Joining Saginaw Area Crime Database on City Commission Agenda Monday
|
||||||||||
| Printer Friendly Story View |
The City Commission Monday night will consider a new area crime data sharing program proposed by Police Chief Michael J. Cecchini.
The City Commission Monday night will consider a new area crime data sharing program proposed by Police Chief Michael J. Cecchini.
And, the chief, Mayor Charles Brunner and city commissioners are mobilizing citizens to combat crime by increased community organization and information sharing.
As the tri-county Bay-Saginaw-Midland area grows ever more together, its not only jobs and economic factors that are shared.
Sometimes criminals are passed around, too.
Recently when a normally quiet Bay City East Side neighborhood was shot up by a marauding pistol-wielder, it wasn't done by a cowboy from Dodge City.
It was a parolee from Saginaw apparently with a drug problem.
Reports from neighborhoods in the community are that drug problems are at the root of much criminal activity.
Some of the problems are caused by previous offenders, according to reports. Saginaw has about 550 parolees, more than double that of Bay County, with more coming under the Michigan Inmate Release Program (MIRP).
Non-violent offenders are being released early, often before their scheduled parole date, under a state policy begun several years ago with stepped up training designed to re-integrate the offenders into the community.
The policy is driven by the high cost of keeping a prisoner, estimated at $33,000 a year. The state corrections budget of $2 billion annually is one of the largest cost areas in the state and has been targeted for reduction by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
One way for Bay City to keep better track of crime data will be through the Saginaw County Sheriff Department's Area Records Management System (ARMS), according to a proposal by Chief Cecchini.
"Criminal prosecution would be enhanced by sharing of case information with the county prosecutor's office," the chief wrote.
At the same time, commissioners are urging revitalization of the Neighborhood Watch program that has languished in recent years. Only two ICANN (I Can Create a Nice Neighborhood) organizations are operating.
Commissioner Marie Kurzer is working with the ICANN Sector 70 Group covering south of Midland Street to North of Salzburg and East of Euclid to the Saginaw River. Commissioner M.J. Gorney and John Davidson are working to establish a Neighborhood Watch or ICANN group in the 5th and 6th wards.
Recently, Chief Cecchini and his department conducted a National Night Out in Birney Park to demonstrate to criminals that Bay City is a unified community and residents citywide were encouraged to participate in neighborhoods.
The Bay County Sheriff's Department also will become part of the ARMS system within two years, according to the Bay City report. "This will enhance the sharing of criminal intelligence data and crime statistics for both departments," according to Chief Cecchini.
ARMS will allow sharing of information by Bay City and 15 other local municipality and county level law enforcement agencies serving a population of about 250,000. By contributing to the federal Fusion project, incident information and demographic data also will be shared with state and federal agencies.
The Motorola Cruiser Field Based Reporting (FBR) provides a mobile office to police officers in the field. The concept is to provide public safety solutions based on an Internet Explorer look and feel, according to the chief.
ARMS currently is operated by the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department in conjunction with police departments in Saginaw, Saginaw Township, Caro, Frankenmuth and Zilwaukee and sheriff's departments in Tuscola, Gladwin and Ogemaw counties. These area agencies receive more than 225,000 calls for service annually, resulting in more than 100,000 case reports, according to the chief's proposal.
"The ARMS Program is designed to bridge the gaps in the public information network utilized by public safety, law enforcement and government entities," Chief Cecchini wrote in his proposal to the City Commission. "The ARMS Program serves to unify the often disconnected public safety information network under a common platform geared toward interoperability -- past, present and future."
The police department will be working with the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department to train law officers to use the system beginning this, according to the plan. Target date for full implementation is Jan. 1, 2009.
Crime mapping through law enforcement incident report data will enhance investigations and allow sharper focus of resources to target criminal enterprises.
Cost of the ARMS program to Bay City will be $17,622 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, with funding available in the equipment maintenance account.
Cost savings of $18,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 is projected, according to the chief.
A memorandum of understanding for City Commission consideration has been prepared by Allsopp, Wackerly Attorneys and Counselors, P.C., according to City Manager Robert V. Belleman.
###
| Printer Friendly Story View |
|
|
Dave Rogers |
|
|
|
Printer-Friendly Story View
0200 Nd: 04-21-2024 d 4 cpr 0
12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm
SPONSORED LINKS
12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm