I do have the numbers and have posted them, both on this forum and the City of Minneapolis web- site. Serious reported crime is down. Significantly. Minneapolis is safer than it was 10 years a go and citizens, and in part the police department, have realized this goal. See link http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-statistics.
Statistics are valuable because policing and other governmental services are based upon them. They (statistics) allow policy makers to make fact-based decisions rather than purely knee-jerk dones. Staffing, programs, and even budgets are based on the numbers. Is it meaningless to look at your bank account to see if you have more or less discretionary spending money than last month compared to this month? So it goes with crime analysis, public health policies, road constructions and all other governmental services. That being said, crime, poverty, social, injustice, and prejudice are all influenced by uncalculated coefficients. How do you measure attitudes, beliefs or predisposition to violence? It is a standard business practice, to know the bottom line. Its unfortunate, the most often quoted statistics used in policing represent people who have been victimized. The bottom line in policing however has and continues to be, the people we served. In the next few days, the police department will be releasing its 5 year business plan. It will take several weeks of presentation and decision before it is implemented. Statistics, in part, have played a significant role in the formation of this "vision". They have provided a baseline of facts to make projections of future services balanced with current and projected needs. Lt. Gregory W. Reinhardt Minneapolis Police Department CODEFOR Unit 612-673-3587 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
