Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Change will come when Trenton residents understand the mayor and police director work for us
Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson and police Director Ernie Parrey, Jr. made a request for more last week during an afternoon press conference.
Jackson asked for more time to repair what he called “a mess” created and left by former Mayor Tony Mack who serves his final months in federal prison after a corruption conviction.
Parrey asked for more manpower before residents can expect police walking foot patrols although some cops may be detailed to Hamilton Ave.
“Give me time,” Jackson said, a request likely to bolster a second-term campaign regarding unfinished business.
A rebuttal, fair or unfair, by concerned residents may say time’s up and demand that Jackson and Parrey give them what they want — police on foot patrol.
Residents have received half-stepped promises about police walking some city streets but nothing follows.
Hardworking Latinos on Franklin St. need a police introduction.
Retired Italians in Chambersburg who stayed after the urban exodus need police protection.
Miss Kim who worked overtime on Saturday and walked several blocks home could use police accompaniment during her short journey.
Ann up the block, Armida, too? Yes, they would love knowing a police officer by his or her first name.
Real people live on Franklin St. and throughout Trenton, many who either worked hard and deserve safe passages during retirement and others who build families.
We are not numbers to be used in statistical warfare to prove law enforcement successes.
Statistics may show crime down by 17 percent but perception matters more than numbers.
Trenton feels unsafe regarding crime, plus, weeds, boarded up houses and unscrupulous landlords who illegally rent residences.
While police Director Parrey, Jr. faces pushback from a number of officers, he should listen to Det. Sgt. Anthony Manzo about one particular crime fighting strategy.
Manzo espouses a “you gotta know the players” belief about city criminals but an extension of his mantra should extend to law-abiding, hardworking capital city residents.
Instead, distance expands between people and police, a situation that continues cultivation of mistrust.
A suggestion to allow police to walk five minutes a week on Franklin St. attracted this Jackson rebuttal.
“If I give your street five minutes then I have (to give) five minutes to every other street. How many streets do we have in Trenton? We just don’t have the numbers necessary to do that,” Jackson said. “We didn’t walk into rosy conditions. We had to fix a lot of bad government that was here ..... We just need time. Give us time. I swear (police walking) is going to happen.” Promises. Promises. It’s just amazing that politicians walk all over Trenton during election season then all receive handicap parking stickers after in office.
Even “National Night Out” contributes to the big lie that police officers have an investment in Trenton.
Parrey said he has requested Department of Community Affairs approval to hire approximately 30 more hires.
“Currently, we do have some officers walking. We’re going to put officers on the Hamilton Ave. corridor where there have been some issues,” he said.
Councilman Duncan Harrison asked for change.
“I think getting police officers out of their vehicles can be done, whether they are on bicycles or on foot,” Harrison said. “I’m not the police director or mayor but putting officers on streets has value, it enhances the relationship between community and police.”
A personal perception believes Trenton has reached a tipping point defined by Malcolm Gladwell in “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,” as “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.”
When grown men make myriad excuses about a crime-fighting strategy that has value, then smart people know that this discussion is about something else.
This three-year impasse to put police boots on streets suggests a reluctance to take suggestions.
Not much worse than general managers who refuse or delay implementation of positive strategies because yielding will make them feel impotent.
Change will come when city residents understand that Jackson and Parrey work for us. olence.
When grown men make myriad excuses about a crimefighting strategy that has value, then smart people know that this discussion is about something else.