Dr. Gabe's Prescription To Remedy The Crime Epidemic In Williamsport... Is It A Miracle Cure or More Snake Oil?

In keeping with the theme of his successful mayoral campaign, Mayor Campana recently announced yet another anti-crime measure. This program involves the installation of brighter street lights in “high risk” areas. On the surface it makes sense to eliminate the shadows that have become a haven for the growing number of undesirables inhabiting our city.

However as one of our readers recently pointed out, this program will fail if additional steps are not taken. Most importantly additional steps must be built not in addition to but in concert with this first step. As soon as sufficient lighting is available, the installation of camera networks like those proving successful in London, and more recently in Philadelphia, would also be a logical next step. But as our reader also points out, equipment alone is not the solution.

Crime and drugs are a disease on our society and should be approached the same way the medical profession approaches any serious disease. Added lighting on a crime ridden street is only the x-ray that proves the diagnosis there is a disease. More professional if not surgical action needs to be taken to cure the actual disease.

Installation of cameras would be a cost-effective approach but it will take skilled professionals to monitor the video feeds just as trained technicians monitor medical diagnostic equipment. Additionally, the entire system is useless if a prepared law enforcement rapid response team is not immediately available to react instantly to a crime in progress, much like the crash teams or trauma teams in hospitals.

Medical professionals also personally monitor the patient’s health. This can only be done with a constant, visible, and approachable law enforcement presence in the form of foot patrols, community policing or other one-to-one initiatives. Personal contact is critical to the daily evaluation of the situation as well as developing trust with the patient/residents.

With all this in place, the city could then begin to attempt to cure the real disease and treat the cause of the affliction. As in all health issues, the patient has to want to get better.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a healthy neighborhood are also very similar. Residents must want to rid their neighborhood of the dealers and thugs and must take action to do so. By developing a trust-based relationship with residents, police can learn more about illegal activities and take proactive steps, such as providing advice and guidance, rather than simply taking the reactive measures of punishment after the fact.

The fact is, more law enforcement personnel AND modern tools are needed. But we need the right personnel and the right tools for the job.

The fact is Williamsport does not need to pick up the tab for another retired chief after each election. But on the other hand the police need a city administration that allows them to replace an officer calling in sick rather than work shorthanded as this administration has mandated.

In order to cure this problem once and for all, the people of Williamsport need this city administration and the FOP to work together, as an efficient surgical team and not as political adversaries. It is also just as important the residents stand up and take responsibility for their own neighborhoods. All the medical expertise in the world won't be effective unless the patient genuinely wants to get better.