THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607120247
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 32 lines
Federal and state grants to fight crime cost the city only a fraction of the amount of money that goes into the programs and City Council is wise to agree to accept all the money anybody wants to pass along to Portsmouth.
Sometimes council members are reluctant to accept the funds which require local contributions or which require the city to pick up larger portions of the cost in the future. However, if the program aren't working to improve local law enforcement, the city can drop them, and if they are working, they're worth the money they cost.
In years past, Portsmouth has passed up some chances to get money for more policemen because the positions would have to be picked up by local money in the future. Yet, most citizens are more than happy to help pay to get more police officers out on the street.
Portsmouth crime actually has shown decreases in most areas, despite the increase in local murders so far this year. Robberies are down 36.5 percent, burglaries are down 23 percent and auto thefts are down 32 percent. Rapes are down 42 percent and assaults are down 20 percent.
Over the past year or so, Portsmouth seems to be turning around its image and a few years with statistics showing decreases in major crimes such as this could greatly hasten the time when most people would be able to understand that Portsmouth has the same crime problems as everybody else - no more or no less. Any additional money City Manager Ron Massey and Police Chief Dennis Mook can find should be welcomed by Portsmouth citizens and their elected representatives. by CNB