PotShot

Mallory's plan could work for Cincinnati
Michael Rovito | The News Record | 1/23/06

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, who was elected in a year with the highest number of homicides since the '70s, finally gave the city a plan Thursday by offering solutions for fighting the city's crime.

Mallory said in a press conference last week that dealing with the issue would not be easy, as the problem did not come about over night.

Truer words were never spoken.

His press conference also, ironically, ended mere hours before a double shooting in Hyde Park, long one of Cincinnati's safest neighborhoods.

Hyde Park also saw the killing of a Blue Ash man Jan. 14 in the parking lot of a local pub.

Mallory's first measure began Thursday as 48 youths who were supposed to be in school were rounded up by police for violating truancy laws.

Good idea No. 1: get loafers off the streets.

Mallory is also calling for police to step up their efforts in catching mid-level drug dealers. Mid-level dealers are those who sell small quantities of marijuana and cocaine, and are also involved in 90 percent of homicides in Cincinnati, according to police.

Good idea No 2: get to the root of the problem.

The mayor also called for citizens to become more involved in reporting crime, citing the decades-old Crime Stoppers phone line, which allows callers to remain anonymous.

This may be a problem, though.

"Society is very responsive to political leadership, and we are showing the political will and leadership," Mallory said about how he plans to persuade citizens who are reluctant to report crime.

The number of people willing to report crime seems to be falling off quickly. News reports often cite fear of retaliation as one of the largest deterrents.

But, if Mallory can effectively roundup and jail drug dealers in Cincinnati, then maybe the fear of calling the police will subside.

Thursday's shooting behind Withrow High School in Hyde Park involved a 17-year-old who was shot in the chest. Police said the teen entered a cream-colored Lexus and was shot inside the car.

It should be noted that the shooting victim drove a Ford Taurus, hardly of Lexus caliber, so it is unlikely he got into the Lexus to talk cars. And there aren't many other reasons to get into a Lexus, behind a high school, after dark, other than partaking in illegal activities.

O'dell Owens echoed that sentiment when he told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "The message is that if you're buying or selling drugs, or hanging with people who do that, you've got a good chance of coming to see me."

Owens is the Hamilton County Coroner.

He was citing what he calls a clear pattern in homicide victims, of which there were 79 last year, and said using those statistics could help in the fight against violent crime in the city.

Owens also told the Enquirer that in 2004 the "vast majority" of homicide victims did not finish high school.

This point makes Mallory's truancy sweeps such a good idea. Thursday's sweep netted four kids with outstanding warrants, the Enquirer reported, and one for felonious assault.

Mallory is on the right track by targeting the city's youth in his quest to fight crime.

Teens who commit crimes or run with dangerous crowds need early punishment and strong reinforcement.

If Mallory's plan works, he will live up to the reason he was elected: to make this city safe.

Contact Mike at manager.newsrecord@gmail.com

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