-
Login
-
Digital Edition
-
Print Edition
- Most Commented
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Most Emailed
- Popular
- Popular
« News Home
Team seeks to crush crime
Tweet
Steven Dettelbach, U.S. attorney for Ohio’s Northern District, discusses a major crime initiative for the Mahoning Valley to arrest criminals, particularly those who use handguns. To his left is Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams. The Gun Reduction and Interdiction Project will operate this summer throughout the region with the cooperation of federal officials and a dozen Mahoning Valley police and justice agencies.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
The following law enforcement officials are participating in a new V-GRIP [Violence, Gun Reduction Interdiction Program] in Youngstown and surrounding areas:
Youngstown Police Department
U.S. Attorney’s Office
U.S. Marshal Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency
Federal Probation Service
Ohio Adult Parole Authority
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office
Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department
Youngstown City Prosecutor
Mill Creek MetroParks Police Department
Austintown Police Department
Boardman Police Department
Campbell Police Department
Struthers Police Department
Warren Police Department
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office
YOUNGSTOWN
News of a major crime crackdown in Youngstown and surrounding areas was both welcomed and greeted with some reservations by city residents.
“It’s all good, but they need to go to the root of the problem: better education for kids,” said Tom Watson of Brentwood Avenue.
“They feel there’s no way out” of poverty and turn to crime.
Watson, who’s lived in Youngstown for about 35 years, said, “There needs to be a focus on crime, most definitely. A lot of young kids commit crimes. They don’t have anything else to do.”
Federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies announced Thursday that they were teaming up to crack down on gun crimes not only in Youngstown, but throughout the Mahoning Valley.
Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said the city is doing all it can to keep kids occupied, such as operating North Side Pool and a summer recreation program. Also, he said, getting guns off the street will make the city safer.
The crime crackdown announcement was made at the Fosterville Playground at West Indianola and Glenwood avenues. That area of the city’s South Side has been the location of violent crimes over the years.
Officials from various agencies announced the program that they say has some similarities to the Violence, Gun Reduction Interdiction Program in action between late June and early September 2003 that resulted in nearly 400 arrests.
During that time, there was only one homicide in Youngstown, a figure considerably lower than average, and the city ended up with its lowest number of homicides for a single year in about a decade.
Shaunda Barcley of Winona Drive in Youngstown said crime is out of control in the city, and something needs to be done to keep it in check.
“We need to save the streets and help the kids,” Barcley said. “I’ve lived here all my life, and crime is getting worse.”
Dorina Shine of Ferndale Avenue in Youngstown is thrilled by the return of V-GRIP.
“This is what we’ve been asking for,” she said. “This is what our community needs. Hopefully, we’ll see a decrease in crime.”
The program has been in the discussion stages for a while.
Steven Dettelbach, U.S. attorney for Ohio’s Northern District, told The Vindicator on April 27 that he wanted federal and state agents in Youngstown this summer fighting crime, and was discussing the plan with law enforcement.
Standing with law enforcement, officials with various Mahoning Valley communities, pastors and community activists, Dettelbach said Thursday that the group is sending “a clear message to those people who would use guns to terrorize us in our own community. That message is we’re standing together, we are not afraid and we will not sit idly by and let this continue.”
The 2003 V-GRIP program largely focused on an increased law enforcement presence in Youngstown.
The new program also includes Austintown, Boardman, Campbell, Struthers and Warren.
Also, Dettelbach said law enforcement officials will use technology to target specific crime hot spots as well as work together to identify “the worst of the worst” — the most dangerous repeat offenders with an emphasis on reducing gun violence.
The new program, he said, also includes:
Training 150 officers in the past month about safeguarding suspects’ rights while searching for guns and other contraband. “We want to make sure these arrests will stick,” Dettelbach said.
Work together to conduct long-term investigations of criminals and gangs.
Review every case to see where is the best court to prosecute.
V-GRIP has already started. Those involved in the program wouldn’t say Thursday when the program would end.
Comments
"“It’s all good, but they need to go to the root of the problem: better education for kids,” said Tom Watson of Brentwood Avenue.
“There needs to be a focus on crime, most definitely. A lot of young kids commit crimes. They don’t have anything else to do.”
“They feel there’s no way out” of poverty and turn to crime."
I'm so sick and tired of hearing that excuse. And all that is, is a Excuse. There is no reason in this world to turn to crime. That is a choice in your life not a reason. I know people who are not doing to well and they don't commit crimes. All that is saying is it's OK for the young kids to do whatever they feel like doing. And go ahead and commit crimes all you want because you have nothing else to do. Unreal!
As far as education, the parent/s guardians need to make sure there kids go to school to get a education, not blame (again) the school systems to lead a life of crime.
"The crime crackdown announcement was made at the Fosterville Playground at West Indianola and Glenwood avenues."
