time will lead to a more seasoned police force instead of a bunch of kids. When vacancies exist on the force it would also help to bring certified officers from other agencies in as opposed to training more "kids" who will only stay 3 years and leave for some other agency where they will make 15K more a year and not risk getting shot at.
They took and Oath to serve and protect, regaurdless of their pay. They knew that when they signed on.
anonymous 1:32 & others who agree the Police need more pay to make things safer andbetter in Salisbury, are you mentally challenged people?
The LEADERSHIP hired them, so why are you blaming it on money? Go take a look at what the Delmar Police are paid. You don't take a job and then come back every time their performance is below standard and say, well, if we were paid more things would be a lot better.
Webster had rid of all the veterans on the Force because THEY AGREE with Joe Albero and they see right through the crap.
Yeah, it's all about the pay, NOT. It's about below standard hiring. Ask the Chief about one of his Officers that failed a polygraph because he STOLE audio equipment from a Church and then hired them anyway. Uh Oh, touching on a soft spot Chiefy? Knowingly hire a THIEF and then have it covered up, oh well, it's not like EVERY single Officer out there isn't aware of it anyway. HOWEVER, the Sheriff's Department wouldn't hire them because they knew he failed the polygraph.
LEADERSHIP is the falw in Salisbury, like it or not.
toecutter you are ignorant. Newports, 40's and Kool Aid come on...who says things like that. You are baseing your judgement on a few misguided individuals. I'm black and just as afraid of these type of actions as you are but I will not let those few dicate my actions. Pemberton has always been a problem, how many more shooting, murders and unsolved cases have to happen before they do something there. Trust me they do not need to tear the place down because if they do just like in other cities where projects have been closed down the problem spreads all over the city. In New Orleans when Katrina hit one of the worst projects in that city closed down. The renters were displaced and what happend...the crime in other cities where these people went got worse. Here is an option...why not open a police substation in Pemberton? One thing is for sure with the substation and bike police that will clean the area up. It is already fenced in, people there who are up to no good will be caught and the unfortunate people who are there because they have to be will be able to sleep better at night. Have you ever walked thru there is looks like a scene out of New jack city...cigar inards are everywhere, dope smoke in every hall and people sitting in the front entrances of the complex just sitting there drinking and smoking. Drug selling is the norm I feel sorry for the little kids that are being raised there. That is what they see on an everyday basis...what do you think they are going to do when they become of age???
X Factor
I have a friend at the hospital who was working last night and they said that the ones that got shot were ambushed in the apartment from what one of the victims said, granted that "victim" didn't look like the most upstanding citizen ever. One of the "victims" was an 18 year old kid, you can only hope he learns his lesson now and gets his life together, but I doubt it. The guy shot in the leg may loose his leg. Things are getting worse as the economy gets worse, the robberies and home invasions have got to stop or I agree with the person that say arm yourselves, one of the "homies" better not come through my door or he will get what's coming to him cause the person in my house that will live to tell the tale will be ME!
I have children and I live in Salisbury and vote in every election. Obviously it isn't working because I voted for Louise Smith and Jim Ireton and the crime rate is out of hand. Accountability and crime? I am still waiting for that help that is supposed to be on the way.
Can everyone tell me a great neighborhood outside Salisbury to live where I can raise my children on not have to worry about this violent crime?
Yeah its called Delmar, Delaware and the schools are good to. Taxes, so resonable its almost funny.
OK Mayor Ireton a violent shooting happened in YOUR city last night around 10:30 PM and we haven't heard anything from you. Where is your press conference? Where is Alan Websters press release? The citizens need to know what is going on in this city and what your are going to do about it. Enough is enough.
They arent going to do or say anything. You got a so called Chief that thinks hes untouchable and a Mayor thats a whimp.
declare a state of martial law bring in the md guard, do house to house 6 shot and that isnt enough to call in the troops$$$$this place should be called soorysbury..let me guess no witnesses..sweep the area and order enough toe tags.
Mayor Wannabe Ireton do you remember this article?
March 27, 2009
Mayor challenges Ireton on city crime statistics
By Laura D'Alessandro
Staff Writer
SALISBURY -- No apology is forthcoming after Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman requested mayoral candidate Jim Ireton back up campaign statements she characterized as false or apologize to city employees.
Tilghman said Thursday Ireton's statements regarding crime and code enforcement were demoralizing, taking away from the pride city employees feel for their jobs.
The mayor and Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster have made several attempts to reach Ireton for one-on-one conversations, but were ignored. Webster sent an e-mail to Ireton on March 18 citing the differences in their crime data, but said he received no response.
Tilghman said because of Ireton's refusals to sit down and talk, she was forced to bring the dispute to the public arena.
"Jim Ireton leaves me no choice," she said. "As mayor, if he knows something I don't, I need to know. If there are facts out there to back this up, give them to me."
In response, Ireton said, "How can you apologize for something that is true."
The former city councilman said statistics on the Federal Bureau of Investigations uniform crime report Web site speak for themselves.
Ireton and Webster draw their conclusions from the same source, but interpret the data differently. Ireton cites the per capita statistics and statewide rankings, while Webster measures Salisbury's raw data from year to year -- and both may be right. Serious crime may be down from 2006 to 2007 as Webster and Tilghman said, but overall crime may be on the rise as Ireton says. It all depends on how the data is viewed, and who's viewing it.
Tilghman also cited Ireton's critique of Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance, a city department which Tilghman said has drastically improved the quality of life in Salisbury over the years. But Ireton has said the department is not strict enough and allows blight to continue to bring crime and gangs into neighborhoods. Tilghman wants proof.
Tilghman invited Ireton to come on the radio with her, on WICO-AM 1320, to provide taxpayers with evidence. Ireton likened the experience to a mouse crawling into a den of lions, and has yet to accept the invitation.
"Why isn't anyone asking her why she's running Gary Comegys' campaign for him?" Ireton said.
But Tilghman described her news conference Thursday as part of her mayoral duty, to stand up for the city and its employees, though she did not deny her support for Ireton's opponent, Salisbury City Council Vice President Gary Comegys.
Or better yet Jimmy do you remember this article? Proof positive that you are a whimp and a bag of hot air!
March 20, 2009
Webster calls out Ireton on crime
FBI report: Salisbury's serious crime down 8 percent, but candidates' takes are different
By Laura D'Alessandro
Staff Writer
SALISBURY -- Mayoral candidate Jim Ireton and Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster are drawing crime statistics from the same databank, yet one says crime is on the rise, while the other says it's headed down.
Webster said the 2007 Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Report -- which Ireton has said is his source as well for crime data -- shows serious crime down by 8 percent since the year prior. Ireton's response: "It is wholly inappropriate for Chief (Alan) Webster to be engaged in the political process."
Ireton's campaign literature also includes a push for the reopening of neighborhood substations -- small police posts scattered throughout the city in which officers are stationed -- saying they provide a form of community policing that would offer a first line of defense in the city's neighborhoods. But Webster says since their closure, statistics show declines in crime in most every neighborhood.
"I would hope anyone campaigning understands their first job is to give the public true facts, and I would hope that is being done," Webster said.
In response, Ireton did not directly address the police chief's concern, saying he was appalled by Webster's interjection into campaign rhetoric.
"In my administration, I won't use department heads for political purposes," he said.
Webster said since Ireton's campaign, the mayoral hopeful has maintained a position that crime is on the rise in Salisbury. Webster said he felt it necessary to defend the work of his agency, this week releasing crime data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report and e-mailing those figures to Ireton for a response. Webster said Ireton responded only by saying that he looked forward to working with him when he becomes mayor.
The chief says he pressed the issue, replying to Ireton by asking him if he truly thinks crime has increased.
"He didn't respond," Webster said.
"Salisbury is a good community, and I hate to see people tear Salisbury down or say bad things about this city," he said. "We are bringing crime down, and I'm not going to just sit here and not say anything. The stats are the stats. I don't make up the stats. Crime is down and that is a direct reflection of this community and its police department."
Ireton's opponent, City Council Vice President Gary Comegys, joined Webster's praise for the Salisbury Police Department and said crime is down to the level he saw it in 2001 and 2002 thanks to more experienced officers and the discontinuation of a revolving-door trend in the department.
"Our crime rate is still not where I'd like to see it, but I think we've made improvements over the past few years," he said. "For Mr. Ireton to say that crime hasn't been affected by those efforts is false."
Ireton did not provide a response, but said in a forum Thursday hosted by the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce that he will present a "Make Salisbury the Safest City in the State" plan next week.
Comegys detailed his ideas to continue tackling crime in a news conference Tuesday as part of his "One Salisbury" initiative, calling for a regional approach to fighting crime and the institution of a revamped neighborhood watch program.
This has little to do with the economy. There has been an escallating gang presence in Salisbury for years. Certain council members and the chief of police are unconcerned. Is our new Mayor unconcerned too? Get us a new chief and top leadership at SPD.
