The numbers presented Tuesday night to the Chattanooga City Council showed moderate-to-nice gains in the city’s fight against gang-related violence.
Because of this reduction – and because of police Chief Fred Fletcher’s endorsement – the council authorized another $200,000 to the National Network for Safer Communities, a consulting firm run by criminologist David Kennedy.
I trust Fletcher’s opinion – he’s in the arena every day and his lengthy resume of expertise is why he’s the chief. In fact, I am a big believer in trusting our experts until they give you reasons not to, and to this point, Fletcher has earned that trust and delivered on it.
The stats provided tell us that the VRI delivered at least modest gains in some of the areas that should be of high concern. Gang-related shootings are down compared to last year, as are shootings in general. Murders are down from last year, too.
So we move forward with what is a daily and dangerous task of making our city safer. If truly effective, the price tag is peanuts for peace of mind. But Tuesday’s stats – and we all know Twain’s famous three kinds of lies: “lies, damn lies and statistics” – can be viewed through a variety of lenses.
Were we safer because the intel and techniques were better? Were we safer – and the numbers better – because an archcriminal like Jumoke Johnson was off the streets?
Maybe some of each, and here’s tipping our cap to Fletcher and his staff either way.
If he thinks another year of an often-questioned program is worth it, then I’m on board. And since the $200,000 has already been spent, here is a personal checklist to reduce violence in our city from someone who believes consultants can all too frequently overemphasize the “con.”
Step 1: Take that $200,000 and put it into an officer bonus fund directed by Fletcher and his staff. Heck, in a calendar year that could be 200 monthly bonuses of $1,000 for good work above and beyond the stressful and thankless job of being a good police officer.
Step 2: Speaking of thankless jobs, let’s realize that all of the city is paying this freight, and all of this city – and county for that matter – are in this fight. It’s time we treat officers with the respect they deserve in all matters, from violent crimes to vehicular incidents. If you don’t want to go to jail, don’t break the law; if you don’t want a speeding ticket, don’t speed.
Step 3: If you have a misspelled tattoo on your body – be it “Cuthroat” or “Bad to the Boen” or anywhere in between – you instantly have to report your whereabouts to your local authorities for clear and present reasons.
Step 4: Realize that the next sentence to anyone who starts a crime-reduction dissertation by saying “Criminals simply need jobs” is “Yes, they do, if you mean county jobs picking up trash along the highways, state jobs of cutting license plates and federal jobs of breaking rock piles.” Please, can we stop the “jobs are the answer” initiatives for everyone from common criminals to ISIS members? There are countless jobs out there for people who want to work, unless of course your day-to-day gangbanger is holding out for a management position.
Step 5: Cooperate. We have long since migrated from a culture of teenage misfits of all shapes, sizes and cultures who grew up more worried about our parents than the police. That was a very good thing. Now, however, there is an entire generation that views the police as the enemy. That’s a very bad thing.
And, sadly, no consultant can solve that and it’s going to cost us way more than $200,000.
Jay Greeson’s column will appear on Page A2 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. His sports columns are scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays. You can read his online column the “5-at-10” Monday through Friday at timesfreepress.com after 10 a.m. Contact him at jgree son@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp.