"Crime is more than just Salisbury's problem
For some time now, FBI crime statistics have been waved around in our faces. They tell us Salisbury is the second most dangerous city in America. All we have heard is: "Crime is out of control!" or "You do not want to go out after dark."
Yet through all of this, the only solution that seems to be out there is to replace the current city chief of police -- Allan Webster. Somehow, magically, that will solve all our problems.
The truth is crime is not just Salisbury's problem; it is Wicomico County's problem. As the economic hub of Delmarva, Salisbury becomes a city of more than 100,000 during the day, with all the people who come here to work, shop and do business. So many of the people who commit crimes are from the county, lower Delaware and beyond.
That would be an interesting statistic -- how many of the crimes committed in the city are from people outside of the city?
The police react to crime; they do not stop crime. Individuals make choices to commit crimes and police arrest them when they discover who has committed the crime. At that point they are turned over to the court system and eventually released back into society, where many fall back into the same cycle.
Without a comprehensive regional plan to fight crime -- that should begin with education, rehabilitation and streamlining law enforcement resources -- the situation is not going to improve if we continue with a vacuum in our leadership.
Muir Boda
Salisbury
Boda is communications director for the Maryland Libertarian Party. -- Editor"
Either Muir is that stupid or he tends to conveniently forget a lot. Webster and Tilghman have been crying the blues about the idea that most crime in Salisbury is done by outsiders, people not living in the City. Well no sh!t, Sherlock. Perhaps IF Boda actually gave a damn about Salisbury he'd know that already. Instead, LOOK AT MEEEEEE, LOOK AT MEEEEEE in the Daily Times. So you wanted your name in lights, you got it Muir. However, now you're in even brighter lights with Salisbury News and real people will tell you what they really think of your stupid comment.
I know, let's go from Town to Town across America and let's see just how many crimes were done by those who actually live in that City/Town. Sounds like yet another Libertarian Party expense to me. By now Muir, everyone knows you have your head so far up Chief Webster and Barrie Tilghman's A$$ they've installed an oxygen line to keep you alive.
Clearly you watched my show and saw that crime is as bad as it is in Salisbury because they're releasing many/all of the prisoners from ECI to the Christian Shelter in Salisbury. They don't reside here either Muir, but they're committing much of the crime and building most of the Gangs. Oh, but you won't hear that from the Daily Times, that would take actual work and guts to get it out there. You won't hear it from the Administration either because they don't want to alarm the citizens with the truth.
Muir, before you open your mouth again, try doing some research and stop combating anything and everything I personally say. You're a WalMart Employee Muir, like it or not, that says a lot. Mind you, WalMart is a fine company but you knew before you even filled out an application there where you stood on the brain food chain. You remind me of one of those people that loves to make charts and tell everyone just how bright the sun is today. You know, a typical government employee. I mean, look at Paul Wilber. Now here's a guy who couldn't make a living in the real world, so he took a comfy job representing the City instead. He's made a ton of mistakes and he's cost the City a small fortune but you know what, fools like the former Mayor and Ireton just keep plugging along with a guy like that and no one says a word. Kind of like who you are on the food chain with the WalMart Corporation. However, no one is hiring the guy that I know to represent them in Court. I mean, would you?
Did you go to the National WalMart Party this year Muir, or were you one of the ones who stayed behind to mind the store. If the Redskins were losing every game throughout the season, you don't blame the Coach, do you Muir? Oh, sh!t, forgive me Muir, I forgot your a Libertarian. You know, that party that always loses but keeps trying to send some guy who thinks the sun is so bright out today, oh look, a chicken. Now what was I saying???????
Crime, just like the head Coach of the Redskins, lies on some one's shoulders and the buck stops at Chiefy Webster's desk in Salisbury. If you continue to lose the battle, find someone who can get the job done. Muir, one thing is for sure. If something happened to a loved one in your Family you'd be speaking a whole new tune. Webster refuses to live within the City of Salisbury and that should speak more volume than anything else.
You want answers Muir, dig into the ECI situation and you'll finally see that sunshine.
13 comments:
Muir Boda, I don't know you, but your comments here certainly show you have "no clue or understanding" as to how effective police forces across the nation can be and actually do work.
“So many of the people who commit crimes are from the county, lower Delaware and beyond?” I’m curious as to where you actually found this statistic because your next sentence begs to reveal “how many of the crimes committed in the city are from people outside of the city?” Which is it Muir?
