Richardson: As murder trial begins, another look at Tempe crime warranted
Bill Richardson
Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
Kyleigh Sousa
Kyleigh Sousa who was killed after a suspect grabbed her purse and attempted to drive away while Kyleigh became entangled in the purse straps and was dragged for a short distance.
Sousa family
Kyleigh Sousa's mother Karen Montenegro, right, along with Kyleigh's older brother Bernie Sousa,left, speak to the media, Tuesday, June 22, 2010 in Tempe, a day shy of one-month since the incident that took Kyleigh's life.
Joseluis Marquez
Joseluis Marquez
Welcome to the discussion.
-
Current users sign in here.
15 comments:
Rules of Conduct
© Copyright 2013, East Valley Tribune, Tempe, AZ. [Terms of Use | Privacy Policy]
A Division of 10/13 Communications
chatmandu002 posted at 9:58 am on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
Bill,
Another rant against the Tempe police department. There has to be some underlying reasons for these continued attacks on the Tempe police department. Bill you fail to notice the changing demographics that have changed both Mesa and Tempe. Mesa has dissolved into a poorer state of suburban squalor. While downtown Tempe has evolved into a uptown higher density with an urban flavor, mostly from the influence of ASU. Along with this influx of liberally minded students and urbanites comes the influence of drugs and partying. This influence of drugs and parties brings crime. There is always some lag time between the changing demographics and the ability of government services to catch up. Give Tempe a chance to engage these problems, I am sure the Tempe police department will respond in a positive manner.
billrichardson posted at 10:15 am on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
Chat,
No rant, just facts. Tempe's policy makers have made decisions that have left parts of Tempe as danger zones. For whatever reason the chief of police and his command staff haven't been able to take control of the problem like Mesa did and continues to do even though they have more cops and more money than everyone else. Student population in Tempe down as more students attend ASU campuses in Mesa and Phoenix and commute to Tempe. I find it hard to believe that ASU students who pay $10,000 plus costs like a dorm and parking are the people who are committing the crime in Tempe. Tempe has been aware of the problems since they appointed a new in-house police chief and gave him extra money to spend to attack crime. They spent $250,000 of that to repaint police cars black and white to "help recruiting." Tempe has excellent police officers just like other cities do. The weak link in Tempe appears to be the policy makers and appointed officials who can't seem to get it right. Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix and Scottsdale seem to be able to get it right, why not Tempe? Blaming ASU doesn't hold water anymore. IT wasn't ASU students that had a shoot out down on Broadway in March, it was Crips and Bloods. It's no ASU students peddling weed to fellow students in Tempe, it's the Sinaloa Drug Cartel dealing weed, meth, cocaine and heroin.
tededitedit posted at 12:22 pm on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
I live in and bike around Tempe and have to agree with Bill's assessment and point of view that there's some problems at the highest levels. I just don't see TPD around much until there is a response. I see grafitti (criminal paint damage) staying up much longer now because of budget cuts. I don't see why serial panhandlers can't be dealt with. I've heard from solid TPD officers that they are still under-manned on the street. Is Tempe's police department too "top heavy"? Do they have a morale problem? I don't understand why there isn't a stronger police presence in known "party zones" in neighborhoods throughout Tempe. I know however that community involvement is a big part of the solution. Citizens must help be the eyes and ears of law enforcement, along with Orbit drivers and garbage truck drivers. Maybe our new Mayor and his council will make crime and nuisance a higher priority than the stupid trolley and the "town lake".
mwmike posted at 1:42 pm on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
"Tempe is a known destination for gang members. According to news reports over the last three years Tempe has also become a center of activity for organized crime drug gangs." Where did you get that? Total bs.
"Mesa now has a crime rate that’s 24 points lower than Tempe’s." And the streets are deserted! With your prejudices, I'm sure glad that you're no longer a cop.
PCSO101 posted at 6:42 pm on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
Bolo,Bolo, Bolo, CBS TV 5 News just announced on live TV that there was a shooting at the Serranos Mexican Food Restaurant in "Down Town Chandler"! The very City that Bill Richardson just lauded. Bill Richardson has a vendetta against many. Get real Bill, call it for what it is. You have a vendetta, its well known, and you are pathetic, living off your dated career. Have another BEER, wake up in the morning, have another BEER, have lunch, have another BEER, play keyboard rage, and reboot, have another BEER. Write about Tempe crime, PCSO, and any others that may cross your path. What a miserable life!
mcharlesj41 posted at 1:36 am on Sun, Oct 7, 2012.
