July 19, 2007
Press Release
Contact: Jim Conroy
Troy -Troy Democratic candidates for Mayor, Jim Conroy and the City Council said they are proposing a plan to address the rising crime rate in the City of Troy. Under the current GOP Mayor and City Council violent crime has increased by 25 percent (2004 - 2006) according to records by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. Additionally, in the past several weeks there have been two fatal stabbings and four people have been shot in the city. The Democratic candidates stated the escalation and frequency of violent crime in Troy is unacceptable.
The current Troy GOP controlled city government has failed to effectively address the outbreak of violent crime in the city, noted the democrats. In fact, the city administration appears to be in denial regarding their own statistics which document the 25 percent increase in violent crime. The democratic candidates said it was time for a plan of action to curtail this ongoing four-year increase in the crime rate.
The democratic plan includes:
10 POINT SAFE STREETS PROGRAM
- BRING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FULL STRENGTH - INCREASE MINORITY STAFFING
- INCREASE FOOT PATROLS, WALK AND TALK, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY POLICING - HOUSE CALLS
- OPTIMIZE COMSTAT PROCEDURES
- ASSIGN TACTICAL UNITS TO HIGH CRIME AREAS
- LEAVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE PROFESSIONALS
- ESTABLISH CENTRAL COORDINATION WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS & SCHOOLS TO FIGHT CRIME
- HOLD MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN POLICE AND RESIDENTS - E-POLICING INTERNET LINK TO POLICE
- PUBLISH CRIME STATISTICS QUARTERLY
- INSTALL CAMERAS IN CRIME AREAS AND COORDINATE WITH PRIVATE SECURITY TO IMPROVE COVERAGE - "EYE ON CRIME"
- THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE BEST EQUIPMENT, TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP POSSIBLE
The democratic candidates said as their first order of business on January 1, 2008 they would adopt legislation to implement their plan. Furthermore, they will provide quarterly reports to the public on the status of this ten-point program.
The democrats stated they are committed to taking all necessary steps to fight crime and protecting the quality of life in Troy. The people of Troy deserve safer streets and the hard working men and woman of the Troy Police Force deserve better leadership. Through the ten point plan we pledge to achieve these goals, said Conroy.
