Troy's reaction reminds me of the North Korean Government's (or any other dicatorship's) reaction when the U.S. criticizes it for human rights abuses--disproportionate, attack the messenger, and generally act as if the criticism is outrageous. A tired rhetorical device the use of which is perhaps emblematic of our disfunctional democracy in this city. Jersey City government is an "old boys network" unaccustomed to criticism and accountability. Fulop is changing this little by little. Its courageous.

Ricardo Kaulessar - Jersey City Reporter 02/03/2006
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Stevie...has exhibited serious incompetence'

Police chief and councilman trade barbs over crime rise

FACING THE PEOPLE ? Troy (left) speaks during a community meeting last week at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center. Standing to his right is resident and community activist Virginia Miller.
After Councilman Steven Fulop called for Police Chief Robert Troy to resign two weeks ago in the wake of Jersey City's rising murder rate, Troy responded to the public with a three-page letter last week, and blasted Fulop in an interview.

"As a public servant, Stevie Fulop has exhibited serious incompetence," Troy said last week. "I say that because he offers nothing as far as solutions go. He has never once in his short tenure as a junior councilman called this office."

In his letter to the public, Troy complained that Fulop's comments "not only undermine the public's confidence in the Police Department, but also negatively affect the morale of the men and women who comprise the Jersey City Police Department."

Fulop had complained about Jersey City's 39 homicides last year, a 20-year record, and a rise in neighborhood violence.

Troy said that Fulop should have called his office if he was concerned, like Ward C Councilman Steve Lipski did recently.

Troy added, "Stevie grandstands, he embarrasses himself in front of the rest of the council."

Troy pointed out a number of accomplishments under his leadership, such the city's gun buy-back program that brought in 900 guns from the public, the success of the Street Crimes Unit, and various crime sweep operations cracking down on sexual predators, deadbeat landlords and training seniors to protect themselves.

Troy defends record

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Troy is expected to retire sometime this year, but said he will not step down right now. He has been on the force for 25 years as of March 1. He has done 14 years of patrol and has been the commander of the department's Bureau of Criminal Investigations before his appointment as police chief in November 2004.

In his year and a half as chief, Troy targeted the growing menace of gangs and drugs within the city, with the JCPD Street Crimes Unit. The unit made over 3,200 drug-related arrests and approximately 290 gang-related arrests in the past 15 months.

Troy did agree with Fulop that the police chief had to be made accountable for the city's crime problem and there should be accountability on all levels. But Troy shot back at Fulop's lack of accountability in the matter.

"If Stevie applied that same accountability procedure to himself, he would remove himself from the council and do the taxpayers a favor," said Troy.

Fulop responds

Fulop responded to Troy's comments last week saying that he has called Troy's office a number of times but has not gotten a response back. He referred to his call for Troy's resignation as a "last resort" in dealing with a dire situation.

He also said that the murder rate wasn't the only reason for his comments.

"I believe he is making excuses," Fulop said. "There is an increase in crime everywhere, not just homicides, but also burglaries, rapes, robberies. When he was sworn as chief, he said, 'You can hold me accountable.' "

Fulop also claimed that his call for Troy's job has had an effect, as a number of plainclothes officers have been returned to walking posts in dangerous parts of the city.

Fulop also wrote a letter to the newspaper about the issue.

"To me," Fulop wrote, "our poor performance not only jeopardizes the safety of our residents, it jeopardizes pro-perty value, and it jeopardizes our standing in the region. Now, if we agree that there is an increase in crime, which I think is fairly difficult to dispute, then the question that needs to be addressed is why, and who is accountable?"

He opined: "Sometimes you have to rattle the cage to get results."

Troy at community meeting

Blunt and plainspoken, Chief Troy has preferred in most cases to shun the limelight, except when to announce a tragic murder or a job well done by his fellow police officers. But with Fulop's call for him to resign, the Christmas Day deaths of JCPD officers Shawn Carson and Robert Nguyen in an accident in which they drove off a draw bridge, Troy has had to contend with being in the public eye more.

Troy, along with Mayor Jerramiah Healy and a number of police personnel, appeared Thursday at a community meeting organized by Ward F City Councilwoman Viola Richardson where he answered questions and spoke on the state of crime in the city.

SIDEBAR

DOT criticizes accident investigation; Troy responds

Jersey City Police Chief Robert Troy responded last week to a recent report by the NJ Department of Transportation regarding their investigation of the accident Christmas Day on the Lincoln Highway Bridge that claimed the lives of Police Officers Shawn Carson, 40, and Robert Nguyen, 30.

Carson and Nguyen were traveling back to Jersey City the night of Dec. 25 after delivering flares on the Lincoln Highway Bridge, which connects Jersey City and Kearny. They were not aware that the bridge was up and the warning lights were out, and their Emergency Services Unit vehicle plunged into the Hackensack River.

There have been various theories as to why the accident occurred. It has been said that the police officers on the bridge were distracted by a false report of a civilian robbery, which diverted their attention from halting their vehicle in time. Another theory states that the officers were not informed that the bridge was up.

