Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Fire guts home on Beekman Street in Medford Since You Asked: Typhoon or hurricane? Depends on who you ask Emergency Services Devastating inferno in Weed leaves behind a blackened town Medford resident plans to fly to 49 state capitals Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fire guts home on Beekman Street in Medford Emergency Services Weed fire damage rises to 150 structures Weed residents begin to assess damage as crews make progress against flames UPDATE: Blaze in Weed 20 percent contained Politics and Elections Mark L. Hopkins: What the next election should be about Senate race could be expensive Talent to consider taxing recreational, but not medicinal marijuana Candidate files false statements Just one seat will be contested for Central Point council Education K-12 enrollment up countywide, except for Medford Homework matters HOLA program helps Latino students ease into college Phoenix-Talent gets grant to create teacher-leaders Alert system kept parents in the loop during shooting threat Environment New disease strikes Roseburg deer herds Dredgers might return to the Rogue next year Dubs' auction preview draws bidders and gawkers OR-7's pups are true wolves ODFW director Elicker will step down State news Nation - World Obituaries LaVern Raymond Johnson Marylyn Sue Singleton Paul Steven Sanderson Sr. Gary Warner Adsitt Julia Anna Fletcher Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Southern Oregon Spartans set to start season Cavemen top Tornado to stay perfect Jensen, Panthers open SWC with win Sheldon hands North Medford straight-set defeat Rogues sign six players, announce staff changes Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders take hit on road Thompson leads Huskies to rout of Illini No. 2 Oregon pulls away from Wyoming Loyd nets emotional assist for Oregon No. 2 Ducks not looking past Wyoming Pro Sports Jensen, Panthers open SWC with win 49ers’ Harbaugh facing greatest challenge NFL has good guys too if you look Criticism is mounting for Vikings, Peterson Comeback Eagles Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Business Latest Stories Entrepreneurs move from classroom to real world Oregon's work force grows faster than number of jobs Rogue Retreat thrift shop to open Sept. 30 Dutch Bros., 'Walking Dead' comic artist team up for new book Rogue Valley seeks to get on the map in search for new businesses Real Estate News Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Paid sick leave for all is long overdue Letters to the Editor, Sept. 17 Catherine Rampell: Many life milestones are out of millennials' reach Granlund cartoon: Adrian Peterson abuse charge Kent Bush: Feeding the outrage machine Editorials Paid sick leave for all is long overdue Other views: Privacy will be key to tech industry's future Cover Oregon won't be mourned by many Balance needed in rules protecting streams Obama does what must be done in the Mideast Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 17 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 16 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 15 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 14 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 12 Guest Opinions Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch Lifestyle Latest stories Wholesale program puts Rogue Valley food in aisles Backpack stuffers add zest to fall outings Community blog: Taste cherry tomatoes to judge sweetness, acidity Rogue Valley's latest aerobics craze is Insanity Wedding Food Wholesale program puts Rogue Valley food in aisles Backpack stuffers add zest to fall outings Community blog: Taste cherry tomatoes to judge sweetness, acidity Community blog: Rise to challenge of eating more local tomatoes Quail Run Vineyards expands into Talent drainage Home and Garden Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden An August checklist for your garden Health Rogue Valley's latest aerobics craze is Insanity Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Community blog: A Fish Tale Community blog: A Healthy Way to Enrich the College Experience Community blog: What's Wrong With This Picture? Hiking Faith Religion Briefs Religion briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Wedding New Arrivals Barbecue will support treatment for stricken skateboarder Ink Out provides inexpensive tattoo removal for those trying to move on Grange memberships going like hot cakes Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories There's no accounting for poor manners Holly Theatre hosts its first public event in 28 years Downtown Art + Sound Festival Greg Frederick & Friends at The Wild Goose Dark Night of the Celtic Dream Theater There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon OCT's Ginger Rogers tribute sparkles 'Cocktail Hour' shows at the Craterian Theatre CultureFest at Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music Holly Theatre hosts its first public event in 28 years Greg Frederick & Friends at The Wild Goose Dark Night of the Celtic Dream Paul Schmeling Trio at Martinos