FORMER NYPD ADMINISTRATOR REACTS TO ‘HOW NOT TO RESPOND TO THE RISING MURDER RATE’ AND ‘CONSERVATIVES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM’

Louis Anemone, the former #3 at NYPD under the first Bratton administration, is a friend of Jay Wall and responded to Jay after receiving the two articles, “How Not to Respond to the Rising Murder Rate” and “Conservatives for Criminal Justice Reform.” (Criminal Justice Smoke-And-Mirror Programs | TUG | 10-13-17)

POLICE ENFORCEMENT MUST BE PRIORITIZED AGAINST HIGH RISK BEHAVIORS, HIGH RISK PEOPLE AND HIGH RISK LOCATIONS
If a violent offender, with a history of rape, robbery or felony assault is arrested for a minor offense, he belongs in jail, not in a drug court or alternative justice system

By Louis Anemone
Retired Chief of Department, NYPD

I agree with much that has been stated in both articles, BUT:

Crime, especially violent crime, like politics, is LOCAL. National FBI statistics that are revealed 6 months AFTER the close of a year are of no value to a practicing police official or police officer. We need the day by day, week by week local stats for operational decisions. Of course these yearly national stats do play a role in press conferences etc.

Yes, there is a cheaper alternative to imprisoning every law breaker. We are in favor of more tools for not only the officer on the front line, but also for prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys and probation and parole officers. BUT, although someone may be imprisoned only for a drug offense, it is important to know and state his/her prior record. If a violent offender, with a history of rape, robbery or felony assault is arrested for a minor offense, he belongs in jail, not in a drug court or alternative justice system.

And yes David Kennedy is a smart guy, but his strategy sounds an awful lot like our Compstat program, without the meetings for the gang guys to play the system. Why shouldn't people residing in our urban centers have the right to demand police protection from thugs, young and old, who may or may not belong to a gang; who may or may not have committed a homicide; who may or may not have assaulted someone with a firearm, knife, or razor? But who pose a clear and present danger, if left alone of doing any and all of the three mentioned crimes.Why the fear of enforcement of the law against all anti-social violent felons?

We believe that police enforcement must be prioritized against high risk behaviors, high risk people and high risk locations at the times, days/nights when they pose the greatest risk to the public.