The Observation Deck

The PD has the latest violent crime statistics from the FBI.
There was a 5 percent drop in violent crime from 2005 to 2006.

You'd never know it from the fearmongering rhetoric of some mayoral and council candidates.

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2007/ ... gures.html

It still seems awfully high per-capita compared to similarly-populated cities. Plus, it only accounts for violent crimes, not property crimes, which it does seem like Lakewood is beset with.

There were no stats on River or Bay??? (Am I missing something?)

But it does seem like most of the ranting and raving about crime in Lakewood has been about violent crime and those figures have dropped.

This is an example of why it's important to have some knowledge about how crime statistics are kept.

The FBI only keeps statistics on FELONIES. In other words, if you get punched out while walking down a street, but don't need serious medical attention, it will probably be classified as a misdemeanor, and doesn't show up on these statistics.

If you are assaulted by a juvenile, that also won't show up on these statistics.

I've been around long enough to remember that folks in Lakewood used to always talk about how much safer we were than Cleveland Heights. These numbers, if you choose to give them credence, show us with 5 times more violent crime than Cleveland Heights. Still think its "fear mongering" to talk about crime in Lakewood?

Lakewood Court records all criminal filing, both misdemeanors and felonies. In the last ten years, the number of criminal filings for violent crime is up over 20%, drug crime filings up 70%, and property crime up 134%. These numbers were provided by our court, and were not disputed by the police chief at our safety hearings. This doesn't even include offenses like drunk and disorderly, which have also approximately doubled in the last decade.

Citing these recent statistics as evidence of a safer community is like a retailer raising prices 100%, lowering them by half, and then advertising that you're having a 50% off sale.

Anyone claiming that crime is down in Lakewood just doesn't get it.

About Ed (clicky)

FitzGerald served as a Special Agent with the FBI. As a Special Agent, FitzGerald was recognized by the FBI Director for heading up a wide-ranging investigation into organized crime and political corruption in Chicago. FitzGerald then served as a supervising Prosecutor for Cuyahoga County, and successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases ranging from drug dealing to homicide.

It is interesting that a guy running as a "former G-man" is questioning the legitimacy of FBI stats.

Mike Deneen wrote:It is interesting that a guy running as a "former G-man" is questioning the legitimacy of FBI stats.

No, he gave us a better understanding of how the FBI crime stats are kept.. (edited)

Mike-

Maybe you didn't read my post. FYI, our own police chief also commented at our last safety meeting about what is and is not covered by FBI stats.

Do you believe we have 5 times the violent crime of Cleveland Heights?

From the report issued by the Lakewood Police Dept. 1/08/07

Grand total on all crime +1%

Hmm doesn't sound like a crime wave to me no matter how you determine the figures.

Cleveland Heights also has 5x the property value than us.

sharon kinsella wrote:From the report issued by the Lakewood Police Dept. 1/08/07

Grand total on all crime +1%

Hmm doesn't sound like a crime wave to me no matter how you determine the figures.

Just remember it's all relative. From the Block Watch meetings and what I read here, it appears that the biggest increase in crime is concentrated in certain pockets. To those people who live there it is a problem.

I'm lucky, I don't live in one of those areas, but I'm not going to minimize the fact that some people may feel crime is out of control. You can quote all the stats you want, but there is a large group of people who feel crime is on the increase. That's their perception, therefore their reality. Also look at the people who attended all the crime meetings.

If you don't believe there are alot of people who believe crime is a problem, show up at any of the Ward 3 block watch meetings. Contact Sue Kelley or Diane Helbig, I'm sure they can give you a date/time.

This is hardly the candidate's "fear mongering". This perception has been around well before this election cycle started. They're just responding to the concerns of the voters. I think you give them too much credit if you think they made all these people believe there's more crime all by themselves.

Ed FitzGerald wrote:I've been around long enough to remember that folks in Lakewood used to always talk about how much safer we were than Cleveland Heights. These numbers, if you choose to give them credence, show us with 5 times more violent crime than Cleveland Heights. Still think its "fear mongering" to talk about crime in Lakewood?

This City cannot afford four more years of pretending that everything is just fine.

Bryan -

While I can definitely understand what you are talking about, I think the perceptions are skewed by a number of factors.

Honestly, if you look at the report you will see that some of the "statistics" quoted are from a specific month when there was a rise in a particular crime.

Example: Under the heading Robbery - for the month of Dec. 2006, 11 incidents and 2005, 2 incidents for a rise of +450%. So the rise of 450% comes from the December figures. Apr. 2006 , 1 incident, 2005, 9 for a drop of -89%.

So the month of Dec. for both years, a difference of +9 incidents, makes a percentage difference of +450%. For the month of Apr. for both years a difference of 8 incidents for a drop -89%.

What's the difference that concludes in the percentage differences? 1 incident.

I know people are scared and I know that the two contenders for the incumbents seats did not incite the fear on their own. However, I would suggest that they have played into and played upon a national perception of fear and xenophobia.

That's my interpretation and I feel that it's fear mongering.

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