Why in the world is Bill Richardson "The Guest Commentary" with regards to Tempe crime issues? Bill should look at statistics in relation to population within a high density downtown area like Tempe and the population density of downtown Mesa. Also, how does the mass shooting over two miles away at Broadway and Dorsey have anything to do with the Tempe downtown district? Bill, help me understand your point; this article is all over the place in regards to Tempe and you live in Mesa!?
billrichardson posted at 7:28 am on Sun, Oct 7, 2012.
mcharlesj41,
Density is no excuse for crime. Downtown has been dense for years so it's not a new situation. Questions about drugs and gangs are also not new. The shooting on Broadway is relevant because of who the shooters were and the their willingness to blast away in crowd at a local music venue. As far as the downtown district and the area around it and crime, it appears that's epicenter of the crime problem and as we know, crime can spread if not controlled. If density is the problem city officials need to come up with a plan to deal with it effectively and quickly. I live in Tempe and am sick and tired of Tempe, my home town, being the crime capital of the East Valley and having a crime rate higher than Phoenix's, and double the average crime rate in Arizona. I'm also sick and tired of the city raising my taxes to pay for a police department that continues to spend money without fixing the problem. Check out the new Arizona Republic website at http://www.azcentral.com/news/cityguides/index.php and compare Tempe to other cities in costs and results. The other thing I find interesting about Tempe's problems is that when I ask the police chief, city manager or mayor and council about crime you don't get an answer. When I ask questions in other cities I do. What's Tempe got to hide?
Thanks for taking the time to read my column. I hope I answered your questions.
Rich posted at 9:30 pm on Sun, Oct 7, 2012.
Bill,
Have you ever stopped to consider crime? We all commit crime, most of us daily. We are subject to so many minor infractions that any police force is impotent. In Tempe, the density (and scientific study does confirm it as a factor), diversity (again scientifically related), all play a part. What you are talking about is anarchy, and we live it. More police won't solve it, better police only make a small dent. The man who got a ticket for his trash being 38 inches out of place, can only partially take you seriously. The man who has been attacked by police, standing on his front lawn, committing no crime, yet convicted of nonsense, simply doesn't believe in law at all, yet he is your juror, and your control. Policing only works as a partnership with the public. And no such partnership exists.
billrichardson posted at 7:05 am on Mon, Oct 8, 2012.
Rich,
You make some very good points. "Policing only works as a partnership with the public. And no such partnership exists," is so true. What the police can and should do is to strike fear in the hearts of real criminals and not your average citizen. Thanks.
lauraaz posted at 8:44 am on Mon, Oct 8, 2012.
It seems to me that our city council, and former mayor have been on a mission
for the last few years of promoting growth through higher density. It seems that the downtown merchants and developers get anything that they want without any thought to how the development would effect quality of life. Some good examples would be the boondoggle streetcar project, and the section 8 housing high-rise on Apache. Neither project took the concerns of the neighborhood residents seriously. The city government is only interested in growth, not quality of life. Since Tempe is land locked, the only way it can grow is increased density. This increase in density is almost always followed by an increase in crime. Its the city government that has been promoting downtown Tempe as the party center of the valley. Is it any surprise that the police are unable to control the party atmosphere downtown? If the police were to crack down or even slow down the party, all the downtown merchants are going to go crying to the city council that its hurting business. In my opinion, its the city council and mayor(s) that need to be held accountable.
Engaged Voter posted at 12:13 pm on Mon, Oct 8, 2012.
"Thousands would gather there on weekends until city fathers decided enough was enough and took back the downtown from revelers and criminals. Mesa now has a crime rate that’s 24 points lower than Tempe’s."
I notice that, of all the cities' nightlives you mentioned, you omitted Mesa.
Could that be because of the fact that Mesa effectively HAS NO NIGHTLIFE.
Lower crime? Well sure, that happens (along with lower everything else) when you force businesses to close and transform downtown Mesa into a deserted ghost town at night.
KJDaVinci777 posted at 12:46 pm on Mon, Oct 8, 2012.
BILL, I used to live in Tempe and I did not realize how bad the crime situation has become...Very informative article...However, in reading some feedback comments, some Arpioa supporters cannot handle the truth...Looks like Tempe has the slime Arpaio infection...
Leon Ceniceros posted at 4:03 pm on Thu, Oct 11, 2012.