Not being an officer myself, I have to disagree with your statement that “the police react to crime; they do not stop crime.” Honestly, that is just a stupid comment to put out there for the public to read. Let’s look at the option that most police officers have of take home cars. Don’t you think that by allowing an officer to take a patrol car home and using it while “off duty” actually DETERS crime? I can speak first hand of this since I ride with many officers during their actual shift and while they are off duty. It is called a “presence.” Perhaps you may want to discuss this with your Chief of Police or the County Sherriff. They can shed more light on this for you.
Since you do not care for the option of simply replacing your Chief of Police might I suggest you step up and help your community with your crime problem rather than merely suggesting that the FBI statistics may be suspect or statistically inaccurate.
Mr. Muir missed an important part of the equation that shouldn't have been overlooked. Law enforcement, over the years, has addressed crime prevention. By it's very nature crime prevention is proactive which is contrary to Mr. Boda's assertion that law enforcement only responds. Crime prevention can be implemented on several different levels, from education of the public through PSA'a and presentations to local community groups such as Neighborhood Watch's, to the integration of anti crime efforts and community based policing with the everyday patrol function. Often, these efforts require a change in the allocation of manpower to accomodate efforts to address problems in communities based on statistical data (such as the data compiled in the FBI Uniform Crime Reports or "UCR's) and citizen/community input.
I believe strongly that "programs" such as community oriented policing, while extremely effective, are often short lived due to the fact that "programs" are temporary - having a beginning and an end - and many don't even have a mechanism in place with which to monitor gains and losses.
Crime prevention on every level must be integrated with modern law enforcement strategies and must become an integral part of the current law enforcement philosophy across the country - each custom tailored to fit each individual community based upon their needs. I personally feel that the mission statement and the current law enforcement philosophy as established and implemented by Chief of Police for the City of Salisbury falls short of being either adequate or effective in providing the type of law enforcement that the citizens of Salisbury deserve.
I hope there will more discussion of the kind done here by "Bob" and "Thom" above.
It is educational and makes a positive contribution.
I did not like this Muir fellow's comments. I heard enough of the "we become a city of 100,000 by day" bullfeathers from the former mayor and her hand-picked successor Gary Comegys.
That's just excuses. We're sick of excuses.
Until we have a stronger police presence in the high crime areas, the criminals will continue to control our neighborhoods. There are so many neighborhoods that I won't step foot in, in Salisbury. I've called the police about many things going on in these neighborhoods, to no avail. When your officers feel powerless, it's time to get scared.
Mr. Muir is a crook himself so I'm surprised he would even weigh in on a police subjected post.
I don't know Muir, I just see him at the meetings, but Joe, sweety, baby, bubbe
high road?
please?
Alot of the citys neighborhoods have become open air slums.A more aggressive police force would be a step in the right direction but the leadership needs to be changed.
Mr Boda, if you think that police cannot be proactive there's no hope. In fact police presents or patrol does deter crime significantly.
Lets do a hypothetical, (I know libs don't like hypothetical)
Say Joe's jewelry has 15 security guards on duty all the time, Joe's neighbor Dicks jewelry has the same size store and sells the same thing but Dick only has 1 security guard. Who do you think will get ribbed Mr Boda?
BTW: You say you're a Libertarian? bull hockey..
"Without a comprehensive regional plan to fight crime -- that should begin with education, rehabilitation and streamlining law enforcement resources -- the situation is not going to improve if we continue with a vacuum in our leadership."
that ^^^^ is a leftist statement if I ever saw one
It is unfortunate that this post, which could have been an excellent point for discussion, was simply used as a means to attack Muir Boda. Why? Evidently because Boda does not agree with many of us that Allan Webster should be dismissed. Just because Boda does not agree with me (and others) on this point does not mean that he should be personally attacked or held up to ridicule.
As for Anon 1142 who states that Boda "is a crook himself", I am ashamed that such a coward reads a blog to which I contribute. Man up, sign your name, and state what crime Muir is supposedly guilty of.
The core point of Mr. Boda's letter to the editor is to pose a question. While he assumes (in fact, he begs the question) that a high percentage of crimes committed in Salisbury are committed by persons living outside the city, he admits that we don't know this to be a fact ("That would be an interesting statistic -- how many of the crimes committed in the city are from people outside of the city?").
