The latest statistics show only a minor dent in crime since the declaration July 11 of a crime emergency, but Mayor Anthony Williams said Wednesday that it will take time for his initiatives to work. He also promised to roll out additional programs.
“I think all of the ensemble of things we did in the crime emergency are going to begin to work together and you’re going to see, I think, week by week continued progress,” Williams said during his regular press briefing, this week from the Sherwood Recreation Center on 10th Street Northeast.
“And then what we’re going to be doing this fall is to look at how we can put in place … some transition, let’s call it temporary, between the emergency and the new administration’s initiatives.”
Williams leaves office in January. Council Chairman Linda Cropp and Council Member Adrian Fenty, one of whom will likely be Williams’ replacement, have different crime-fighting strategies, as evidenced by Fenty’s vote against Williams’ emergency crime bill.
From July 12 to 30, total violent and property crimes are down 2.5 percent compared to the same 18 days in 2005.
Crime by the numbers
From July 12 to 30, police officers arrested:
» 111 people for aggravated assault
» 23 for burglary
» 484 for disorderly conduct
» 5 for homicide
» 109 for weapons violations
» Adult arrests were up 19.5 percent and juvenile arrests 59.9 percent, compared to the same period last year
