Communities around the country have seen their ability to provide basic services and crime levels impacted by illegal immigration. We want to know how this has impacted you and what your thoughts are regarding this highly controversial matter. Do you think the federal government should do more? Do you think non-federal law officers should be involved in enforcing immigration laws?
If you want to make your thoughts known to your Congressperson, you can find full contact information at www.house.gov/writerep/.
The September 2007 issue s Online Poll Results: Violent-Crime Trends
1. Which best describes the size of your agency in the number of sworn officers?
a. Less than 20. 20%
b. 21 50. 34%
c. 51 100. 15%
d. 100 500. 15%
e. More than 500. 17%
2. Which of the following best describes your observations/understanding of violent crime in your area?
a. Our area is in a downward trend. Homicides, robberies and assaults with firearms are generally down. (If the categories differ, answer as to violent crime in general.) 12%
b. Our area has been pretty consistent year-to-year. 37%
c. Our area has begun experiencing slight increases in violent crime but nothing I would term extraordinary. 34%
d. Our area has experienced a significant upswing in violent crime. I think violent crime has visibly increased, and it looks like it will continue to do so. 17%
3. Which of the following best describes your agency s awareness and response to crime trends?
a. We re in total reaction mode. Only when things get really bad do we try to develop a plan, and then it s usually too late because the problem has gotten out of control or moved out of our area. 20%
b. We try to stay on top of things, but staffing has been a challenge, and it seems like we re always playing catch up. We know what s happening, we just don t have the resources to effectively address it. 51%
c. We get information on where crimes are occurring and the department makes a reasonable effort to attack problems before they get out of control. For the most part, we re keeping a lid on things. 22%
d. We get good and timely information regarding crime trends. A lot of effort is geared towards proactively attacking crime before it gets out of control. I m proud of the way we tackle crime. 7%
4. Which of the following best describe your personal belief about the likely policing picture over the next five years in your area?
a. Compared to many areas, it s really safe here, and that will continue. 29%
b. We have a good handle on crime for the time being, but problems are increasing and we may find ourselves struggling over the next five years. 56%
c. We re on the verge of losing major ground to the crooks. I think the next five years are likely to get worse and provide a real challenge. 12%
d. The way things are going, I m really concerned. Violence is already a problem, and it s getting worse fast. 2%
5. On a scale of 1 10 (1 being worst and 10 being best), how ready is your department in an overall sense (e.g., staffing, training, intelligence, equipment, etc.) to confront violent crime in your area?
Average = 6
Here s a sample of the comments readers shared in response to the poll. To see more, go to www.lawofficermagazine.com/poll and click on Online Poll Results.
>> Get back to basic police work and do away with the COPPS programs, thus getting us back to normal staffing levels.
>> Have oversight on the judges and district attorney. They drop too many cases on the same violent criminals. We keep arresting the same people.
>> Local government officials need to wake up and allow police, not politics, to dictate how crime is efficiently and effectively dealt with.
>> Close the borders.
>> Most of the violent crimes are not being linked to Hispanics here illegally.
