Two People Assaulted And Robbed At Gun Point On Ridgewood

[Jim O'Bryan]

Around 2:34 am this morning,two people were walking on Ridgewood when
they were robbed by two males who brandished a gun and a knife. One got the pistol to
the side of the face and was treated and released.

The two males, one black one white, escaped on foot to a car, and as yet have not been
apprehended. Police are working on composites of the suspects and the the getaway car
which was Dark Blue and might possibly have "spinners," as witnessed by someone else.

If anyone has any information leading the the arrest of these suspects please call the
Lakewood Police Department at 216.521.6773

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[Bill Call]

Most of the crime seems to be committed by people coming in from Cleveland.

It's time to reconsider our policing policies.

Just riding around in a police car is not going to work. The police need to establish a permanent patrol along the border. The City also needs to install cameras along the border areas and at major intersections so police can review the tape after the report of a serious crime.

The police patrol is obsolete. Live action viewing should be considered.

The problem can be solved but the City has to change the way it runs the police department.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Most of the crime seems to be committed by people coming in from Cleveland.

It's time to reconsider our policing policies.

Just riding around in a police car is not going to work. The police need to establish a permanent patrol along the border. The City also needs to install cameras along the border areas and at major intersections so police can review the tape after the report of a serious crime.

The police patrol is obsolete. Live action viewing should be considered.

The problem can be solved but the City has to change the way it runs the police department.

Bill

I would go the complete other direction. More police, more patrols, more on foot.

Lakewood's crime is rarely violent, or sudden. As reported again and again, the number
one crime problem in Lakewood is not Heroin, not kidnapping, not assault but it nearly
always involves alcohol. Well about 3/4ths of the time.

Cameras are good for solving crimes, not preventing them. Ironically, small corner bars, irregular police patrols, and a great working relationship with the community is what makes a city safer. Not cameras. Right now, our city cameras-- ie the ones not owned by the NSA-- are watched by the nice retired gentlemen that work the front desk at City Hall, not the police. They have to call the police department to report a crime they might see on the two TVs that rotate views. This city does not need more cameras, or to hire more camera watchers, it needs police in the neighborhoods.

One of the things you learn listening to the police scanner is just how important vigilant
citizens are to the entire process. In the assault the other night, it was a neighbor of the
victim up the street that saw the getaway car, and called it in when they were acting odd
then fighting. Humans on the streets make streets safer, and human eyes add to that.

At the same time, to beat my drum, we are using a tremendous amount of police to patrol
Detroit and Madison, and the bars and businesses. We are spending a lot of money
processing the criminals and drunks. HOW MUCH IS THE CITY MAKING OFF THIS NEW-
FOUND INDUSTRY? The numbers generally point to entertainment districts much like
Community Centers to be black holes for funding, and generally bring in less than they
cost a community. Perhaps it is time to look at the books, and see if the gold mine of
commercial economic development is all they promised it to be, or is it like the high end
shopping they promised while only delivering 5 dollar stores?

If it is as good as they promised, we should be the safest city in America, and damn near
Kuwait, with the government paying us to live here.

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