Columbus: Crime Discussion

[Columbusite]

Just FYI.

2005


and 2006 (40 so far)


http://www.wbns10tv.com/?sec=crimetracker&story=10tv/content/pool/200605/1535146042.html

and Here's a Google Earth version:

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/431293/an/0/page/0#431293

This is certainly one reason why Columbus is continuing to sprawl as noted in the recent edition of the Dispatch. Any ideas on how to bring these numbers down? I think better integrated neighborhoods (regarding class in particular and race) would greatly improve the current situation. Eliminating drug laws would be another part of the solution by keeping all of that money out of the hands of gangs and lowering drug related murders. Still, most of these occured between poor blacks and altercation among themselves, a good number drug related. Others were between people who knew each other. So if you're living in or near a poor neighborhood stay away from drugs and don't get into an argument with anyone and chances are you'll be alright, though crimes such as robberies and assaults aren't covered in these maps.

[ColDayMan]

So umm...there was a murder at the State House?!?!

[Columbusite]

^Haha, no, but it is awfully close. Apparantly that's the address for City Pharmacy.

[ColDayMan]

DAMN THEM!!!

[Magyar]

This probally more an indictment on me than C-bus, but...
I can't make out a spatial pattern concerning either map.  Meaning, the locations for the murders look random to me.   

[David]

I don't think crime in Columbus is as concentrated to certain areas as badly as most cities.

[PigBoy]

Well, there are more on the east side than west, especially to the north, but they do look rather dispersed.

[Columbusite]

*Fixed the Google Earth link*

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthExternalData&Number=431645&Searchpage=1&Main=431645&Words=&topic=1&Search=true#Post431645

[Summit Street]

So umm...there was a murder at the State House?!?!

^Haha, no, but it is awfully close. Apparantly that's the address for City Pharmacy.

that's the reason they moved the high street bus stops from the south side of state to the north side of state...
 

[LAsam]

The East end definately has a lion's share of the homicides.  The West side homicides seem to be focused in the Bottoms and the Hilltop.

No big surprises here if you follow the local news.

[mrnyc]

sounds weird but i think this says great things about columbus. from the maps it looks like this kind of terrible heavy duty crime is decentralized and fairly randomly spread around. i.e., no pockets of crime as in so many other cities. not to downplay any big city common sense, but that says to me that at least you don't necessarily have to walk around in a neighborhood in fear of your life.

of course the grand sum total is very bad, but so is the area of the city. also, when looking over this it's good to keep in mind the random murders are prob very low, most killers know the victim.

[David]

I'd like to see a map of homicides in Detroit. It would have to be a big map in order for the map to not look like one giant red dot

[unusualfire]

How many total died in 2005?

[Columbusite]

101.

[Columbusite]

The East end definately has a lion's share of the homicides.  The West side homicides seem to be focused in the Bottoms and the Hilltop.

No big surprises here if you follow the local news.

Yep, the near northeast (Linden & Weinland Park) and farther north along Cleveland Ave are the other places not to hang out at when it's dark. Not that you'd want to.

[jamiec]

\

This is certainly one reason why Columbus is continuing to sprawl as noted in the recent edition of the Dispatch. Any ideas on how to bring these numbers down? I think better integrated neighborhoods (regarding class in particular and race) would greatly improve the current situation. Eliminating drug laws would be another part of the solution by keeping all of that money out of the hands of gangs and lowering drug related murders. Still, most of these occured between poor blacks and altercation among themselves, a good number drug related. Others were between people who knew each other. So if you're living in or near a poor neighborhood stay away from drugs and don't get into an argument with anyone and chances are you'll be alright, though crimes such as robberies and assaults aren't covered in these maps.

I don't know if I agree with this. How does better integrating neighborhoods drive down murders?

Legalizing drugs is just a source of income for people who would commit murder in the hood. There is a philosophy and way of life there among certain people that wouldn't die if you made it legal to purchase narcotics.

Murder is a very stark crime statistic, but it doesn't tell the real story. I feel sorry for the innocent regular folks who live in "bad" neighborhoods where crime is rampanent. Just because you aren't getting killed doesn't mean life is good.

Interesting stuff. I looked up the crime stats, and Columbus is safer than Cleveland but not anywhere near as safe as New York City, statistically.

[Columbusite]

\

This is certainly one reason why Columbus is continuing to sprawl as noted in the recent edition of the Dispatch. Any ideas on how to bring these numbers down? I think better integrated neighborhoods (regarding class in particular and race) would greatly improve the current situation. Eliminating drug laws would be another part of the solution by keeping all of that money out of the hands of gangs and lowering drug related murders. Still, most of these occured between poor blacks and altercation among themselves, a good number drug related. Others were between people who knew each other. So if you're living in or near a poor neighborhood stay away from drugs and don't get into an argument with anyone and chances are you'll be alright, though crimes such as robberies and assaults aren't covered in these maps.

I don't know if I agree with this. How does better integrating neighborhoods drive down murders?

