geim druth
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- Joined
- Jun 12, 2006
- Messages
- 270
Is there really such a thing as a viable gunshot detector?
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1187067742306540.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
After wicked blow, Newark readies a counterpunch
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
BY MARK DI IONNOStar-Ledger Staff
The bodies are buried, and the public mourning is over. At the Mount Vernon School bleachers memorial, the candles have burned down and the Mylar balloons have lost their helium.
Now comes the hardest part. To dry the tears, but keep the outrage. To take this sad, sick tragedy and make it stand for change. Now comes the time to fix what is broken. The time for leaders to back up the words they spoke from three church pulpits Saturday at the funerals of Dashon Harvey, Terrance Aeriel and Iofemi Hightower.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker will start today by announcing an expanding surveillance program called Community Eye, which will put about 100 security cameras and audio gunshot-detection machines overlooking city streets. The Newark Community Foundation, with funding from businesses and private donors, has promised to raise $3.2 million for the program, which Booker will announce today at a news conference.
"When all the cameras and gunshot detectors are up, we will have about 8 square miles of the city covered," Booker told The Star-Ledger yesterday.
Those 8 square miles are among the highest-crime areas of the city, where about 80 percent of the city's recent shootings have happened.
The city already has 32 long-range security cameras along business zones and there were plans to put up more. But Community Eye will reach deeper into troubled neighborhoods.
The gunshot detectors, sensitive enough to differentiate between gunshots and other explosions like engine backfires, alert police immediately, cutting down on response time.
"We can get the police there faster, get an ambulance there faster and save lives," Booker said.
The technology works together. When a gunshot is detected, the surveillance camera will immediately zoom in on that spot. The cameras cover overlapping areas, so police can electronically follow suspects as they leave the scene. Booker told of one surveillance video of a mugging in the Ironbound where the suspects ran from one camera coverage area into another and were quickly apprehended.
On Thursday, Booker will announce a "comprehensive gun strategy," which will include a series of initiatives to control gun traffic into the city.
"Our trace research shows more guns come into the city from Virginia than any other state," Booker said.
Surprisingly, New Jersey is second.
"Fifteen to 20 percent of the guns used in Newark crime are sold by New Jersey gun retailers," Booker said.
In other words, it's our problem to fix. In New Jersey, gun permits are signed by local police chiefs, and Booker will ask the mayors of the 10 towns where "the worst offender" retailers are located to join him in a crackdown.
"We want a package of legislation for better audits of gun retailers. We're also looking into litigation against out-of-state retailers," he said.
Booker said the cameras and gun initiatives are just two quick steps on what will be a long, arduous journey along many social, educational and criminal justice paths.
Newark Councilman Ron Rice Jr., wants police to call federal officials if they arrest an illegal immigrant on a felony. Essex Executive Joe DiVincenzo, too, said he wants to make sure the county follows through on notifying immigration officials when illegals are jailed.
The city council is fashioning new curfew rules that will fine parents for the first offense while offering mentorship to the children at new faith-based curfew centers.
Senate President Richard Codey wants an investigation of the bail system in Essex County, which allowed murder suspect Jose Lachira Carranza to post $150,000 bail on a child rape charge. There is talk of legislation to rewrite the bail statutes, which now guarantee bail for everyone but murderers involved in capital cases.
Both Booker and DiVincenzo spoke of enhancing social, recreational and family programs on the city and county level.
"We have to look at everything, from early prevention to ex-offender re-entry," Booker said. "We're going to increase the services and visibility of our family success centers."
DiVincenzo wants to continue to improve and expand recreation facilities and opportunities.
"We've done great things with our parks. When you give people good things, they appreciate it. Look at Ivy Hill Park. It's beautiful, there's no graffiti. We have to keep going, keep building up that pride in the community. That's where it all starts."
At Ivy Hill, which is across from Mount Vernon School, DiVincenzo is planning a permanent memorial garden for the three students and a plaque with their names.
"People can't forget this," he said. "Hopefully, they'll look back some day and say, 'That's when everything started to change.' We have to start those changes now."
Failure to do so, will leave Newark burned out and deflated.
