[Winona Online Democracy]
I felt it necessary to respond to Sarah and Karen (Violence and Drugs). I
have lived in Winona most of my life. I have been a Police Officer in Winona
for 26 years and the Police Chief since 1986. The tremendous amount of crime
that you speak of needs to be addressed. The number of crimes in Winona has
decreased by approximately 30% since 1996, from 5200 crimes in 1996 to 3700
crimes in 2000. That is an incredible reduction given the number of gang
members that have come to Winona to sell drugs. The Winona Police
Department, in cooperation with the community, has worked very diligently to
hold drug dealers and gang members accountable for the violent acts that are
many times associated with their lifestyles. In our Spring Cleanup Operation
approximately 17 defendants were rounded up. Many of them were proven to
have gang ties and were prosecuted very effectively and given enhanced
sentences. We continue to strive to reduce the level of drug and alcohol use
and abuse. Most of the crime that we see is directly connected to people
abusing alcohol and drugs.
Winona is a safer community than it has been in years, however, human nature
is very unpredictable and from time to time someone does something
spontaneously,ie.. rape, stabbing, felony assault etc.. These crimes are
very unpredictable and law enforcement is charged with holding the
perpetrators of these types of crimes accountable.
I don't believe that there are an "immense amount of horrible people" in
Winona. I believe the vast majority of Winonans are good people who want a
safe community. There are, however, a small number of people who want to
sell their drugs and consume tremendous amounts of alcohol. These people
jeopardize our day to day safety. We certainly need to understand that there
are people who may try to harm us and our community and we ned to build
precaution into our lives. That is unfortunate but a fact of life in today's
world.
Police Chief Frank W. Pomeroy
> ----------
> From: Sarah And Karen[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 5:22 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Winona] Violence & Drugs
>
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> (some random thoughts i have on violence and drugs)
> I would just like to recognize the amazing amount of violence in our
> society today. I like the way the mvoie "Coyote Ugly" put it, in his
> struggle to get his daughter to change her mind about moving to New York,
> he reads a headline, it read 4 dead from a drive by shooting last night,
> he
> commented, they should have said "millions survived last night in New
> York"
> as sad as it is to admit its true. Even in Winona there is a tremendous
> amount of crime. I live in the heart of WSU rental houses, and am always
> hearing about college students being stabbed, for no apparent reason, or
> what about when those rapings, and attempted rapings occured this fall!
> ISdidnt feel comftorable sleeping in my house at night, we had even had
> somone break into our house awhile before. I still dont feel safe walking
> around Winona by myself, there is such an imense amount of horrible
> people.
> Ive even had kids my age offer me drugs! people i didnt even know. Its sad
> that kids can gold a hold of this stuff. I know a lot of kids whos parents
> by them cigarrets and beer! And there are so much drugs/drug dealers, in
> Winona that its unbeleiveable, I mean I remeber when there were millions
> of
> dollars of drugs across from the police station! An what about that old
> woman tht was decapitated just a little ways a way from Winona! Ive even
> met people that have meth (not usre how to spell anphetamine)
> labs/kitchens
> in their basement!
> Well I am going to stop here, I hope you understood where I was coming
> from,
> Sarah
>
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