ECI has more than a little to do with this too. The number of gang members there who are being released back into our community will increase if a Federal prison is put here. People, wake up and do somethign. Contact the Mayor, the Governor, and other elected officials. Make your voices heard or surrender our city and move elsewhere.
Help is on the way? Where is it? There should have already been a major initiative among law enforcement at the direction of the new Mayor and maybe even the governor to sweep the streets of Salisbury of this trash (criminal element).
Ill do it for 1 million dollars.
Do away with free housing make them have drud test and pick up trash on roads or something.Those people have no respect for propertie or people.
you get what you pay for. and that's not much if you live in delmar, md
"Ireton did not provide a response, but said in a forum Thursday hosted by the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce that he will present a "Make Salisbury the Safest City in the State" plan next week."
Was that supposed to be a joke Mr. Ireton? What happened to that plan? When is it going to happen. Well I will give you the benefit of the doubt since the problem escalated during Dinglebarries 12 years of denial however you were elected to make a change and so far you have failed to do so. If you would have done what you promised then we would see some positive change. You are a typical politician that will say and do anything to get elected. What are you going to do now? If you were a man you would bite the bullet and fire Alan Webster now. Fire him now and deal with the 3 stooges later. If you fired Alan Webster now you would more than likely get public support, enough to persuade the council majority. Mayor Ireton now is the time to react, do it now while this violent crime is fresh on everyone's mind.
anonymous 3:25, tell me what YOU get for your money in Salisbury that we don't get in Delmar. Reember now, I only pay $1,200.00 a year in taxes for 7.5 acres of land. Oh, you may want to remember that I'm about 7miles from Downtown Salisbury and can use any of the services that you can use. Our crime is a lot less. Anyhow, I can't wait to hear your reply.
It's not good enough just to arm ourselves we must take the streets back. Does anyone know if their is a local militia ?
So, was it gang on gang violence and retaliation or not? If so, let them exterminate each other like the cock roaches and vermin they are. If they show up at your door, exercise your 2nd amendment rights and welcome them with a bang!
Let ANY public official who says crime isn't a MAJOR problem in Salisbury be treated with extreme ridicule & scorn, as they are either a self interested liar or a an insufferably ignorant buffoon!
Want to end 90% of violent crime in Salisbury? Have our elected and appointed officials concentrate on wiping out drugs, prostitution and gangs. If these things are wiped out, violent crimes will be reduced by at least 90%.
Drug dealers and prostitutes do not have a legal right to exist in our midst. Be they white, black or any shade in between, wipe them out like the deadly plague they are!
TAL
Ok Shanie, thats 4 or 5 more people shot in your district. Are you still going to vote with the other idiots?
only locals are released from eci back into this comm. any body frm across bridge is sent there to be released
Hey, 11:51 a.m., those two council members with health insurance are the only ones standing up to Webster, standing up for the citizens, and earning their stinkin' salary.
The crime SUCKS here, and a lot of credit for that goes to Barrie Comegys and her/his puppets Shields and Smith. Pass some of that credit to Dunn and Cathcart, the Dream Team that helped develop this nightmare.
Salisbury was a MUCH nicer place before any of them came into power. Power's all they care about.
It is times for the Wicomico County Council in enact a County Wide Curfew such as Montgomery and PG County!
Shanie has to "co-operate". She is absolutely clueless. Shields cannot begin to comprehend the implications or ramifications.I wonder if money exchanged hands for some of her votes.
I live in Laurel, DE only 14 miles from the 'Bury and we are quite happy and safe. Our area is safe (until the thugs from you come chasing down Rt 13 and shoot up our little town)and our taxes are low. Salisbury is horrible for crime, violence, corruption, lies,..I could keep going. We just avoid it and head to Rehoboth or Dewey for our needs. I feel bad for the honest, hard working citizens caught in the middle. Wow people, can't stand up for yourself and make a stink when it really counts or what?!
countrygirl@heart
Salisbury is imploding!
Joe, we are starving out here for some information on this terrible incident. Nothing on any local TV.
Could you please get an update out for us, Thanks so much for you efforts.
kn
ok i am curious how many really are legite with that address NONE GUARANTEED!!! i am sure some girlfriend living on welfare resides there with the other living there with another address this is why we have homeless people cuz of liars they need someone to monitor subsidized and they will see most residence are not even eligible with the drug money they get and the welfare checks and the food stamps to feed the drug dealers that we work our ass off and provide for every damn one of them and i am white and i can honestly say they are not all black people there are plenty of white ones that are worthless also and as far as for the police they do their best they can do u all dont have your ass out there do you
thomas augustus littleton--I agree with you 100%. That was a good post and one of which I hope a few of our elected officials take heed. It's time also we pay our police officers more or at least hire more good officers to get the job done.