What Mr. Albero and some commenters overlook is that Boda does not dispute the crime statistics which have been the basis of much of our criticism of Webster. While Webster and the Barrie Comegys Blogger-in-Chief attempt to disprove the fact that Salisbury is fast becoming a criminal's delight, Boda is taking a different tack AND asking a legitimate question.
Nor does Boda claim that those of us calling for Webster's dismissal are somehow "attacking the rank and file officers of the SPD". Again, this is the usual argument form Webster and his surrogates.
Why then, does Joe and certain others, lump Boda in with Webster et al and attempt to ridicule him in such a way.
Is Boda's analysis flawed? I believe it is. He is incorrect to state that:
"Yet through all of this, the only solution that seems to be out there is to replace the current city chief of police -- Allan Webster. Somehow, magically, that will solve all our problems."
I know of no one making that claim. Boda also appears unaware of many other initiatives that have been attempted by citizens who are concerned about crime in Salisbury.
One problem facing the SPD is a high turnover percentage. Why is this? Councilwoman Debbie Campbell has requested that the council be able to examine exit interviews by officers leaving the SPD. Webster has denied this request and the Barrie Comegys bloc is none too interested in finding out that their "fair haired boy" Webster may be a primary reason why officers are leaving.
While Boda calls for:
"Without a comprehensive regional plan to fight crime -- that should begin with education, rehabilitation and streamlining law enforcement resources -- the situation is not going to improve if we continue with a vacuum in our leadership."
he should understand that Webster is the only chief law enforcement official asked to participate in the city's Crime Task Force who has refused to do so. Instead, Webster sends a surrogate who has admitted (in writing) that he is either a liar or guilty of violating police procedure).
Oddly enough, those of us who live in the county think that Sheriff Mike Lewis is doing an excellent job. Sure, there is crime. Anywhere you have people, you will have crime. Yet, when we call 911 we get a response. We are confident that Lewis is genuinely concerned about our problem and that he and his deputies will do all that they can to solve the crime.
While I certainly don't believe that dismissing Webster will make crime go away, there is no question that it is an important step in solving this problem. However, I don't believe that we will get any closer to that end by attacking citizens who pose legitimate questions; even though we may disagree with their conclusions or because their analysis of a problem has a few flaws.
Mr. G.A., I agree it is not nice to attack this man personally. We got too much that here.
I think the person here that pointed out that the man used a line the former lady mayor said all the time is on to something. There are a few people who do that a lot. It makes me think they are very connected to her.
I haven't heard people say firing the chief will solve everything either. I may not be very smart but I think people say what this man does so they can help the chief look like a victim to keep his job.
I think the man should have just asked his question without all that other things he said. He sounds like a politician.
Ocean City becomes a city of 100,000 every weekend in the summer, and I'm fairly sure about 98% of them don't live or pay taxes there. The difference between OC and Salisbury is OC HIRES ENOUGH COPS to do the job. You see a cop on every corner in OC. Its an embarrassment how few officers SPD has patrolling the streets now.
Mr. Boda's letter just sounded like political double speak to me. Not impressed.
Also, if Boda's solution and question are so obvious and great and the chief of police is so good, how come the chief of police isn't doing what Boda is talking about?
I think Muir is full of Pelosi (Joe's word of the Century), but I think he has one valid point; I think that a regional crime plan would be highly beneficial. I'm not sure of what we currently have in place, but focusing efforts among agencies our (SPD, WCSO and MSP) with neighboring agencies (Sussex, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Sheriff Departments, DSP and other neighboring local police departments) would assist in curbing a lot of crime. A regional effort is good and would be benificial; HOWEVER, you CAN NOT be reactive to crime! Work to prevent crime and combat the crime that you can't prevent. To say that "the police react to crime; they don't stop crime" is complete moronic and Muir just signed his political death certificate with that statement!
Webster IS a problem! Muir seriously can't see that? He has continued to allow crime to get out of control and as long as he heads the SPD the criminals will continue to see that as a sign of weakness at the SPD and continue on with their criminal ways. Replacing Webster doesn't just get a better qualified chief in charge, it provides a new face- Criminals will see this as a sign of change focused on cracking down on crime and would be less likely to commit crimes. I'm no more qualified than Webster, but if I were to become chief I guarantee that there would be a reduction in crime just because there is a new face leading the SPD. A big part of having a new chief would be purely psychological because of this "new face" aspect (Not to mention that we'd have somebody that actually cares in there!).
Muir, you had a good point with the regional crime plan, but then you continued to speak...good thing you didn't get elected-we'd be in REAL trouble then!
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