A 19-page report on the accident was released by the Department of Transportation, along with an eight-page report on the improvements needed for the bridge, on Jan. 27. It raised questions such as how Jersey City police officers who were already on the bridge, Michael Scarpa and Jane Louf, could not have been aware that the bridge was up, and why the two bridge operators on duty that night, Kenneth Cordano and Ali Alexandarane, were tested for drugs and alcohol when Scarpa and Louf were not.

The report also found that Cordano and Alexandarane were not in any way negligent on duty nor responsible for the accident that claimed the lives of two officers.

But the report criticized the JCPD for conducting an investigation that pressed the bridge operators to give answers "they wanted to hear," rather than recounting what actually happened that night, and rushing them to sign off on their statements without allowing them to read them beforehand.

Last week, Troy said the reason officers Scarpa and Louf were not tested for drugs and alcohol was because he and police officials determined that night that they did not need to be tested because they were not the "ones who raised the bridge."

Troy also said that in their assessment of the accident, the DOT was looking to "divert responsibility" and all the facts will come out early this week when the JCPD announces the results of their long-awaited investigation.

"We're going to lay out the truth, no matter where that road takes us," said Troy. "If the road takes us where we need to be critical of ours, then so be it."

Troy took issue with a suggestion in the DOT report that the JCPD investigators, led by Lt. Mike Kelly of the Major Cases Unit, were too harsh on the operators. He commented sarcastically that it "just breaks my heart."

"The investigators are some of the best in [Hudson] county and they just happen to be Jersey City police officers," said Troy. "We're more concerned about getting to the truth than hurting their feelings." - RK

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

You couldnt be more wrong, but thanks for the input. If underaged yuppy kids are caught drinking in hoboken they would also be arrested. the drinking age is 21. These underage kids should be doing something called studying or other constructive behavior( working part time etc). A majority of these kids will not get a further education after college and worse cannnot speak proper english and waste our tax $ on schooling them. the bonus for the tax payer is a large percentage of these kids parents get state aid which is also paid for by us.

ther is a direct link between quality of life crimes and more violent crimes. If you are new to the country please look up this name. Rudy Guiliani. He proved every one of your points wrong.

In America, many of us own houses and take great pride in our property. All of these things you mention deteriorate a neighborhood and the properties we own.

By the way, these kids are drinking on their landlords steps, not their own steps.

You left Communist Russia because it was a police state but when you left you forgot to leave behind your extreme socialist views. Before you came to America you should have done your research better. There are several countries that seem to be a better fit for you. Canada and France come to mind. You should check them out when you get the chance. America is the land of opportunity, not the land of excuses and handouts. with your attitude and beliefs you will never grasp the capitalist concept.

Also what's your point with the muslim kids, is that somehow our fault? Please tell me your blaming the muslim parents.Quote:

I received a copy of the letter from the City Clerk earlier this week. Since it is hard copy, I have scanned it, but images cannot be uploaded to jclist. If anyone has webspace that they could post it to and link to, I could email it.

The letter only contains marginally more content then the press release.

The city consensus is that Councilman Fulop was looking to take credit for forcing Police Chief Troy out when he is due to retire during departmental buyouts since the chief has 25 years on the force. I now wonder if Fulop picked a fight with the wrong guy and Troy stay will longer.

glx, i didn't mean to sound upset/demanding. my original message had fallen off the main page and i just wanted to bump it to have it addressed. i've asked this question before to others. and as of yet i've never really received a legit answer.

sorry if it read that way steve.

Quote:

Calm down. You sent your first message at almost 5pm, and your next one at 5am the next morning. People are busy and not everyone sits on jclist 24/7, especially someone as busy as the Councilman I'm sure. I think you could've waited a little more than 12 hours before demanding an answer...

I think for the chief to make EXUSES for our crime shows his lack of leadership. Troy needs to step DOWN, I can't believe they would let a Chief in charge of safety of one of the largest cities in NJ, that does nothing but makes EXUSES in public (weak)! Come on now, did this guy even graduate from the highschool or the even the police academy??

No Steve,

Thank you for trying to do the job you were elected to do. It's refreshing to know your not just collecting a paycheck. Keep up the good work... We are all behind you!

Just stepping in to defend my position, here. I'm not "so against pit bulls", and yes, I have seen the "Dog Whisperer" program. Enjoyed it.

I fully agree, Valkin, in regards to the responsibility that humans need to have, in controlling/training their dogs, and maintaining pack order - ie keeping the dog, whatever the breed, in the submissive role. I'm a huge believer in this - I keep my dogs on leash and under control at all times, and do everything that I can to avoid confrontational situations with other dogs. If only every dog owner felt the same way, there wouldn't be problems.

As far as training pit bulls is concerned, I'm all for it. There are, however, dogs that even the strongest levels of training cannot effect entirely - generations of breeding for the purpose of fighting can't be overcome. Just as some border collies can't help but run circles around trees, some labs can't resist the temptation to jump into lakes, and most sighthounds will chase a squirrel right into traffic if given the chance, there are some pit bulls that cannot be broken of "gameness" - the drive to fight other dogs. Temperament is both hereditary and learned - a truth widely understood among knowledgeable dog breeders, researchers and behaviorists.

