Overall Youngstown crime dropped in 2007

YOUNGSTOWN — Compared to 2006, more people were killed last year in the city, but fewer were robbed, assaulted or suffered burglaries.

Overall, crime decreased 13 percent in 2007.

Some credit the drop to the mayor’s “zero tolerance” program that put extra officers on the streets. The temporary Special Interdiction Patrols began after a quadruple homicide on the South Side on Jan. 29. The homicide toll for the year was 39, up from 32 in 2006.

“Looking back over the entire year, I think we got a delay benefit from SIP — people loved the patrols and would like to see them again,” said Patrolman Bill Ward, who attends many South Side block watch meetings to hear residents’ concerns. “Cruisers were everywhere and it put a monkey wrench into the criminal element.”

Patrolman James Welch attends North and West Side block watch meetings and Patrolman Ron Jones attends East Side meetings.

Ward said residents in stable neighborhoods, particularly senior citizens, are not concerned about homicide but do worry about burglaries and robberies. He said residents also voice concern for abandoned houses and rental properties with unsavory people living in them.

Vacant houses, he said, often lead to bigger things, with police finding drugs and fugitives wanted on warrants.

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and at Vindy.com