Mark Di Ionno may be reached at (973) 392-1728 or [email protected].
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1187067742306540.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
After wicked blow, Newark readies a counterpunch
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
BY MARK DI IONNOStar-Ledger Staff
The bodies are buried, and the public mourning is over. At the Mount Vernon School bleachers memorial, the candles have burned down and the Mylar balloons have lost their helium.
Now comes the hardest part. To dry the tears, but keep the outrage. To take this sad, sick tragedy and make it stand for change. Now comes the time to fix what is broken. The time for leaders to back up the words they spoke from three church pulpits Saturday at the funerals of Dashon Harvey, Terrance Aeriel and Iofemi Hightower.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker will start today by announcing an expanding surveillance program called Community Eye, which will put about 100 security cameras and audio gunshot-detection machines overlooking city streets. The Newark Community Foundation, with funding from businesses and private donors, has promised to raise $3.2 million for the program, which Booker will announce today at a news conference.
"When all the cameras and gunshot detectors are up, we will have about 8 square miles of the city covered," Booker told The Star-Ledger yesterday.
Those 8 square miles are among the highest-crime areas of the city, where about 80 percent of the city's recent shootings have happened.
The city already has 32 long-range security cameras along business zones and there were plans to put up more. But Community Eye will reach deeper into troubled neighborhoods.
The gunshot detectors, sensitive enough to differentiate between gunshots and other explosions like engine backfires, alert police immediately, cutting down on response time.
"We can get the police there faster, get an ambulance there faster and save lives," Booker said.
The technology works together. When a gunshot is detected, the surveillance camera will immediately zoom in on that spot. The cameras cover overlapping areas, so police can electronically follow suspects as they leave the scene. Booker told of one surveillance video of a mugging in the Ironbound where the suspects ran from one camera coverage area into another and were quickly apprehended.
On Thursday, Booker will announce a "comprehensive gun strategy," which will include a series of initiatives to control gun traffic into the city.
"Our trace research shows more guns come into the city from Virginia than any other state," Booker said.
Surprisingly, New Jersey is second.
"Fifteen to 20 percent of the guns used in Newark crime are sold by New Jersey gun retailers," Booker said.
In other words, it's our problem to fix. In New Jersey, gun permits are signed by local police chiefs, and Booker will ask the mayors of the 10 towns where "the worst offender" retailers are located to join him in a crackdown.
"We want a package of legislation for better audits of gun retailers. We're also looking into litigation against out-of-state retailers," he said.
Booker said the cameras and gun initiatives are just two quick steps on what will be a long, arduous journey along many social, educational and criminal justice paths.
Newark Councilman Ron Rice Jr., wants police to call federal officials if they arrest an illegal immigrant on a felony. Essex Executive Joe DiVincenzo, too, said he wants to make sure the county follows through on notifying immigration officials when illegals are jailed.
The city council is fashioning new curfew rules that will fine parents for the first offense while offering mentorship to the children at new faith-based curfew centers.
Senate President Richard Codey wants an investigation of the bail system in Essex County, which allowed murder suspect Jose Lachira Carranza to post $150,000 bail on a child rape charge. There is talk of legislation to rewrite the bail statutes, which now guarantee bail for everyone but murderers involved in capital cases.
Both Booker and DiVincenzo spoke of enhancing social, recreational and family programs on the city and county level.
"We have to look at everything, from early prevention to ex-offender re-entry," Booker said. "We're going to increase the services and visibility of our family success centers."
DiVincenzo wants to continue to improve and expand recreation facilities and opportunities.
"We've done great things with our parks. When you give people good things, they appreciate it. Look at Ivy Hill Park. It's beautiful, there's no graffiti. We have to keep going, keep building up that pride in the community. That's where it all starts."
At Ivy Hill, which is across from Mount Vernon School, DiVincenzo is planning a permanent memorial garden for the three students and a plaque with their names.
"People can't forget this," he said. "Hopefully, they'll look back some day and say, 'That's when everything started to change.' We have to start those changes now."
Failure to do so, will leave Newark burned out and deflated.
Mark Di Ionno may be reached at (973) 392-1728 or [email protected].