Posted Aug 11 2010 8:00 AM by Alex Jimenez
Today, I'm
issuing a CITIZENS CALL TO ACTION
with regard to Public Safety and the implementation of a Civic Revival throughout Marion County.
In order to ensure a peaceful neighborhood, every citizen has an inherent civic responsibility that is interwoven throughout to the very bedrock from which the strength of our nation is generated. Boldly proclaimed, within our federal and state constitutions, are the inherent guarantees for each and every law abiding citizen: peace, tranquility and the pursuit of happiness.
We cannot have these guarantees without each of us taking part in protecting our neighborhoods from those who wish to destroy our rights, our neighborhoods, our city and our quality of life. Our Civic Responsibility for protecting our rights and neighborhoods also extends to our government and those who not only represent us, but also those charged with protecting us. Each of us must remember that we are a government of the people, and not a people of the government. Our government represents us as a result of our consent, and not by the consent of government.
Therefore, in order to maintain our county, city and neighborhoods, we must first accept our Civic Responsibility, and implement what is called a Civic Revival /Citizens Call To Action. We must take back our city and restore the norm of peace and safety. We must take part in our neighborhoods' protection, and ensure that our governmental enforcement agencies are doing the will of the people, with the inclusion of input from the people.
I have heard various persons from downtown (via the media) state that they need the neighborhoods' support but, I can assure you, very few of your neighborhood representatives have been contacted by the various support seeking elected and appointed leaders.
I have heard much to do about the Black Community leaders (the majority of whom I have never heard of); I assert to you as loudly as I can, there is no Black Community or White Community when crime runs rampant through the entire county. There is only one community, "Our Community", and we all share responsibility for its success and downfalls.
There has been constant talk about a decrease in violent crime. That may be, but in my opinion, the word to indicate our reduction in crime would be a 'slight dip' as compared to 2009. I'm not privy to the actual crime stats for Marion County, but my best guess, based on our data, is as follows: Criminal homicides are up about 20% and Aggravated Assaults are up 15-16% overall - not any dip in these areas.
This 'slight dip' in crime does not address some of the other "quality of life" crimes, normally called nonviolent crimes, such as disturbance, domestic disturbance, simple assault, code enforcement, housing and health violations, among other enforcement issues.
Public Safety needs to be viewed in total when addressing crime and its contributing factors. Public Safety is all encompassing when it comes to the protection of the public.
Often IMPD is singled out as the only agency held accountable for the rise in crime. I submit to you, IMPD is not blameless when we discuss the crime wave in Marion County but, we as citizens must also understand, IMPD is only one agency of 3 major agencies, charged with protecting our community. A simple breakdown of the 3 major agencies charged with our protection is follows:
Our IMPD officers are making arrests. On an average, there are 1,002 Bookings processed weekly by the Arresting Processing Center. On the other hand, the Arresting Processing Center is (quickly) releasing 45% of those arrested weekly. Why is our release of arrestees so high?
What is the effect of quickly releasing arrested individuals? Here is an example of the effect of releasing 45% of individuals arrested in North District.
North District, based upon their Weekly Report, arrests an average of 197 individuals per week, which contributes a total of 19.6% to the total monthly number of 1,002 booked and processed by the Arresting Processing Center. If North District arrests average a 19.6% contribution, and the Arresting Processing Center is releasing at a rate of 45%, in my opinion, that would imply that the North District Officers wasted their time arresting 197 individuals. This is not due to inaction by IMPD, but rather by the performance of our judges and prosecutors located in the Arresting Processing Center. I might also mention, some arrested individuals cases do not get beyond the District's Neighborhood Prosecutors. In other words, these arrests are nullified before general processing of a given arrest begins.
In my opinion, all three major agencies should be in the public's crosshairs of accountability. If we are going to hold one agency responsible, we must hold all enforcement agencies and oversight committees (that are chaired by our elected officials) responsible, and not exclude our criminal court judges or the prosecutor's office.
We as citizens must hold every Public Safety Agency responsible for effective, assertive and proactive crime prevention. The first step of accountability, of course, starts with each and every citizen insisting that our voice be heard. Let the Civic Revival begin!
- Ed Potts, MKNA President
In order to ensure a peaceful neighborhood, every citizen has an inherent civic responsibility that is interwoven throughout to the very bedrock from which the strength of our nation is generated. Boldly proclaimed, within our federal and state constitutions, are the inherent guarantees for each and every law abiding citizen: peace, tranquility and the pursuit of happiness.
We cannot have these guarantees without each of us taking part in protecting our neighborhoods from those who wish to destroy our rights, our neighborhoods, our city and our quality of life. Our Civic Responsibility for protecting our rights and neighborhoods also extends to our government and those who not only represent us, but also those charged with protecting us. Each of us must remember that we are a government of the people, and not a people of the government. Our government represents us as a result of our consent, and not by the consent of government.
Therefore, in order to maintain our county, city and neighborhoods, we must first accept our Civic Responsibility, and implement what is called a Civic Revival /Citizens Call To Action. We must take back our city and restore the norm of peace and safety. We must take part in our neighborhoods' protection, and ensure that our governmental enforcement agencies are doing the will of the people, with the inclusion of input from the people.
I have heard various persons from downtown (via the media) state that they need the neighborhoods' support but, I can assure you, very few of your neighborhood representatives have been contacted by the various support seeking elected and appointed leaders.
I have heard much to do about the Black Community leaders (the majority of whom I have never heard of); I assert to you as loudly as I can, there is no Black Community or White Community when crime runs rampant through the entire county. There is only one community, "Our Community", and we all share responsibility for its success and downfalls.
There has been constant talk about a decrease in violent crime. That may be, but in my opinion, the word to indicate our reduction in crime would be a 'slight dip' as compared to 2009. I'm not privy to the actual crime stats for Marion County, but my best guess, based on our data, is as follows: Criminal homicides are up about 20% and Aggravated Assaults are up 15-16% overall - not any dip in these areas.
This 'slight dip' in crime does not address some of the other "quality of life" crimes, normally called nonviolent crimes, such as disturbance, domestic disturbance, simple assault, code enforcement, housing and health violations, among other enforcement issues.
Public Safety needs to be viewed in total when addressing crime and its contributing factors. Public Safety is all encompassing when it comes to the protection of the public.
Often IMPD is singled out as the only agency held accountable for the rise in crime. I submit to you, IMPD is not blameless when we discuss the crime wave in Marion County but, we as citizens must also understand, IMPD is only one agency of 3 major agencies, charged with protecting our community. A simple breakdown of the 3 major agencies charged with our protection is follows:
- Police -Job: investigate and apprehend
- Prosecutor -Job: prosecution and pretrial services
- Criminal Courts-Job: adjudication, sentencing and sanctions
Our IMPD officers are making arrests. On an average, there are 1,002 Bookings processed weekly by the Arresting Processing Center. On the other hand, the Arresting Processing Center is (quickly) releasing 45% of those arrested weekly. Why is our release of arrestees so high?
What is the effect of quickly releasing arrested individuals? Here is an example of the effect of releasing 45% of individuals arrested in North District.
North District, based upon their Weekly Report, arrests an average of 197 individuals per week, which contributes a total of 19.6% to the total monthly number of 1,002 booked and processed by the Arresting Processing Center. If North District arrests average a 19.6% contribution, and the Arresting Processing Center is releasing at a rate of 45%, in my opinion, that would imply that the North District Officers wasted their time arresting 197 individuals. This is not due to inaction by IMPD, but rather by the performance of our judges and prosecutors located in the Arresting Processing Center. I might also mention, some arrested individuals cases do not get beyond the District's Neighborhood Prosecutors. In other words, these arrests are nullified before general processing of a given arrest begins.
In my opinion, all three major agencies should be in the public's crosshairs of accountability. If we are going to hold one agency responsible, we must hold all enforcement agencies and oversight committees (that are chaired by our elected officials) responsible, and not exclude our criminal court judges or the prosecutor's office.
We as citizens must hold every Public Safety Agency responsible for effective, assertive and proactive crime prevention. The first step of accountability, of course, starts with each and every citizen insisting that our voice be heard. Let the Civic Revival begin!
- Ed Potts, MKNA President
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comments (0)Posted Aug 11 2010 8:00 AM by Alex Jimenez
Today, I had an opportunity to read an interview of Chief Paul Ciesielski in the Indianapolis Star.
Up front let me say, I support the Department of IMPD and believe that as citizens we have an obligation to ensure that all of our officers are supported, and that they along with their families are properly provided for by the citizenry.
There is currently an uproar within and outside of IMPD over the transfer of 65 detectives to the various neighborhood districts. According to the Indianapolis Star, "the department said the move gets veteran detectives into the neighborhoods and makes them more effective at solving crimes." FOP President Bill Owensby said, "The plan would make them less effective because they will be overworked and demoralized. "
The investigative departments affected are robbery, aggravated assault, financial crimes and fraud, along with auto theft.
