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City council grills police chief on crime
By DAVID SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
After two recent random murders, some city council members say a major crackdown on violence is needed.
Though Police Chief Jimmy Hughes agrees, and says his department is already going the extra mile, there are legal limits to what his department can do.
“Rather than the criminals keeping us on edge, we need to keep them on edge,” said Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st and chairwoman of council’s safety committee. “We need to start pounding on [criminals]. These people are out of control. They feel they don’t need to follow the law and listen.”
In response, Hughes said, “We pound within the limits of the law. I’d like to check every car for guns, but we can’t do that legally.”
Council’s safety committee met with Hughes on Wednesday, four days after two men shot Thomas Repchic to death and wounded his wife, Jacqueline, near Philadelphia Avenue and Southern Boulevard after they left St. Dominic Church.
It is the latest homicide in the past few weeks. Two men face numerous charges, including aggravated murder, in the Sept. 20 killing of Vivian Martin, a real-estate agent, on the East Side. The two suspects intended to murder Martin after robbing her, city Prosecutor Jay Macejko has said.
Gillam told Hughes that police need to do more checkpoints to apprehend those under the influence of alcohol as well as to check for valid driver’s licenses.
During those stops, the cars should be checked for guns, she said.
Hughes said the checkpoints are done regularly — three are planned for October — but reminded council they are costly. About eight to 12 officers, making about $40 an hour on overtime, are needed, he said.
Police always look for guns during the checkpoints, but unless the gun is in plain sight, the driver agrees to a search or officers have probable cause that a weapon is in the vehicle, the law requires a search warrant, Hughes said.
More than 100 weapons have been taken off the streets in the past two months through the Violence, Gun Reduction Interdiction Program, he said.
VGRIP is a cooperative effort of federal, state and local law enforcement officials to crack down on gun crimes.
Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th and a member of the safety committee, said the city needs to adopt a zero-tolerance program that includes arresting people for breaking windows and parking cars on front yards.
“Let’s send a message,” he said. “These little things lead to bigger crimes. We need to put a little fear into [criminals].”
The city faces a deficit of about $1.5 million to $2 million in its general fund.
Even so, Councilman Jamael Tito Brown, D-3rd and chairman of council’s finance committee, said if the city needs to spend more money on law enforcement expenses to keep the streets safe then so be it.