If Salisbury did away with Sec 8 Housing (just passed an ordinance not allowing it in the city limits) you would see a BIG change.
The dealers/addicts/prostitues/gang members aren't going to buy property - take away their housing and they will go back to PG County and live in Sec 8 there.
I'd like to serve as the police chief at SPD and I'd do it for half what Webster makes. Why? I love the job and believe Salisbury deserves better. And I've got more balls than chiefy or Ireton/
Leatherbury or Lashley, either could do a much better job and really make a difference.
Did Webster even show up since he doesn't live here?
Even though many of you consider Sheriff Lewis a crime fighter, he unfortunately doesn't consider gangs to be much of a problem. Either does Lt. Leatherbury. If you think they do, you are sadly mistaken. Webster, for all his faults and ego problems has finally admitted gangs are a problem but the State Attorney doesn't care anymore and other law enforcement people don't so the problem is not going away. Get ready for more bad news in the future.
Anon 6:02. Do you honestly think that if a home invasion, or a robbery occurs in your area you will actually hear about it? Recently neighbors of mine had numerous personal items stolen and I read about it here. No reports on the news or in the paper. Don't think that any area here is safe. There is a HUGE amount of property crimes and thieves are everywhere here. Drugs run rampant in low income areas like Delmarva.
X Factor
That is my concern too-for the well being and safety of the children who live there and have to deal with this through no fault of their own.If I am not mistaken,an innocent little kid in their bed,where they are supposed to be at night,was shot by a stray bullet that penetrated the apartment wall in that very complex,Waterside.It happened a few yrs ago but it should have been a wakeup call that hoodlums have marked that territory.
anon 143 and joe,
are YOU both mentally challenged (sorry to insult the mentally challenged). anon 143 you can take that oath and put it you know where. signing on for the job doesn't mean we give up all of our rights. You seem to think that because we took an "oath" that we have to give up OUR lives, freedoms, dignity and SERVE your dead beat arse. ITS A FRIGGIN JOB! We are human, we are not the Messiah taking an oath to protect all human kind from evil! We are human beings with FAMILIES that we need to support and I personally think that having a workload that has doubled every three years yet not having a raise in the last two, and being hardest worked, lowest paid agencies on the shore I think gives us a point of contention. As for Joe, you are right, the admin did hire these "kids" but part of the reason why is because NO ONE WHO AMOUNTS TO ANYTHING IS WILLING TO DO THIS CRAP JOB FOR WHAT THEY PAY! There are a few of us who have stuck around despite being talked down to on an hourly basis by idiots like anon 143 because we believe in what we do, that said, it would still be nice to be able to support our families on what they give us. I would like to follow all of these idiots like anon 143 around where they work for a day and point out all they do wrong (or don't do at all). The majority of our officers bust their butts on a daily basis, working 12 hour+ shifts, many times without a meal break, going to court on their days off, many times with less than 24 hours notice and putting up with arrogant know it alls like the both of you. I'd like to see this "oath" that you all keep talking about where officers wait on you hand and foot and begin each shift vowing to sacrifice their life for lazy dead beats like anon 143. Any idiot can go around pointing out what's wrong, it takes some intelligence to fix it. If you keep beating a dog and not feeding it, do you think it's gonna remain loyal?
It depends on your honor in your word. Fools dont rush in, but men mean what they say.
11:09 sign your name.
By the way I have been here for years and Ive always tryed to voice my opinion(s) for better pay and better standard of living for all you guys. Years buddy, what Im talking about has nothing to do with money.
Anon 11:09 PM sounds like a disciple of the Bald One on the third floor. They both seem to have the attitude that it is just a job and they are buying time from pay check to pay check. I agree that the police officers deserve better pay, but they also deserve a better leader. To those defending Jim Ireton with the rhetoric that Rome wasn't built in a day that is merely BS. You are correct in that fact that Rome wasn't built in a day, but Jim Ireton wasn't elected in one day either. He planned this for many months if not years and he did this with the help of many voters who were promised change. This campaign went on with false hope and Jim Ireton has proven to be a liar. The campaign went on so long that he knew what change was needed and he should have made the changes his first week in office.
To 1109pm if you think you job as a police officer is just that, a job, then you are one of the officers of the SPD that we want gone with Webster also.
To Mayor Ireton there are over 100 comments posted in less than 24 hours from citizens that are fed up with the crime in the city of Salisbury and you lack of spine to do something about it. We want change and we want it now.
Even the Daily Rag is demanding action!!!
Decision time for the mayor
Someone needs to make the call on Chief Webster's future
August 23, 2009
The Mayor of Salisbury could bring in a Superintendent of Police Services and Webster would answer to this new Department Head. The new Superintendent could put Webster back on patrol or in fleet/property division. Now, there is your solution Mayor, get some balls and do something about it.
That's what I've been saying 9:25, create a position above Chiefy and put him in his place. Hire an Inspector superintendent to restructure SPD.
Has chiefy ever even wrote a traffic ticket or written a police report on anyone? You mean to tell me he's never seen anyone break the law on the road as much time as he spends on it?
There is more than one way to skin a muskrat!
Leatherbury or Lashley are not capable of running a non corrupt police agency.
Anonymous said...
The Mayor of Salisbury could bring in a Superintendent of Police Services and Webster would answer to this new Department Head. The new Superintendent could put Webster back on patrol or in fleet/property division. Now, there is your solution Mayor, get some balls and do something about it.
9:25 AM
The best idea is the public safety director which would but the police chief, fire chief, Building, Permits, and Inspections director, and the Neighbor Hood Services and Code Compliance Director under one umbrella. That is the solution to the problem.
A multiple shooting and the response from police & administration?
Where's the Chief of Police's press conference, the Mayor's?,The Wicomico County Sheriff?, the MSP?, the City Councilperson who's district this crime occurred in?
What is happening to catch these dangerous criminals, what is happening to protect the citizens?
If we can't look to our elected officals for help and guidance, then, as citizens, we should take the law into our own hands and protect ourselves and our neighbor's.
12:30pm and 12:41 pm,
That's exactly what the police force hope will. Let these Thugs shoot and kill one another.
What are you going to do wen the last few Thugs are left standing start coming after you?
Oh! I know. Now, we start during our jobs.
I agree with getting rid of the gangs, drugs and prostitution. But, if you get rid of these section 8 properties that housed all these baby producing single mothers who have 7 children (for example) all with different incarcerated daddies, this will solve 3/4's of your problem. They draw to them the underworld elements because they are so needy.
Doug Wilkerson, you're a moron, you just don't get it. You can't fight the crime that salisbury has with the current staffing of the police dept. The officers run call to call, its a reactionary police dept. when vacancies exist they get a hand full of applicants that are mediocre at best and they have to pick from that. on top of it all the officers have to deal with the admin and idiots like you that constantly talk down to them and crack the whip demanding more more more for less less less. Now how do you think those officers feel when they are treated like that and see other agencies making thousands more with take home cars. We have to have an incentive for qualified people to want to work at SPD and right now there isn't any! And yes, its a JOB! At the end of the shift, after being treated like dog crap by a community that doesn't care, the only thing I care about is MY family. I'm not one of those rookies who uses his JOB to heighten his social status. Did you take an oath to flip burgers?
Im not a moron, I have been saying for years to get them the officers and the money they need to do the job right. What I was saying was they new what they were being paid and what the job was when they signed on. I believe what the SPD officers are paid is a slap in the face, I believe all the money that has been wasted at the Fire Dept should have went to the police. I dont flip burgers for a living, Ive earnd every dime I have. At least I have the balls to sign what I say. Doesnt seem like you do.
It doesnt sound like you even want to be a cop anymore. I know how dangerous your job is and how much your family must worry everytime you leave to go to work, I got nothing but respect for any person who does your job. If it were up to me you would all start at $50,000.00 a year with health benefits for your family. Salisbury is a mess and they seem to spend money on all the wrong things. Im not the enemy Sir, the Mayor has got to do something, because the officers of the SPD should not feel this way about their jobs. You men and woman risk your lives everyday and it doesnt seem like the people in power give a shit. Something has to change.
Doug, you should sign two names, one for each face. I did know what the pay was when i signed on years ago, but for some strange reason I thought it would keep up with the economy. You mean to tell me that when you took whatever job you have that you would be content with that pay not keeping up with the times? you, like other morons seem to think that in the police profession, when someone "signs on" that you and society then own them. you know why we can't sign our names, because they would take away what little we alreday have.
Im on your side and you dont get it. I make half what I did five years ago. Hows that for keeping up with the economy? The only person that can take away your right to free speech is YOU.
Staffing must not be an issue if 3 officers can respond to a shoplifter. Duh.
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