I'm glad they went to the heart of the crime infested area to make the announcement instead of city hall or some lame press conference.
Good Luck to all involved in this.
I guess these programs are well intentioned, you know, they get some guns off the street and the program itself probably qualifies for more federal aide and great headlines, however, it will never resolve the root problems. Additionally, as we focus on this problem we bury our collective head in the sand and ignore the future problems coming our way as a result of the open southern border. As has been said many times, "You ain't seen nothin yet".
life2short, i dont think its an excuse, its a reason. have u ever heard the phrase an idle mind is the devils workshop ? it should be obvious if children had positive things 2 do they wouldnt be on the street committing crime. also u dont want 2 blame the school system, when children graduate from public schools they usually need remedial courses in college, because public schools dont prepare them for college or jobs
G stands for Government
R stands for Results
I stands for Insults
P stands for People!
As usual they blame the guns ignoring the fact that most people who own guns have owned them for a very long time and have never committed any crimes. Maybe guns ain't the problem. Maybe just maybe it's morals you know the thing that was kicked out of schools at the same time as religion.
1. Extend the school year. Take a look at what happened in Annapolis, MD, when they did it. Check out the high school. If I were King, I'd give every kid in K-3 a tutor.
2. Expand video surveillance.
BTW, Lee, what right does a 13 year old kid have to own a gun? Bring a gun to school? To use a parent's or sibling's gun? Ans. None! Three G people gotta go.
Lee you scared, sad person. Who is blaming guns? I see a lot of blame on gun violence (because thats how murders occur) but not on guns themselves. And more religion will help you say? Because religion is soooooo nonviolent.
Springman - How do you propose we pay for all this?
"Dettelbach said law enforcement officials will use technology to target specific crime hot spots as well as work together to identify “the worst of the worst”"
WHAT HE MEANS BY THAT IS THAT HE HAS A LIST FROM JUDGE DOUGLESS THAT LISTS ALL THE THUGS THAT ARE ON "TRIPPLE" AND "QUADRUPLE" PROBATION. THEY INTEND TO FOLLOW THESE PEOPLE AROUND UNTILL THEY SCREW UP AND GET PULLED OVER. THAT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS PER THUG.
Ohiowatcher I did not say religion would solve the problem I said morels would, when we kicked out religion we also lost any moral teachings that were connected with religion. Example, when I was a teenager in a store with a friend we might get carried away with our language but if overheard by any adult we would be told "watch your mouth boys". That was moral teaching.
This crime sweep wil not be long lasting . Work will have to be forced on the thugs . They won't seek employment on their own . NO JOB = NO PAROLE OR PROBATION ! This will have to be enforced !
censorsedship - The Heritage Foundation, the group that let Reagan's tax reforms and economic policies, is party responsibly for the dire straits that cities like Youngstown find themselves in.
That article is simply trying to defend their (Reagan, Heritage Foundation) dismantlement of a blue-collar economy by blaming lack of business on crime, the crime they invented.
Don't cite slimebags from the Heritage Foundation on my message board ever again.
Hey! Here's an idea! Maybe some people should start buying some f-----g rubbers and using them! This program and ALL the others are nothing more than attempts to combat the inevitable results of unplanned, irresponsible parenthood.
"Only reason why crime is spilling into Boardman is because there so little of anything of value left to steal in Youngstown."
Very good point . Youngstown has been overharvested by the thieves and heavy taxation is preventing any growth in prosperity . The heavy taxation is used to sustain the non productive who are using their 24/7 idle time to destroy the city that sustains them .
jermuh
"it should be obvious if children had positive things 2 do they wouldnt be on the street committing crime."
Why do crime at all? Because they have nothing to do? That does not make sense. When i was at that age and there was nothing to do, I didn't go out and commit crimes or rob or carry a gun.
Every time there is a workshop or volunteer or opportunity that the vindy writes about I always comment "There is something to do for the young adults" do they show up? Do they go to these things? Do they try to better themselves? No. Why is that? Because they know people will say, well they have nothing to do and it's OK to commit crimes instead.
There are summer jobs for the young adults and such, but bottom line is They don't want to work, they want the easy money by robbing the hard working innocent people or selling the drugs.
"because public schools dont prepare them for college or jobs"
I know plenty of people that went to public schools and are doing good for themselves and there families. It's all up to the Individual, what he wants to make out of life, not what excuses he can come up with to get out of working or abusing the system. It's called making something out of your life. There are people that want to do something with there lives and do it and there are the ones that come up with one excuse after another why they do what they do, and end up in jail or prison and just hate and blame everything.
"Hey! Here's an idea! Maybe some people should start buying some f-----g rubbers and using them! "
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH FREE MONEY THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THESE PEOPLE FOR ALL THIER "CHILDRENS". WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO USE A F-----G RUBBER, THAT WOULD BE LIKE THROWING AWAY GOOD MONEY.