Heads and tales: Crime time live

All about Black and White’s crime issue. Because we’re a sucker for special issues.

First, the good news: While violent crime runs unabated through the once-peaceful neighborhoods of Birmingham, at least one police unit is getting it done. Not the Birmingham police, but the Jefferson County Sheriff. Mike Hale’s task force sweeps have targeted hot spots and rounded up suspects of every stripe. drug proceeds of more than $6,000 in cash seized and a missing juvenile was located. One daylong sweep in September netted “62 contacts, with five arrest warrants in surrounding counties and states, 16 new criminal charges including possession of a controlled substance (cocaine, crack, pills), obstruction of justice — false information, possession of drug paraphernalia.”
• County Mounties [Black and White]

Lies, damn lies and …: Statistics show that overall crime in Birmingham is down 1 percent from 2005. But is that the whole story? Homicides are on pace to beat the 105 in 2005, and Southside, West End and other Birmingham neighborhoods are taking a real beating. Chief Annetta Nunn and Mayor Kincaid maintain that the police are helpless to prevent murders among acquaintances, but the open cases suggest random killings, not domestic disputes gone awry.

So far, 87 homicides this year. Hard to imagine? BhamWiki maintains a running list. Still too fuzzy? CBS 42 has compiled this interactive murder map.

And the hits keep coming …
• Crime by the Numbers [Black and White]

DIY PD: Merchants in Five Points South, fed up with attacks on employees and patrons, are hiring off-duty cops to patrol the streets. “It doesn’t speak well of the police force that we’re having to hire our own cops,” says Jeff Tenner, owner of Soca Clothing and president of the Five Points South Merchants Association. “The officers who are down here do a really excellent job, but there are just not enough of them.” We had boldly made the same suggestion a year ago, after friends were mugged outside one Southside bar. The response then: It can’t be done.

And yet, it saddens us that it’s come to this.
• Hired Guns [Black and White]

• How can the police fight crime with more than 40 vacant positions?
• Or using “cheap theatrics” like a fake funeral against crime?
• Mayor Kincaid dithers on promise to increase salaries of cops, firefighters
• Chief Nunn on the rising homicide rate: “I can’t explain this phenomenon”
• Judge for yourself: Are we better off one year later?

Also:

• Cold snap brings out sweaters, leaf blowers, cider dealers
• Mountain Brook schools locked down after jaywalker spotted
• We’re surrounded by ugly Bettys

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Posted: Saturday, October 21, 2006, 8:28 pm, in Headlines.
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