I would like to make a statement regarding the fewer incidents reported in regards to crime on the island of STX, yet it may reflect the whole territory.
I have taken notice of a drastic decrease in public reporting of crimes on STX. At the same time, I have not noticed any decrease in crimes. I am beginning to feel that there is a move to intentionally make public important information with the unstated outcome to have our community believe crime is down. Rather, it seems to me that the 911-to-reporter system is down. Yes, crimes like DWI, domestic violence, and some assaults make it to the papers, but that is just the surface of actual illegal infractions.
What happened to Melody Rames? She used to be a voice in the public that kept us informed. What happened to Chief Benta? He used to tell us, "us" being the people of the community that wanted to hear from him, that he was going to get the perpetrators of whatever heinous crimes were committed. Why does it seem that the 911 info-to-public-information-
Are we supposed to believe that crime has actually dropped just because we are not getting all the info? To me, this is a blatant directive to instill a false sense of security. I still hear the 18 rounds of gun fire being discharged in the Campo Rico area. I still hear that a citizen went out to his front yard and picked up 12 empty bullet shells. I still see young adults dealing drugs in Williams Delight, right under the tennis shoes hanging from the power lines. (and these shoes went up in the last two weeks…)
Just because we are not hearing the actual daily reports of crime does not mean that we should begin to believe that crime has dropped. The only thing about crime that has dropped is the public awareness.
Our new Commissioner must know that we are all too smart to believe that crime has just spontaneously dropped. This is not true, and it has to be said.
St. Croix
