The Observation Deck

I called the police department and was able to get a copy of the crime comparison between now and last year same month. It is updated to May 07. It seems both sides are correct, crime is down in some areas and up in others.

More data coming for 2005-2006 next week, they have to get it for me.

Decide for yourself.

http://movieloanguy.com/downloads/CrimeReportMay07.pdf

Nice job, thanks Ryan.

I wonder where/how they keep stats on less violent crimes. And the drug offenses.

Burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson are up, although the arson number are probably too small to be significant.

I'd also be interested in the calls to arrest ratios; that is, how many times do the police respond to a call and there is no need to make an arrest or record that a crime has occurred. And, there are a lot of calls that take up manpower but don't necessarily indicate trouble, like the "cat up in a tree" situation.

Overall though, I'd say crime does appear to be down and the numbers are relatively low for a populated urban area.

Yes Ryan,

Thank you.

As I suspected, the updated data sheet confirms my suppositions.

The sky is not falling.

Still, we all need to exercise continued vigilance; watching out for each other, and doing whatever we can to improve things as we see the needs arise.

I came down Detroit today. Admittedly, the under-construction street makes for tricky driving, but the beautifully restored storefronts, the red brick walkways, all the people out enjoying the weather....

it's all so good!

What a great place to live in!

Driver's side door handle of my car removed while parked in lot near Kaufman Park.

Kenneth Warren

Hi,
If anyone deserves a reserved parking spot it's Ken Warren. Come on Board members of the Lakewood Public Library, please show Mr. Warren the respect this community feels for him.

Donald Farris wrote:Hi,
If anyone deserves a reserved parking spot it's Ken Warren. Come on Board members of the Lakewood Public Library, please show Mr. Warren the respect this community feels for him.

Don,

The board doesn't tell Mr. Warren where to park. We don't have enough parking for each employee to use the library lot and Mr. Warren chooses to park with his team. That's just one aspect of his leadership style that makes him so effective.

Suzanne

Suzanne

Indeed. Were we to even suggest a reserved spot for the Director, Ken would reject it out of hand as being elitist and destructive of the team spirit that he has worked so hard to establish.

Jeff

Ken,

I really feel badly about what happened to your car.

I think we all need to keep a better eye out for each other.

With greater kindness too.

Even here on the 'Deck.

Sometimes, it seems to me like some people on their computers act in ways they might otherwise never act, were they face to face with the other person.

After watching the 'Deck's activity this past week, I am reminded of an episode from Rod Serling and the "Twilight Zone".

"The Monsters are due on Maple Street".

Anyone remember it?

Some aliens land in a ship and just turn the power off and on for a bit in a community. The affected neighborhood ends up turning on each other with distrust, hostility, and blame to go all around.

They start to destroy themselves. All the aliens have to do is sit by and watch it happen...

There is where POSSIBLY a citizen watch might have seen something an might have reported it.

Mark Allan Yes it's that guy with the one track mind again Crnolatas

p.s. Kenneth, sorry to hear of the misfortune.

Positivie note on Lakewood Police Dispatcher -

Called the non-emergency number this morning to report a man that was obviously mentally ill, yelling at passing cars - I would have let it go but there was a woman at the bus stop with him and I was concerned.

The Dispatcher was very nice and told me that they knew who he was - gave me an accurate description of him and told me that he's loud but harmless.

Nice to know that they are aware of some of the people about town who may be disruptive.

I very much appreciate the kind words of support. It could have been worse. The car was not stolen. Perhaps watchful eyes or even a police car driving by prevented a full boost of the vehicle.

I've had my car tires punctured twice by punks in the Dover, New Jersey Public Library Parking lot, more than 25 years ago. So this instance was simply a minor headache easily shaken off, when I contemplate to joy of playing music with Gary and Bob Rice, Julie Warren and Tom Leatherman.

The reason I posted is because when someone experiences chaotic damage to property or criminal mischief at this minor level, a police report may or may not be filed. Yet the personal memory of a minor headache will compound with any future bumps that may occur in a given territory.

I believe experiential, first hand reports are immensely valuable to our deliberations here.

Over the course of the past year, each of my sons has had their cars hit. One was stolen in Tremont; One was broken in a downtown Cleveland parking lot while he was at work.

That's my family. Three car hits in one year. Two in Cleveland, more damage, less effective police response. Mine in Lakewood. Less damage, more effective police response.

The sky is not falling. But the ground where I stand could use shoring.

Thank you again for your kindness.

Kenneth Warren

Ken is right!

Let's all work together to "shore up" the ground around here!

One person can't do it alone, but if each of us throws in a little shovelful, then mountains of protection can be made out of each of our own little molehills of fear.

Probably 30 years ago, the family car sustained serious damage from vandalism here in Lakewood.

In no time, we, and the police, knew who did it. The culprit was nabbed quickly.

This was due to the same type of citizen observation and involvement that makes Lakewood (usually) a great place to live.

And during those times when it is not? That's when we Observers are needed most!

Oh yeah Ken, I think our musical act may be the hottest thing in town! (Ken's quite the drummer!)

Has this discussion gotten any closer to an understanding of the "facts" yet? I'm grappling with how the data is being interpreted as either an increase or decrease in crime. Seems a very broad statement which should come with some clarification.
Seems that from what we have here at least the city-data stats indicate that in 2005 crime was on the rise. The Lakewood PD data shows a nice side by side comparison by month but only includes 5 months. While I'm not sure how accurate the city-data information is, it seems fair to expect that once we include the remaining 7 months of data, we'll be above the 2005 numbers in most every category. With the exception of rapes which Lakewood hasn't had any reported from January through May in 2006 or 2007. Not sure if that should be troubling (in that they are not being reported) or reassuring (that they don't happen here).
Seem to have a gap still to get us from 2005 to today.
Does anyone know what the part II and all other crimes include on the Lakewood PD report? For the sake of clarity it appears that if we don't include these two categories this 12% decrease is cut to under 3%.

What in the world would someone do with a (now)broken door handle? What fun is there in pulling off someones door handle? I truly don't get it. Robert

Shawn Juris wrote: With the exception of rapes which Lakewood hasn't had any reported from January through May in 2006 or 2007. Not sure if that should be troubling (in that they are not being reported) or reassuring (that they don't happen here).
.

i have a question on this:
What constitutes an actual "rape" charge? And what classification do the cases that aren't "classic" rape go into?
While it seems plausible that Lakewood hasnt had any cases of a guy breaking into a woman's bedroom window and having forced sex with her it seems a bit unbelievable that a city this large would have NO sex-related offenses. My question is what category they fall in.