Broken_Windows

BROKEN WINDOWS The “Broken Windows” article is a plan put in place to potentially lower the crime rate in certain areas by putting police officers on foot rather than in patrol cars. The theory behind it is that if there are more officers on foot, then the crime rate would decrease because of the officers on foot. Although, the crime rates did not drop, and in some places were even higher, there was a sense of safety in those particular communities. People felt safer with the police on foot and their relationships grew closer because of the officers being put out in the community. In the eyes of the ones who frowned upon the idea, the plan failed. In the eyes of the ones involved in the program, it was successful due to the fact that relationships were built, and the people of those communities now trust the officers. Once you gain the trust of the community, it ultimately makes everyone’s job easier and the crime rate will eventually decrease over a period of time. Change does not happen overnight and sometimes not even over a year, but with the improved relationships people are more likely to report crime and speak up if they witness a crime. In Seneca, SC there is a Plez-U convenience store that has been hit several times with armed robbery. Most of the armed robberies have been successful and it seems this one in particular gets chosen is because there is a very easy escape route, and to be honest, you just don’t see police officers in that area very often. There are three churches within a one mile radius of the store, which all have preschool programs and daycare programs that go on all day long. There is also one elementary school within one mile, and a middle and high school within three to four miles of the location. The area is also surrounded by elderly homeowners in the town’s historic downtown district. Just around the other corner lies an area that is known for drug activity and crime. Let me add that almost all of the recent robberies have taken place during the morning and early afternoon hours. I chose this location because there are so many elderly and young children these robberies put at risk. Most of the criminals caught have been between the ages of 18 and 35. In this particular area, there is no community relation programs implemented at this time. The only public relations that take place are, of course, patrolling the area by car more frequently for a few weeks after crimes have occurred. And when someone is on the run, the surrounding schools go into lockdown until it is safe. The officers usually get lots of information from the clerks that work at the store, but I think that everyone in that area really doesn’t pay much attention, or is either at work during the times of the crimes. I think that the community can go either way with their view on the police efforts in this area. You sit and wonder how this can continue to happen over and over at the same location and criminals get away. There was one instance where a young couple robbed that particular store and stole a clerk’s car to flee to Greenville where they were later captured for crimes in Greenville, including murder a few days prior to this particular incident. So, I feel as if the community is happy when someone is caught and feels that they are then safe, but when they hit again, the views of the policing change. They are left wondering why it happens again and again. I would definitely implement a “Broken Windows” type program in that area. My plan would focus particularly on a three to four block radius of the area. Obviously, the criminals see that it is a fairly easy hit since it is very rare that you ever see a patrol car in that area. Within a week of traveling that route several times a day to take my child to school, pick her up, help an elderly friend I know that lives in the area, and run several errands via that route, I’m lucky if I see one patrol car. I feel that people around that area are afraid to talk if they have seen anything, and that they have also grown comfortable in their dwelling and do not think about what really goes on around them until something bad happens. It is almost like 9-11, once it happens, people are obviously on alert, but once the media dies down about the situation, they go back to being comfortable. I think if the community had that one on one relationship with the officers then they would be more likely to start paying attention, which could lead to neighborhood crime watch zones. Signs could be strategically placed in the area for neighborhood crime watch zone, and this would at least make the criminals think twice before they do something to put the public in harm. If these criminals saw the officers on foot patrol in this area, talking to people, and signs going up, then they would know that the Seneca Police Department is serious about putting a stop to crimes in the area.