We'll take more police any way we can get 'em

A couple of years ago, we suggested that then-Mayor George M. McKelvey use the connection he had through his support of President Bush's re-election to get federal drug agents assigned to Youngstown's war against crime. Nothing came of that, but clearly we are eager to get more law enforcement feet on the ground in Youngstown any way we can.
And so, we are more than willing to endorse a recent proposal by state Sen. John Boccieri that urban renewal legislation being introduced in the General Assembly include provisions to hire hundreds of new officers in Ohio's highest-crime cities.
Boccieri's proposal is modeled after one developed by President Bill Clinton that channeled more than 2 billion to state and local law enforcement agencies over a six-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
It makes perfect sense to combine urban renewal with increased police protection. It does no good to rebuild cities if rampant crime is driving residents and companies away.
Boccieri's plan would provide for the hiring of 1,500 police officers, 100 for each of the state's "distressed urban centers." Those cities are hard-pressed to provide the necessary level of police protection.
Of course, the very economic factors that are impacting the cities are present as well in state government, and money will no doubt be the biggest obstacle facing Boccieri.
A spokesman for Ted Strickland says the governor is reviewing the proposal, and Boccieri is looking at whether federal homeland security funding or interest from state investments could be used to hire police officers. Boccieri, an Air Force Reserve pilot, has also suggested that the program could be used to provide law enforcement jobs for recently discharged military veterans.
An easy equation
More police on the streets -- even on traffic details -- translates to fewer criminals on the streets. And, as Youngstown has proved in the past, when more criminals are in jail, there are fewer violent crimes, including murder.
Cities have a responsibility to protect their residents. Residents and businesses even have a responsibility to take prudent measures to protect themselves.
Youngstown is already committing a larger portion of its budget to police overtime to increase patrols. The city should also take another look at whether every available police officer is being used on patrol rather than desk duty. And Mayor Jay Williams has suggested that the auxiliary police force, last used in Youngstown in the 1970s, be reinstated. The city's three police unions should agree to the proposal, allowing auxiliaries to complement the full-time officers. The greater the police presence, the safer everyone in uniform will be.
Meanwhile, Boccieri will be working to convince his colleagues in Columbus that the General Assembly should help Ohio cities fight crime. In announcing his initiative, Boccieri said: "The slow economy and widespread use of illegal drugs is pushing Ohio's great cities toward crisis."
To those legislators who believe the state bears no responsibility for policing cities, we would suggest that the support Boccieri is seeking is the least that the General Assembly can do. After all, these are the same legislators who eagerly meddled in municipal affairs last year when they passed legislation that bars cities from enforcing residency laws on police, fire and other municipal employees.