The need for coordinating public safety efforts

Surveillance camera, 3700 block of 12th St. NE.

On the Columbia_heights yahoogroup list, Janet makes an excellent point:

I'm not knocking this initiative, but since these cameras are somewhat unproven (do they just push it to the next block), shouldn't their implemenation and usage be coincided with an actual deployment of MPD on foot patrol? In the nearly 10 years that I've lived in Columbia Heights, the ONLY time I ever saw an officer on foot patrol was when there was a murder on a block and the police were showing their 'presence'. After a week or so, the presence was gone. I hope this new Administration backs up all the talk with some REAL change (and foot patrols in actual residential neighborhoods).

Without coordinating other policing activities, and ensuring quality response, see this other blog entry that reprinted some sad examples of MPD response, "Two Chilling stories of police incompetence," then cameras are worthless.

Too often public policy isn't based on best practice and linking theory to better practice (one of the foundations of my approach). The result: limited to no improvement; a lot of money spent; further discontent with government intervention.


Index Keywords: public-safety