Legalizing drugs is just a source of income for people who would commit murder in the hood. There is a philosophy and way of life there among certain people that wouldn't die if you made it legal to purchase narcotics.

Murder is a very stark crime statistic, but it doesn't tell the real story. I feel sorry for the innocent regular folks who live in "bad" neighborhoods where crime is rampanent. Just because you aren't getting killed doesn't mean life is good.

Interesting stuff. I looked up the crime stats, and Columbus is safer than Cleveland but not anywhere near as safe as New York City, statistically.

Yeah, New York City is way safer than any city in "The Heartland". I came across that awhile ago and it's really rather tough to wrap your mind around that.

I think a reason for the crimes that occur in these neighborhoods is the fact that they are so dilapidated and that affects the way people feel there. It's called the broken windows theory and it shows that areas that are really rundown and have, for example, broken windows are more likely to have violent crime/murder occur there than other parts of the neighborhood. If low income residents were dispersed all around the city instead of being plopped together in a rotting urban setting it would be much more difficult for entire neighborhoods to see the kind of decline that inner city neighborhoods have. A poor neighborhood just isn't able to revitalize itself on its own. From what I've read, the integration of people of different income has been very successful, though its said that you don't want much more than 10% of low income residents in any given neighborhood.

Legalizing drugs would take all that money out of the hands of druglords who are currently ridiculously wealthy thanks to our policies. What former drug dealers would do I'm not sure, there'd probably a parallel you could find regarding prohibition, but I'm not familiar with the immediate aftermath of legalization.

I'm aware murder is only one type of crime and it's also the least common. That's why I mentioned this doesn't cover assaults, robberies, etc. The student housing around campus isn't plagued with murders, but if one thinks that an area that isn't dotted is safe, well here's a map of crimes in the University District around OSU (crimes not specified).

http://universitydistrict.osu.edu/maps/total_crimes_2001.pdf

[Columbusite]

of course the grand sum total is very bad, but so is the area of the city. also, when looking over this it's good to keep in mind the random murders are prob very low, most killers know the victim.

True, random murders are low, but they occur more than they should. There were a number of shootings the last year or so where kids were killed in their houses because some chickensh!ts were doing drive by shootings and it was the children who were killed, not their intended targets. Also, several people drive through these areas without incident everyday as major roads pass through these neighborhoods including Broad, Main, and N 4th. So it's good to remember not to exaggerate the danger there.

[Columbusite]

I came across this while looking for the homicide rate a decade ago. There were 77 in 1995.

New York gains reputation as safer city than Columbus
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Kevin Mayhood
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

New York City has long had a reputation as a place to visit, not to live.  A muggers’ paradise forever compared unfavorably to Columbus in the 1970 movie The Out-of-Towners.  A Big Apple compost of weirdos, thieves, thugs and killers.  But now New York is being called safer than Columbus.  In the past decade, Columbus has gone from a homicide rate about two-thirds that of New York City to nearly twice the rate.

"New York has legitimately turned around," said Scott Morgan, a publisher who annually ranks the country’s safest cities, based on crime data gathered by the FBI. "They had high crime and have managed to methodically change that."  Columbus, a city of about 750,000, ranks below New York, a city of 8.1 million, on Morgan’s lists of safest cities and has the past nine years.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/07/10/20050710-A1-04.html

[David]

THIS JUST IN!!!! MORE POLICING LOWERS CRIME RATE

more at 11...

[jamiec]

THIS JUST IN!!!! MORE POLICING LOWERS CRIME RATE

more at 11...

Hahaha. When I lived in NYC a few years back, I noticed the cops there don't play around. They are good at fighting crime. Our cities should be taking notes.

[buildingcincinnati]

From the 6/16/06 Dispatch:


Strike force ready to deal with hot spots
Friday, June 16, 2006
Theodore Decker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 
Teams of Columbus police officers will be freed up again this summer to go wherever they are needed to quell street violence, crack down on openair drug dealing and hunt fugitives.  But this year, the police strike force will operate around the clock and for more days, and it will work more closely with existing division units dedicated to fighting gangs, drugs and homicides, Mayor Michael B. Coleman said yesterday.  "The summer strike force is one more way to put officers on the streets when and where they are needed most," Coleman said in announcing the initiative at Lincoln Park on the South Side.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/16/20060616-D3-01.html

[Columbusite]

And the "War on Drugs" continues. Ugh.

[buildingcincinnati]

From the 7/21/06 Dispatch:


Agency to enlist ‘foot soldiers’ to cut crime’s impact on blacks
Friday, July 21, 2006
Sherri Williams
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 
To stop violence on Columbus’ streets, a new city commission is hoping to recruit volunteers to help in its fight to save young black men.  "We need foot soldiers to get down in the trenches and roll up their sleeves and get dirty," said Walter D. Smith, co-chairman of the commission.  "We need committed soldiers to save ourselves.  Because a loss for one of us is a loss for each of us." 

Plans for the city’s African-American Male Empowerment Commission were announced at a town hall meeting yesterday at the Lincoln Theater on the Near East Side.  About 200 people attended the meeting, including Columbus Police Chief James G. Jackson, Columbus Public Schools Superintendent Gene Harris and City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/21/20060721-D3-02.html

[buildingcincinnati]

From the 7/30/06 Dispatch:


23RD ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Groups hope parties unite neighborhoods
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Matt Zapotosky
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 
In James A. Johnson’s neighborhood, 165 sets of eyes look out for criminals.  On Tuesday, he’s throwing a party to recruit more.  Johnson is hosting one of about 35 block parties across Columbus that evening for the 23rd annual National Night Out.  The event is aimed at increasing interest in neighborhood block watches, improving relations between residents and police, and simply getting neighbors to socialize.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/30/20060730-B6-00.html

[buildingcincinnati]

From the 8/2/06 Dispatch:


PHOTO: Comedian and juggler Matt Jergens, right, cheers after getting four plates and a beach ball spinning on 12-year-old Esteban Meza, of Gahanna, during that community’s National Night Out celebration.  MIKE MUNDEN DISPATCH

Anti-crime parties focus on fun
National Night Out brings out spirit of community in some neighborhoods
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Matthew Marx and Dean Narciso
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 
The one-liners came easy in the evening heat as juggler Matt Jergens kept aloft an egg, frying pan and bowling pin.  "Put it on the pavement and it will cook itself," said Jergens, who performed at Gahanna’s anti-crime National Night Out party last night in the parking lot of the Royal Plaza Shopping Center.  Not to be outdone, ’80s-style rock band the Reaganomics opened its concert with the temperature-appropriate Modern English song Melt With You.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/02/20060802-B3-00.html

[Columbusite]

Sounds nice, but there's only two blocks between Parsons & Ann St. Sill, its had a positive effect. More police presence = less crime. I can see you're all flabbergasted.


Glimmer of hope
Change in neighborhood shows city’s attention is well-placed
Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Life on E. Morrill Avenue isn’t for the faint-hearted, but with a bit of assistance from the city, it might be getting better.  Dispatch Reporter Mark Ferenchik documented in April the squalid condition of rental houses in that South Side neighborhood and the shootings and other crime that occurred in broad daylight.  Residents had been seeking help from the city for years.  But a couple of weeks ago, Columbus police and code-enforcement officers paid special attention to the stretch of Morrill between Parsons Avenue and Ann Street.  The atmosphere has changed.

Full story at http://www.columbusdispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/02/20060802-A8-04.html

[buildingcincinnati]

Nice.


Ex-Columbus police officer was filling streets with guns
Friday, August 11, 2006
Kevin Mayhood
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A former Columbus police officer illegally sold 501 guns last year — including one that was found with two Somali men now charged in a terrorist plot in Canada.  Of the other guns that were sold, one was used in a Columbus homicide. Another was traced to a New York City shooting.  One was connected to a man charged with assaulting a Maryland police officer.  Mark Andrew Nelson, 35, of 12850 Blamer Rd., N.W., Johnstown, has put more guns on the streets than anyone arrested in Ohio in at least three decades, said Pat Berarducci, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/11/20060811-A1-03.html

[buildingcincinnati]

From the 8/14/06 Dispatch:


PHOTO: Dewitt Brown, 72, taking in a summer evening on a friend’s porch, says he is disgusted by the violence he has seen take over the neighborhood he’s called his home for 40 years.  DORAL CHENOWETH III DISPATCH 
 
GRAPHIC: Near East Side
 
PHOTO: Flowers, toys and candles form a shrine at 420 Morrison Ave. Aasaun Parham was fatally shot at the address on Aug. 5. Neighbors say he was an innocent bystander caught by violence plaguing the area.  DORAL CHENOWETH III DISPATCH

Streets of fear
Shootings are too often a part of daily life on Near East Side
Monday, August 14, 2006
Matthew Marx
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Many Near East Side residents must put up with urban blight, widespread poverty and what they call "ghetto boys acting stupid."  The entire neighborhood suffers, residents say, from groups of mostly young men and boys who carry guns and deal drugs or make trouble for no good reason.  "It’s pitiful," said Dewitt Brown, 72, who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years and is disgusted with recent violence that has taken the lives of a half-dozen people.

The retired union laborer is afraid to walk to the corner store at night for fear of being robbed at gunpoint by "thugs," he said.  "The younger generation is different. They carry guns. … They don’t know right from wrong. … It’s a lot of the drug stuff," Brown said as he sat on a friend’s porch on Franklin Avenue last week.

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/14/20060814-A1-02.html

[Columbusite]

"Something must change, Tramiecka said, because children learn from the adults around them."

How about gentrification? It'll bring in more people they can look up to. I know some gentrification has already taken place in Olde Towne East, but it's a big area. There's a neat interactive map of the area here http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2003/flagwars/special_taleco.html where you can see changes between 1990 & 2000.