A last ditch effort to solve crime
The gunshot detection system is what it is: a last ditch effort to solve crime in a city that is overrun with petty criminals that rarely brings them to justice, a metaphor of itself and a system that I find difficult to believe will ever achieve any sort of meaningful success.
That same night, I turned in early, and was awakened around 2 a.m. to the screams of a young lady, who was in some way accosted by persons seeming to fit the profile of those who typically commit crimes in the area. Hopkins security documentation of this incident is, as of yet, non-existent, probably because it affected a non-University affiliate. A third incident took place earlier this week in which an armed crazy was yelling at cars and luckily was apprehended. Factor in the robbery of Subway, the robbery of the parking lot attendant at the Union Memorial parking garage (mere steps from the Den), a mugging in front of Uni-Mini and an abduction (an abduction!) that took place, in part, at the Hopkins Credit Union on 33rd Street in Charles Commons, and it was a pretty good week for petty criminals getting away. Unfortunately, none of these criminals used guns - otherwise they might have been caught.
It seems that those in charge of controlling crime seem to be pretty much out of control of these sorts of things. Off-campus parties routinely get shut down by the police these days, while criminals have what is, in effect, free rein, as far as succeeding in their goals. Not to be dissuaded by any of this, I went to a Remington community association meeting this week. The non-criminal residents of Baltimore, like Hopkins students, merely want a way to go about their daily lives without being subject to undue interference from the many nefarious miscreants prowling the city. A system at major intersections that detects crime would be a welcome resource to a city that badly needs it.
Unfortunately, such a system does not exist, and as such, Charles Villagers and Remingtonites will continue to deal with crime as a way of life, rather than as a rare inconvenience. But it's clear that that is not going to happen unless serious steps are taken. Perhaps next year's incoming freshmen will be the first round of Hopkins students to experience a crime-free year. It sure does not look good for anyone in attendance now.
That same night, I turned in early, and was awakened around 2 a.m. to the screams of a young lady, who was in some way accosted by persons seeming to fit the profile of those who typically commit crimes in the area. Hopkins security documentation of this incident is, as of yet, non-existent, probably because it affected a non-University affiliate. A third incident took place earlier this week in which an armed crazy was yelling at cars and luckily was apprehended. Factor in the robbery of Subway, the robbery of the parking lot attendant at the Union Memorial parking garage (mere steps from the Den), a mugging in front of Uni-Mini and an abduction (an abduction!) that took place, in part, at the Hopkins Credit Union on 33rd Street in Charles Commons, and it was a pretty good week for petty criminals getting away. Unfortunately, none of these criminals used guns - otherwise they might have been caught.
It seems that those in charge of controlling crime seem to be pretty much out of control of these sorts of things. Off-campus parties routinely get shut down by the police these days, while criminals have what is, in effect, free rein, as far as succeeding in their goals. Not to be dissuaded by any of this, I went to a Remington community association meeting this week. The non-criminal residents of Baltimore, like Hopkins students, merely want a way to go about their daily lives without being subject to undue interference from the many nefarious miscreants prowling the city. A system at major intersections that detects crime would be a welcome resource to a city that badly needs it.
Unfortunately, such a system does not exist, and as such, Charles Villagers and Remingtonites will continue to deal with crime as a way of life, rather than as a rare inconvenience. But it's clear that that is not going to happen unless serious steps are taken. Perhaps next year's incoming freshmen will be the first round of Hopkins students to experience a crime-free year. It sure does not look good for anyone in attendance now.
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