Creedence Clearwater Revival Community Events Downtown Art + Sound Festival Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears reads in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 5 Things to Do This Weekend From business professor to artist Dining Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Weed fire damage rises to 150 structures ... Weed residents begin to assess damage as crews make progress against flames ... United Way sets up fund for Weed fire victims ... Weed fire damage rises to 150 structures ... Weed residents begin to assess damage as crews make progress against flames ... United Way sets up fund for Weed fire victims ... Matthew T. Mangino: Violent crime was rampant not too long ago By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now MailTribune.com By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now Posted Aug. 29, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now Posted Aug. 29, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News George Santayana, the Spanish-American philosopher and novelist, once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As increasingly aggressive police tactics are exposed across the country, discontent grows. Discontent shortens the memory. What was a crisis not so long ago seems less significant in the face of new concerns about heavy-handed, overreaching police conduct. America would do well not to forget the early 1990s. In 1991, there were 9.8 murders per 100,000 people. In 2013, there was less than half that number, about 4.7 murders per 100,000. Nowhere has the decline in violent crime been so startling than in New York City. According to the New York Post, there were 2,272 victims of murder in the Big Apple in 1990 — in 2013, there were 335. There are a number of theories why violent crime fell so dramatically. Some suggest that at the height of the surge in violent crime, crack cocaine dominated the streets. As crack fell out of vogue, violent crime fell as well. There are those who suggest that higher incarceration rates, a robust economy, fewer young people, tougher sentencing laws even abortion have had an impact on violent crime rates. A factor that cannot be ignored is better policing. That includes training, tactics and firepower. No one suggests that crime has plummeted due to the emergence of the “better angels of our nature.” Crime has been effectively suppressed by better, smarter — and at times a bit of heavy-handed — policing. To forget the role policing has played in the decline of violent crime may condemn some neighborhoods and communities nationwide to a renewed cycle of violence and discord. A sign that memories may be beginning to fade is evident when Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill asked for a hearing looking into the militarization of local police departments, after recent tensions between law enforcement and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri. “We need to demilitarize this situation — this kind of response by the police has become the problem instead of the solution,” McCaskill said. President Barack Obama weighed in, “I think one of the great things about the United States has been our ability to maintain a distinction between our military and domestic law enforcement.” In New York City, the new mayor, Bill de Blasio, promised to end the controversial law enforcement tactic known as “stop and frisk.” The tactic was being used to take guns off of the streets and to crack down on fugitives. Those opposed to stop and frisk suggested that the tactic disproportionately targeted African-American men. Finally, the courts restricted its use. However, the picture is not so rosy without stop and frisk. According to the Wall Street Journal, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10, there have been 702 shooting incidents, compared with 621 for the same period last year — a 13 percent increase. Shootings are at their highest levels since 2012, according to the New York Police Department. Finding the appropriate balance for police between being too aggressive and not aggressive enough is never easy. To ignore the success of the past — the anguish and pain that has been averted as the result of less victimization and the billions of dollars saved as result of less crime — would be foolish. Can police tactics be improved? Certainly. Should we revel in the success of lower crime rates and walk away from tactics that have made neighborhoods safer? Certainly not. New York City’s streets are safer now than ever, in no small part because of aggressive, data-driven policing. To retreat from that posture is not good for New York City or the rest of America. Matthew T. Mangino is of counsel with Luxenberg, Garbett, Kelly & George P.C. His book “The Executioner’s Toll, 2010” was recently released by McFarland Publishing. You can reach him at www.mattmangino.com and follow him on Twitter at @MatthewTMangino. By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now MailTribune.com By Matthew T. Mangino More Content Now Posted Aug. 29, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501