Post by bluelinebill on Jun 21, 2008 7:18:56 GMT -5
The (Idea) of banning sex offenders from parks is a noble one. The reality is there is no one who could enforce it.
CMPD does not have the resources to patrol the parks daily by the hour.
Park and Rec’s Park Watch has no enforcement powers. Off duty Officers would only cover the major park areas and even then only if an Officer signs up to do the work.
The FBI in past studies indicated that “parks” in general are more likely to have crime and be dangerous areas for the public to be in and for Officers to patrol. The reasons are due to the large secluded areas, the numerous ways in and out of a park and a reduced sense of awareness on the part of park patrons.
What is needed is a dedicated park police or rangers, who would patrol the parks on a regular basis enforcing the law, making arrests being seen by park patrons and the criminal element alike.
This would take time but soon there would be an expectation by criminals that law enforcement is in the park on a regular basis. No criminal wants to linger where they know law enforcement is likely to show up at any moment.
The ironic thing is that Mecklenburg County did have park rangers but disbanded the department in the middle 90’s. The claim was (as I recall) that there wasn’t enough (crime) in the park’s to warrant the expense of park rangers. The budget for the park rangers was around 700 thousand a year. After the department was disbanded Park and Rec (that same year) asked CMPD if they would start a parks unit. The answer was yes, for around 6 million (1990s) dollars.
Now I must point out that was under a different Park and Rec administration and County Commission.
I hope that serious thought will be given to this problem.
I can tell you from experience that parks are a favorite place for thugs to hang out and to hide and that sex offenders are only the tip of very serious and ongoing problem in many of our parks.
Also about this situation
Most people don’t know or recall that security in Mecklenburg County Parks is the responsibility of Mecklenburg County Government.
Under the inter-local agreement that merged the Mecklenburg County Police and the Charlotte Police departments back in the early 90’s. The County (not) the City is responsible for security in the Parks.
All parks in Mecklenburg County are run by the County.
"Park Watch" was a CYA move on the part of a former Parks Recreation administration to meet this legal obligation after the Park Rangers were disbanded.
Park Watch is basically there so (Park and Recreation) can say they are practicing due-diligence.
CMPD does not have the resources to patrol the parks daily by the hour.
Park and Rec’s Park Watch has no enforcement powers. Off duty Officers would only cover the major park areas and even then only if an Officer signs up to do the work.
The FBI in past studies indicated that “parks” in general are more likely to have crime and be dangerous areas for the public to be in and for Officers to patrol. The reasons are due to the large secluded areas, the numerous ways in and out of a park and a reduced sense of awareness on the part of park patrons.
What is needed is a dedicated park police or rangers, who would patrol the parks on a regular basis enforcing the law, making arrests being seen by park patrons and the criminal element alike.
This would take time but soon there would be an expectation by criminals that law enforcement is in the park on a regular basis. No criminal wants to linger where they know law enforcement is likely to show up at any moment.
The ironic thing is that Mecklenburg County did have park rangers but disbanded the department in the middle 90’s. The claim was (as I recall) that there wasn’t enough (crime) in the park’s to warrant the expense of park rangers. The budget for the park rangers was around 700 thousand a year. After the department was disbanded Park and Rec (that same year) asked CMPD if they would start a parks unit. The answer was yes, for around 6 million (1990s) dollars.
Now I must point out that was under a different Park and Rec administration and County Commission.
I hope that serious thought will be given to this problem.
I can tell you from experience that parks are a favorite place for thugs to hang out and to hide and that sex offenders are only the tip of very serious and ongoing problem in many of our parks.
Also about this situation
Most people don’t know or recall that security in Mecklenburg County Parks is the responsibility of Mecklenburg County Government.
Under the inter-local agreement that merged the Mecklenburg County Police and the Charlotte Police departments back in the early 90’s. The County (not) the City is responsible for security in the Parks.
All parks in Mecklenburg County are run by the County.
"Park Watch" was a CYA move on the part of a former Parks Recreation administration to meet this legal obligation after the Park Rangers were disbanded.
Park Watch is basically there so (Park and Recreation) can say they are practicing due-diligence.
