[StBernard] Crime St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

So, Chad, We're so glad you have decided that safety first is still an issue
no matter where once resided and to this, I agree.

To ignore problems in St. Bernard is to dodge the issue. Firstly, there are
appears to be approximately 30% of the populace left to fight problems
reported in the area. While the parish is still non-populated to the pre-K
values, or while a shortage of crime fightfighting tools (men, resources,
money) is still an issues, or deserted homes are a hex and less patrols are
visiting day and night, there is no skirting the issues.

There's nothing wrong with living in St. Bernard. I have done it for over 30
years. There is a major problem however, in giving people false hopes that
are is fine in the parish regarding their safety. 

The blacks (and it could as well have been Mexicans, European-American drug
lords, etc..<G>) did call my cousin a W.M.F. (fill in the initials) at
gunpoint and therefore I know it to be a fact. I can't say the same about
other robberies, rapes, or other crimes.

You can relive the old arguments as you wish it. Still, pretending that
there's no crime or berating the crime, the people who experience it in St.
Bernard on a frequent basis is a farce.

I'm not concerned about New Orleans, Jefferson or other communities as my
interest lies in St. Bernard. Let's not get into attacks as victims do not
wish to pretend that their home and vehicle robberies, thefts, their rapes,
their vandalism or other unfortunate crimes did not occur. 

Perhaps you haven't been attacked yet. With God's graces, perhaps you'll get
to not experience the misfortune. As a former victim, I know what a knifing
feels like (example, it sounds like the rind of a watermelon being
breached). However, just the treat of a crime is enough to induce
post-traumatic stress disorder in folks who must now feel anger and
anxieties.  

Once again, the police reports are a gauge of approximation as it relates to
crimes reported. Many crimes are not reported, but never-the-less may have
occurred. Being fearless, Chad, is not necessary to realize when any
community (St. Bernard or Jefferson, etc.) has its problems. Because it has
less murders than New Orleans is a testimony to St. Bernard Citizens who are
an incredible lot of law-abiding citizens. Any other turn of crassness and
cruelty of citizens would escalate that figure of the present number of
major crimes upward.

Unfortunately, several reasons for the disproportion of crimes per capita
are as such or could be:

Firstly, the mental state of folks who have remained or returned to St.
Bernard. Is the perpetrator more angry with loss of mental facitilies which
could have curtailed him/herself into crime? 

Secondly, is the present populace changing from more settled, happier Former
St. Bernardian citizens to other cultures, nationalities, transients,
illegal aliens, or other outside influences which have replaced many good,
law-abiding citizens? Perhaps the next census will certify that finding.

Thirdly, are major crimes easier in St. Bernard post-Katrina than in more
established communities? Is the atmosphere for crime opportunities inductive
to their happenings or is there no major relationship? For one, are there
less neighborhood watches, less neighbors to monitor unexpected visits into
the area, etc.

Lastly, is the sheriff's dynasty detrimental to true consideration of crime
reduction? Is he eager to remove crime and not become in itself part of the
problem? (Good leadership, honest and non-corrupted, moral and ethical
dealings?) Approachable to the community, (open door policy, accountable to
the citizens, etc.?).

"Is St. Bernard Safe? Absolutely." (you say). 

While it is true that there are places with no crime whatsoever to those
places which are riddled with criminals. At what spot on the graph would we
say that our beloved St. Bernard is situated? I say that there is serious
crime in any community which has poor resources, citizen morality, corrupt
leadership, decimated homes and streets and few people to dodge the issues
that exist. They will not go away, but remain and possibly escalate to the
point that its law-abiding and moral inhabitants are soon replaced by
ill-favored and possibly the elderly/disabled who cannot defend themselves,
disreputable variables which spew illegal actions around the decaying
neighborhoods in a gamely manner and the uncaring. These neighborhoods
are/will become blighted (ie. The lower ninth ward prior to new homes and
communities post-K) until any good-measures are implicated.

Crime, our good friend, will never go away until it is made less lucrative
to those who dispense that action toward others who are weaker or in less
than a superb position to fight it. Until then, to not fear crime is to not
respect its danger or impact. Ignore that it is ongoing in da parish. I'll
be willing to bet that those who are vigilant and mature to its consequences
will disagree that there is little concern (or an anxiety factor) for the
type of crime folks will experience as a citizen here in St. Bernard. It's a
reality show that none of us wants to become part of in our precious days of
our lives.

--jer--