In preparation for the possibility that someone will want to know how that might affect the police, I prepared a little animated graphic on Friday. This was produced from 41,398 violent crimes occurring in Lincoln during the nine year period from 2000 through 2008. Most of those were misdemeanor assaults, but it also includes 8,853 aggravated assaults, 49 murders, 1642 robberies, and 945 rapes. Since you can't display more than about 100 crimes on a map of Lincoln effectively, I've chosen to use a density map that works sort of like a weather map.
If you click on the map below, you'll see the thunderstorm build (it continues to loop, so use the back button on your browser to return to the Chief's Corner):
Which pinhead, pray tell, is going to be sponsoring this misguided mistake, and which will be co-sponsoring it? My cynical suspects a particular name as one of the cabal, because it would bring more time to get even drunker, but I suppose I could be wrong. Just as the rank and file Constables on the street in London and elsewhere in the UK what extending pub hours has done for them, or rather, to them.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's even worse than your map would indicate, because not all of the assaults, street robberies, and rapes get reported, but that's not news to you. Add in the post-bar drunken accidents (like...hitting a snowplow, right Senator?), drunken H&R accidents, and DUIs, and it'd look like a tropical storm out here.
They try to do this under the guise of "economic development" in an attempt to compete with Council Bluffs. Another example of how "economic development" isn't always a great idea.
ReplyDeleteChief: did you see the story in Sunday's NYTimes about how about 100 cities have trained trash collectors to be sort of Neighborhood Watch/extra eyes for various communities? What a great idea. In the story, the reporter did a ride along with the garbage collector, who pointed out a car that was new to the neighborhood and parked in a haphazard way, arousing a little bit of "what's going on there?" The story said that criminals will break into cars in full view of the garbage collectors, as if the collectors are invisible. The collector calls his dispatch, or 911 if it's a crime in progress.
In the cities they cited, the police have trained volunteers from the trash companies as to what types of things to look for. The trash collectors don't get paid for this, but they take pride in their communities and in performing this service.
I bet you already do this, but it sure seems like a way to have sort of "cop extenders" in neighborhoods at unusual hours.
Very nice animated gif... with good information on the number, location and time of these crimes. Downtown is a zoo, even during the week sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThose must be high schools that start popping up in the mid-day and early afternoon? I'm also guessing the white-hot spot at midnight and 1:00 AM is the bar strip that caters to the college crowd--sort of like Aggieville in Manhattan, or The Hill in Boulder.
ReplyDeleteThe banker is right; it's a zoo. I'd like to see one of the city traffic cams installed on the west side of the intersection at 14th & O, pointing toward the East, so we could all see the bar break chaos. Maybe right here, but mounted up at the normal cam level to get a better perspective.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat off topic Chief, but I would imagine that Law Enforcement might have something to say about the proposed LB383 introduced this
ReplyDeletelegislative session. You think someone just might take advantage of such nonsense? (e.g. Safe-Haven Law) Our state motto could be "Hold no one repsonsible for their own actions.."
2:21-
ReplyDeleteExactly--well, one's a middle school, too. A on the geography quiz.
3:35-
Precisely. Just what I'd like. Give me 24 hours worth of DVR, and we'll reduce that hotspot a bit.
3:58-
I cannot comment on pending legislation until and unless the City of Lincoln adopts a position. The City, wisely, coordinates it's legislative efforts to avoid conflicting positions, and to ensure targeting of it's influence, if any. You will have to draw your own conclusions on this one.
11:11-
ReplyDeleteI must be incredibly out of touch. I just can't imagine anyone deciding to go to Council Bluffs or Sioux City for the purpose of enjoying an extra hour of drinks.
Well, now all we need to do is fund the equipment and installation for the desirable 14th & O webcam. How much does it cost to put up a new traffic webcam, just like the one at 27th & Capitol Parkway? They've already got the signal arm to mount it on. Just think of the video evidence of some assaults that occur on that block.
ReplyDelete3:35-
ReplyDeletePrecisely. Just what I'd like. Give me 24 hours worth of DVR, and we'll reduce that hotspot a bit.
Why has the city taken the 14th Ost cam offline?
3:58-
ReplyDeleteIt is called kissing donkey
A new definition for alcoholic ; anyone deciding to go to Council Bluffs or Sioux City for the purpose of enjoying an extra hour of drinks.
