L.B. 2nd safest in U.S.
By Kristopher Hanson
Daily Forty-Niner
Long Beach was named the second-safest
city in the nation for its size, according to a study released this year.
The Long Beach Police Department attributes
the decline in crime to better involvement in the community, more efficient
policing methods and specific targeting of problem areas.
"Community policing is when our officers
work with community members ... to make [policing] more effective," said
Nancy Tabing, Long Beach police officer. "We also work with youths that
are at-risk in the community."
"We are taking a proactive rather than
a reactive approach," Tabing said.
A total of 300 cities were involved in
the study, conducted by Morgan Quitno Press, a private research and publishing
company. The "5th Annual America's Safest Cities" report ranked cities
on reported crime in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated
assault, burglary and auto theft.
Long Beach is safer than such big cities
as Fort Worth, Cleveland, New Orleans and Atlanta. Long Beach came
in second only to Virginia Beach, according to the study.
However, not all citizens of Long Beach
feel it is that safe.
"I lived in north Long Beach, and it was
the same as South Central Los Angeles, where I live now," said Alex De
Leon, a Cal State Long Beach criminal justice major. "There was all kinds
of gang violence and drug problems [in that neighborhood]."
Some CSULB students disagreed.
"It seems safe enough here -- I haven't
had any problems yet," said Jaime Newson, an undeclared major and resident
of east Long Beach. "It's pretty quiet where I live."
Greg Hanson feels the same.
"I've lived here for 22 years and never
felt I was in danger," said Hanson, a 22-year-old eastside resident who
attended high school in downtown Long Beach.
"I've always felt safe," he said.
Though crime rates differ in certain neighborhoods
ìreported crime in Long Beach has decreased for the seventh year in a row
for a total decline of 41.5 percent,î Tabing said.
Crime totals this year could not be reported
because these figures are compiled at the end of the year, Tabing said.
On-campus crime is down, with burglary
the most common crime reported, according to the University Police.
In 1998, CSULB had 63 burglaries, according
to the student-right-to-know report.
"This university is very safe, but like
every other city you have to be aware and recognize that criminals will
invade your privacy and steal your belongings," said campus police Sgt.
Bonnie Myers in the text "The University in Your Future."
Crime on campus and in the city reflects
a national trend of spiraling crime rates. Some experts attribute this
drop to demographic and economic factors.
"The better the economy, the less crime,"
said CSULB psychology professor Martin FIlbert.
The demography has also changed in the
last several years. Those most likely to commit crimes have aged
as the baby-boomer population gets older, Filbert said.
As for Long Beach crime rates, police attribute
several things to bringing crime rates down from last year, including neighborhood
ìcrime sweeps,î a tactic designed to pick up specific criminal types, such
as gang members.
"They are very successful," Tabing said.
"We are targeting individuals on probation and patrol who are committing
crimes. If our officers see a trend or problem developing, we try to nip
it in the bud." |
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