BILL............GIVE THE (ANYBODY BUT MESA P.D.) .......VENDETTAS......A REST.
wangly posted at 10:57 pm on Fri, Nov 9, 2012.
the Crazy" in which he tells his story about his his jordan 11 concords his battle with anxiety. Sorrentino has his own line of
out DVDs and DelVecchio is a popular DJ who has has designer replica handbags has opened for Britney Spears and plays almost weekly in
Vegas.But just because the series is ending, doesn't mean the the moncler down jackets the fun stops for the "Jersey Shore" cast."It might be
final season premiere of the #JerseyShore on Thursday but #GTL #GTL fake designer handbags #GTL never stops," JWoww tweeted Sept. 30.Click through to see
craziest moments from the past five seasons at the Shore. Shore. moncler jackets men Shore. Spa Cosmetic Procedures Can Be RiskySpas
Not Be the Safest Places for Cosmetic ProceduresBY LIZ NEPORENTOct. NEPORENTOct. moncler outlet NEPORENTOct. 4, 2012— A Florida woman's quest for more youthful
turned deadly this past July when her face became dangerously dangerously designer replica handbags dangerously swollen after she received vitamin injections at a day
Gonzalez paid nearly $900 for "facial rejuvenation" injections at Viviana's Viviana's cheap jordans for sale Viviana's Body Secrets Spa in Doral, Fla. After receiving the
her face started to swell and became infected, and she she knockoff handbags she soon landed in the hospital, where she spent more
two months. Doctors fear her face may be permanently deformed.The deformed.The moncler jackets men deformed.The spa owner, Viviana Ayala, was arrested this week on
that included aggravated battery and practicing medicine without a license, license, cheap moncler jackets license, according to a report from the Doral Police Department.
Miami Heats Snapback Hats posted at 7:59 pm on Tue, Nov 20, 2012.
Miami Heats Snapback What is Wrong With the Miami Heat The Miami Heat were the hottest story (no pun intended) Miami Heats Snapback Hats coming into this NBA basketball season, but now it seems like hot is the last thing that comes to mind when talking about the team. Miami is just 8-6 thusfar, Miami Heat Hats which is a very mediocre start to the season for a team that was built to become a dynasty. NCAA Snapback Hats There is a lot wrong with this team at the moment and the only positive really is that they still have more than 3 quarters of the season to get things right. Lebron James NFL Snapback Hats Lebron is the biggest name on the Miami Heat team and it seems so far that he is trying to put the team on his shoulders. In Cleveland, Diamond Supply Co. Snapback Hats Lebron was THE guy, NBA Snapback Hats but his supporting cast was slightly better than in Miami. With the Heat he is supposed to be one of THREE guys not THE guy and he's having trouble adjusting and sharing the ball, NRL Snapback Hats instead trying to make shots out of nothing. Lebron needs Dallas Mavericks Snapback Hats to take fewer shots and let Wade and Bosh become more of the stars that they were prior to this year. Obey Snapback Hats Dwayne Wade Miami was Wade's team for the past several season and they always did well under his wing. This year Wade hasn't been able to find his groove, shooting very poorly and just looking confused at times. Supreme Snapback Hats Wade needs to get his swagger back and realize that the team needs him to be just as big a star as Lebron if they want to go far. The Hundreds Snapback Hats Chris Bosh Bosh may be the most disappointing of the big three so far this season. Bosh hasn't been able to get much Denver Nuggets Snapback Hats done and being the third wheel after being the only guy on the Raptors the year before may take some time adjusting to. Ymcmb Snapback Hats Bosh just needs to use what made him a star in Toronto. Team Defense The team defense is actually giving up the 5th least points per game in the league, Atlanta Hawks Snapback Hats but they have looked sloppy at times and their young coach will likely be replaced shortly if the team doesn't turn things around. Yums Snapback Hats Having 3 huge stars on the team isn't always a cup of tea. Expectations The expectations for the Heat have dropped slightly after struggling out of the gate. DC Shoes Hats The line on the Heat to win the Boston Celtics Snapback Hats Championship was +160 prior to the start of the season and that has now lengthened to +250 after less than a quarter of the season. 47 Brand Snapback Hats The Lakers (the Heats main measuring stick), have come out of the gate strong winning 13 of 15 and solidifying themselves as the Crooks And Castles Snapback favourite this year until the Heat turn things around. One thing is almost for certain. The Heat will not win 70 games this Chicago Bulls Snapback Hats year like some people were predicting. That being said everything will be forgiven if Miami is able to put it all together when Cleveland Cavaliers Snapback Hats it matters most and bring the Championship home.