Steps Outlined Toward Reducing Crime in Durham

For years, Durham's approach to fighting crime has been somewhatfragmented, with county leaders and city leaders often taking differentpaths. It was about eight months ago when the two groups decided to cometogether in the form of what they called the Crime Cabinet. The group'sonly goal was to find a way to deal with Durham's crime rate.

Patrick Byker of the Durham Chamber of Commerce says the rate just keptgoing up.

Cabinet members, who are city and county leaders, say they have nowcome up with some steps toward meeting that goal. They are emphasizing amethod they call the Broken Window Approach, using law enforcement andcommunity volunteers to clean up troubled neighborhoods and enforceordinances.

Durham County Commissioner Ellen Reckhow says the problem cannot simplybe avoided.

The plan also calls for better law enforcement technology that wouldallow officers to work with computers. Also included are methods oflowering the number of repeat offenders, especially children.

Durham Mayor Pro Tem, Howard Clement says juveniles on probationwould be more closely monitored under the plan.

The group's goal is to reduce crime by the year 2000. While that maynot sound like great progress to some, officials say it would be arealistic goal, considering the rate at which crime has increased in pastyears.

One important step will be the hiring of a new police chief. CityManager Lamont Ewell says he has narrowed his list of candidates to twoapplicants. He says he hopes to make a hire by the end of next week.

Editor's Note:

Durham's crime rate is growing but not as fast as Raleigh's. The NorthCarolina SBI tracks violent and non-violent crimes. Comparing the firstsix months of last year to the same time period in 1997, the SBI study found that Durham's crime is up 10 percent, while Raleigh's has climbed by13 percent.

Fayetteville is doing much better. Its crime rate has increased by only3 percent.