I agree with the move IMPD is making, and at the present time our district detectives are overworked, furthermore, the closer the detectives are to the action the more responsive they will be in solving many of the crimes taking place within the neighborhoods and in the county.
I am not supporting IMPD's upper management decision to move the detectives to garner their favor; I don't think that would ever happen anyway, for MPSC or me. However, based upon the needs of various districts, caseloads within the districts' detective sections, case clearance percentages, neighborhood crime levels and the serious need for proactive crime prevention and quick case resolution, I submit my complete support. As neighborhood leaders, I ask that you give this detective move your complete support.
Moreover, the performance of the various detective sections slated for reassignment is highly questionable based on 2007-2008 annual reports. Please note, the 2009 Annual IMPD Report is not available as of this date, but I will discuss timely data sharing in another overview communication.
From 2007-2008 the detective sections mentioned for reassignment had an average of 17,632 Assigned Cases, of which 52.4% were cleared by Inactivation plus Exception. Inactivation represents cases worked to no fruition, non-case assignment due to lack of leads or all leads covered with no results. Exception could mean the death of the offender, victim refusal to cooperate, prosecutor refusal to prosecute etc. Continuing on, 8.49% of their cases were Cleared by Arrest with an average calculated clearing rate (including inactivation +exceptions) of 23.07%. Surprisingly, this represents a very low ROI (return on investment) for us, the citizens. In 2008 the East District detectives were assigned a total of 7,824 and cleared 1,936 or 24.7% Clearance Rate. North District, as of week ending 8/5/10, has 7,760 Assigned Cases and a current Clearance Rate of 24.5%. MPSC is projecting a total of 14,945 cases will be assigned to the North District detectives for year ending 2010 based on the current rate of incoming cases. With the additional detectives being added to NE and ND, there should be an expected increase in the Clearance Rate in both districts of about 3-4%.
The following represents an extraction of data taken from the 2007-2008 Annual IMPD Reports submitted for public consumption. I used the data from the annual reports to establish my support for the reassignment of the 65 detectives. The detail review is attached.
Up front let me say, I support the Department of IMPD and believe that as citizens we have an obligation to ensure that all of our officers are supported, and that they along with their families are properly provided for by the citizenry.
There is currently an uproar within and outside of IMPD over the transfer of 65 detectives to the various neighborhood districts. According to the Indianapolis Star, "the department said the move gets veteran detectives into the neighborhoods and makes them more effective at solving crimes." FOP President Bill Owensby said, "The plan would make them less effective because they will be overworked and demoralized. "
The investigative departments affected are robbery, aggravated assault, financial crimes and fraud, along with auto theft.
I agree with the move IMPD is making, and at the present time our district detectives are overworked, furthermore, the closer the detectives are to the action the more responsive they will be in solving many of the crimes taking place within the neighborhoods and in the county.
I am not supporting IMPD's upper management decision to move the detectives to garner their favor; I don't think that would ever happen anyway, for MPSC or me. However, based upon the needs of various districts, caseloads within the districts' detective sections, case clearance percentages, neighborhood crime levels and the serious need for proactive crime prevention and quick case resolution, I submit my complete support. As neighborhood leaders, I ask that you give this detective move your complete support.
Moreover, the performance of the various detective sections slated for reassignment is highly questionable based on 2007-2008 annual reports. Please note, the 2009 Annual IMPD Report is not available as of this date, but I will discuss timely data sharing in another overview communication.
From 2007-2008 the detective sections mentioned for reassignment had an average of 17,632 Assigned Cases, of which 52.4% were cleared by Inactivation plus Exception. Inactivation represents cases worked to no fruition, non-case assignment due to lack of leads or all leads covered with no results. Exception could mean the death of the offender, victim refusal to cooperate, prosecutor refusal to prosecute etc. Continuing on, 8.49% of their cases were Cleared by Arrest with an average calculated clearing rate (including inactivation +exceptions) of 23.07%. Surprisingly, this represents a very low ROI (return on investment) for us, the citizens. In 2008 the East District detectives were assigned a total of 7,824 and cleared 1,936 or 24.7% Clearance Rate. North District, as of week ending 8/5/10, has 7,760 Assigned Cases and a current Clearance Rate of 24.5%. MPSC is projecting a total of 14,945 cases will be assigned to the North District detectives for year ending 2010 based on the current rate of incoming cases. With the additional detectives being added to NE and ND, there should be an expected increase in the Clearance Rate in both districts of about 3-4%.
The following represents an extraction of data taken from the 2007-2008 Annual IMPD Reports submitted for public consumption. I used the data from the annual reports to establish my support for the reassignment of the 65 detectives. The detail review is attached.
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