ReplyDelete9:19,
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that there ever was a camera at 14th & O.
By the way, I thought the reason that a lot of the river-crossers went to CB for the evening was for the full-frontal that they couldn't get in Omaha; the extra hour of drinking was just a bonus to them.
I haven't been in the bar scene in years, but when I was - as a bouncer or bartender - it was not unusual and often normal to have a group leave at midnight to "road-trip" for the extra party time to the east.
ReplyDeleteDon't underestimate a person without many life responsibilities in their quest for the best weekend party stories.
Cameras would be better used in schools than at 14th and Ost.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's the County, then, not the city.
ReplyDeleteTotally off-topic, but perhaps timely: I have a hunch that grocery stores should be on the alert for older teens and young adults, males, that come in wearing identity-obscuring hoodies and start loading up on steaks and other premium cut meat in the meat department, in preparation to flee the store with the goods for various BBQ parties. Today, tonight, and till the weekend has come and gone.
I see a bill is being introduced in the Legislature regarding the ability to use cameras for traffic enforcement at the behest of "Lincoln city officials".
ReplyDeleteGee, wonder who's backing that one?
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteI am writing a story for the World-Herald about Chief Casady and The Chief's Corner. If any loyal reader (or any reader for that matter) is willing to be interviewed about his or her thoughts about the blog, please contact me ASAP at tanna05@hotmail.com
Thank you.
I'll give you what I think about this blog: I think that OPD Chief Buske should have one a lot like it for himself. I believe Omaha residents would love to interact with their Chief in the same way that Lincoln residents do.
ReplyDeleteSince Nebraska's constitution requires all traffic fines (not including court costs) go to the bloated, inefficient public schools, I'd imagine that the biggest Lincoln backer of traffic cameras would be named Gourlay. Oh, and whichever company thinks they'll get the city contract for running the system, and a piece of each fine. Traffic cameras aren't about enforcement and deterrence - they're about revenue enhancement. Fulton's my rep (and also the Chief's), and he's almost always a highly sensible legislator, but on this one he's really, really wrong.
ReplyDelete"I'd imagine that the biggest Lincoln backer of traffic cameras would be named Gourlay.."
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing.
couple of curiousity questions...
ReplyDeleteevents after intoxication is dissapointing yes, thats the consumers fault...hands down... and the rest of the world deals with it? yes we know. so to help pay for costs of police fees to "babysit" as you put by raising the low yearly fee for a liquor permit. stop charging 600-900 a year. how bout 2-3K. how bout letting bars pay for off suties to work the door... let them acutally protect themselves and they're patrons like the rest of the state... and stop trying to force and act upon the silly tavern fines that most of the time get dropped with a good 200 an hr lawyer..espcially when you got people like uncleron free pouring crown royal into the mouths of patrons....
if the hours will go til 2 am. a bar makes that in one night. or how bout this. how bout a article on the local dance permit... 18 yr olds cant dance with 19 yr olds?
well only if its a dj, but with a band its ok. and only inside lincoln limits? when will we give americans the right for answers... to protect or country at 18, but tell them they cant dance with a 19year old? I understand no booze til 21, thats great,protective, and scientifically proven, how ever where are the scientific studies for harm done by 18 and 19 yr olds dancing...can you find that out for me please????
2009 time for changes, time for growth, and time for acceptance of a job desciption. im sorry you hate to "babysit" but thats life. its a job.
as for the local lincoln subject of racism? it does occure just ask any african american that lives in lincoln. now ask your self...how scared are you?....the president it black.....watch out lincoln. you might actually become a real city some day if you can get ride of the old habits...aka racism...
just curious.
you friend from a far
Dancing? Dancing? Is there, for some diabolical reason, a new director's cut DVD of Footloose set to be released? Because that wouldn't be good.
ReplyDeleteTo:January 22, 2009 3:41 AM
ReplyDeleteYou must have been drunk writing this. i do not understand a bit of what you were trying to say.
I was wondering if anyone had thought about letting the bars stay open an hour later, but still requiring they stop selling alcohol at 1. Basically at 1 they'd switch to selling coffee, bottled water, soda, etc. This might help people stick around and sober up, rather than get into their cars right away. It would also prevent floods of people from all leaving at once, and make it more of a gradual stream over the course of an hour.
ReplyDelete