Crime is Down, Calls for Service Up



Muir Boda

 As Mayor Ireton has pointed out, Part One crime is down in Salisbury and that is a good thing. Especially given the fact we had an interim Police Chief for most of the year in Ivan Barkley, who did an excellent job stepping up to the plate. What is interesting is the fact that calls for service were up 9.8% in 2010.


So far in January of 2011 SPD has over 3,500 calls for service and that is trending down from last January, which saw 4,600 calls for service. There are several things to take into consideration when crunching all these numbers. It does not include when someone files charges at the commissioners office. It does not include arrests made by other agencies in the city, including Salisbury University Police, whose 2010 statistics are not yet available.

When analyzing the gradual rise in crime over the past 10 years, we must not be satisfied until we can make drastic reductions. The current level of criminal activity is unacceptable and looking at SPD’s 10 year comparison will tell that story.

What we must understand is that we are talking about people’s lives, not numbers. Many are living in fear from what they see, hear and experience and that lingers much longer than the drop in crime rates. It will take time to change those perceptions and feelings. Working together, not against each other is the key.

Many of us are looking forward to what Mayor Ireton will put forth in the next phase of Safe Streets. If elected, I pledge to work with Mayor Ireton on his initiatives. We may not always agree on the details but we do agree that we want our Police Department to have the tools and direction they require as they combat crime in our city.

In the end, we all want Salisbury to be a better place to live, work and play for our family, friends and our future generations.


Muir Boda
Candidate for Salisbury City Council
http://www.boda4salisbury.com/

Authority: Muir Boda for Salisbury, Deborah Anderson, Treasurer

How real is crime in Salisbury?



Muir Boda

 At 1:36 am I woke up to what I thought was someone knocking on my front door. As I lay in my bed thinking that it was a little too loud to be a knock on my front door, two more loud bangs rang through my neighborhood and I knew it was gun shots. It sounded like it was in my front yard.

Immediately I made my wife get on the floor while struggling to find my phone, I then realized it was in another room. We remained on the floor for another twenty minutes between our bed and an interior wall away from windows.

I then got up and peaked out my bedroom window and could tell that lights were flashing. I then moved out into the living room, checked our alarm and then went back to our bedroom. I spent the rest of night listening to what seemed like every rain drop landing on our roof. Like everyone in our neighborhood, we tried to go back to sleep.

The psychological affects of crime on a neighborhood, regardless of crime statistics, never go away because people never forget. They never forget that one street over a resident in my neighborhood was grazed by bullet that went flying through her house. They never forget that a girl is killed because a gang thought she was getting out of someone else's car. They never forget that a food delivery person is robbed at gunpoint across from the Doverdale Playground in broad daylight.

Crime is here, crime is real and we need to address it with real solutions, now. Until we realize that we are losing a war, long term, because we fail to address the root causes of crime, we will continue losing that war. It is more than just a city issue because criminals know no boundaries. Everyone must be on board from every level of government regardless of political party, we need to work together and develop solutions now.

Muir Boda

1 Caught, 2 sought in one Murder in the 'Bury

Brooks Lamar Seldon --- Caught.

In what has been a dangerous week in Salisbury, which is turning in to the norm, many city residents are on edge.  Two murders and one that has left a man brain dead has sent shock waves through the community.

Brooks Seldon has been arrested in connection with a murder on Charles Street.  Troy Wilson was sitting on his front porch Monday at 1:25 AM when a red Dodge Neon stopped and the passengers opened fire on Troy Wilson, who was unarmed.

As the group was attempting to get away, they struck a vehicle.  They exited the car and fled on foot.  One suspect was witnessed dropping his gun.

Frederick Coston -- Wanted

Wilson was transported to PRMC and is reported as brain dead according to the Daily Times. 

Seven hours earlier the bodies of Antonio Smith and Arlene Byrd were found at Parkside Apartments.  Police discovered their bodies during a welfare check after a concerned neighbor reported a disturbance.  Their deaths have been ruled as a homicide. 

This All-American City winner is quickly becoming a city with an out of control gang problem, bank robberies, hotel robberies,  and daily shoplifting incidents.  That is not even scratching the surface.

Keshawn White -- Wanted

The culture in this city and county has taken a downward spiral.  With millions of dollars being spent on education every year, the current approach is not working.  We are still ending up with people who do not respect other people's civil liberties.

The focus is on the Police which is the wrong approach because they are a reaction to crime.  They are constantly spread thin and run from one call to another.  Our State's Attorneys Office is overloaded with petty cases that are clogging up the resources of our justice system.

Our judicial system is one area that is failing us.  Education is the other.  These are the two areas we need to focus on for reform.  I just hope we are not to late.