The City of Akron is responsible for an almost total blackout of information. Has the police department EVER made neighborhood crime statistics available to the public?
Unless you hear about a crime from the victim, hear it from a neighbor, hear it on the radio or read it in the paper - how do you find out?
Until recently, you could find out some of the things that were happening in your neighborhood by asking your Community Policing officer. Now they are no longer permitted to give this information to residents. I recently learned about this change in policy after asking to see copies of the Daily Bulletin (which is published Monday through Friday and given to police officers, city officials and council members). Residents are not permitted to get copies of the Daily Bulletin. The police department's annual report and all requests for public information must be cleared by the Chief of Police.
Akron made the problem worse by switching to a digital radio system in 1995. Residents are not permitted to listen to Akron Police on their scanner radios. (Even if someone purchases a digital police radio, the city will NOT program it for you.) Scanner radio listeners were once extra sets of eyes for the police. Listeners could find out what was happening in their neighborhood. Residents cannot help themselves by helping the police. More information about the new radio system can be found on my Scanner Radio Web page.
Given the difficulty obtaining crime statistics and other information from Akron, information must be shared with other residents so we can take back our neighborhoods.
We also want your success stories! Others will be able to learn how you solved a problem in your area.
The kind of information that is needed is about crimes that are being committed in our neighborhoods - crimes you won't read about in the Beacon's Crime Watch section of the Sunday paper. For example, if you or your neighbors have had their vehicle stolen or broken into, their house was vandalized or burglarized, witnessed gang or drug activities, etc. is the type of information that needs to be made available. (The Beacon gathers the information for the Crime Watch section from police reports. If no report is filed, it probably won't be in the newspaper.)
ACORN - Akron Community Online Resource Network (formerly Akron Regional Freenet) also offers free Internet access and e-mail. For an application, call 643-9145 or the Help Line at 643-9153.
Starting, joining and becoming involved in a block watch group is a very good way learn what has been happening in your area from your neighbors. Neighborhood Watch groups have become even more important since Akron is not keeping its resident's informed. Comparing notes between the various block clubs from around the city also needs to be done.
We don't have any local TV news. Paxson Communications bought WAKC and we lost our only TV station that broadcast local news. The have started broadcasting family-oriented programming - reruns of old shows. No local news broadcasting is planned for Akron.
Neither the city or the Akron Police Department have much useful information available on their web page. They need to make crime statistics and other useful information available. (Several near-by cities and townships have web pages that put Akrons to shame. Click here for a list of other police department sites.)
Even though the information on Akron's Internet site is extremely limited, the Mayor and City Council members have e-mail addresses. Drop them an e-mail message and ask for their help to make more information available to residents and why Akron decided to take the public out of public information.