I love dogs - all breeds. I am stringently against breed-specific legislation. As I've said, I've known wonderful pit bulls, and pain in the butt pit bulls - just as with any other breed. But the matter of fighting lineage, along with jaw strength and lack of warning - these are traits that require a knowledgeable and strong leadership on the part of the owner. These dogs can be wonderful, but many pit bulls aren't just for anyone.

Ccitizen-
I PMed you on the side with contact detail.

As a note, sometimes I recognize my choice of wording could be better in these posts, but I always only provide information once the police tell that it is clear and it is safe to explain. So in the instances that you ask for specific block information during a month, as is the case here, I will need to circle back with them and get their ok as always.

In the case that you have a future concern, Police Captain McDonough and I are at most community meetings

Have a great weekend
Steven Fulop

for those of you so against pit bulls, I suggest that you watch the "Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel and see what Ceasar Milan does.

Pit bulls are not "killer" dogs. There are dog owners that irresponsibly train the dog in negative ways to constantly get an attack response out of the dog for the purpose of fighting. If the dog were trained and reinforced in positive ways, this response wouldn't occur. If people would be responsible, keeping their animals on leashes and keeping them in a calm, submissive state, attacks wouldn't occur.

Dogs are social and hierarchical animals where there's a pack leader (which should be the human when interacting with us) and followers. There's a lot that we humans can do to keep dogs in a calm, submissive state. It is up to the humans to rehabilitate the dog and it's up to the humans to reinforce a submissive state. Killing a pit bull because *maybe* he'll attack someone isn't the answer.

Keep in mind that the first site you posted is a commercial site, part of whose purpose is to help people find dog breeders - naturally, with client links of pit bull breeders, they just might skip over the problems inherent in the breed. As well, I can't tell you how many people I've run into who speak up for pit bulls in much the way the second link you've provided does - even as far as calling informed, concerned folks (many of whom are involved in animal rescue, adoption and temperament testing) "uninformed", "overreactive" and "ignorant". However, notice how, in the site's articles, little mention is made of the pit bull's jaw strength, and lack of warning before the bite.

As I've said so many times about this matter, there are two sides to the situation. Just as with any breed, there are great pit bulls - wonderful animals who are beautifully socialized and a dream with people and other animals. Unfortunately, there are pit bulls who are maladjusted, and a danger to other animals - and at times to other people, as well. This truth applies to ALL breeds, not just the pit bull. But, taking into consideration the two truths I brought up before - jaw strength and characteristic lack of warning - the possibility of damage is much worse when a pit bull's involved.

Sorry to call into question the sites you've posted, but my involvement in animal rescue, as well as contacts with breed rescue coordinators (two of whom are actually directly involved with pit bull rescue) gives me a different take on the matter. When folks who are deeply and emotionally connected to the breed admit openly that such faults exist, well, I'm not one to argue.

While I am not a pit bull owner, I am a dog person - regardless of breed. These dogs are just the current "evil" dog - previously it had been rotties, dobies and GSDs.

It is terribly unfair to lump those dogs who are obviously bad representations of the breed in with the many good representations of this breed.

According to many sources across the Web, human aggression is not a tolerable trait in pit bull type breeds. It was not tolerable with the dogmen of old who fought these dogs and it certainly should not be tolerable today.

Dog aggression and human aggression are two seperate entities and one should not be linked to the other. Just because a dog wants to eat another dog does not mean it will lead to said dog biting a person.

Dog aggression can be managed. I know, I do it every single day with our 7 y/o JRT/spaniel mix. He positively hates other dogs. He is extremely people friendly, however.

It is true that pit bulls are getting more media attention right now, but again, they're just the devil dog of the current time. There is no reason to rush out and ban these animals with fear-based bans like Denver has done.

What needs to occur is dog owners, in general, need to be more responsible for their animals. They need to know when and where their dog is at all times and keep them maintained, attend proper obedience classes and be responsible for their animal.

If their dog shows signs of human aggression, regardless of breed, it should be seen by a canine behavioralist and checked by a vet to make sure their are no underlying causes. If it continues to worsen/cannot be managed, the dog should be humanely euthanized.

If it is a shelter dog, temperment testing is definately the way to go. Properly screened homes and euthanization of all dogs, pit bulls or otherwise, that are not of sound temperment.

It's called responsibility and those who don't want to take it should not own a dog.

... I see people around Journal Square who are running there pitbulls off the leash, and training the dogs to be extra-agressive. That bothers me because one day someone is gonna get mauled. Especially since many owners of pitbulls refuse to get their dog neutred, because of their own machismo, and the belief that neutering a dog makes it less agressive.
... If there was a law mandating that all pitbulls in JC had be neutered and on a leash, then the dogs would be less dangerous....
....If you ban pitbulls outright, then people are just going to get rottweiler dogs or some other breed of fighting dog.

i want an answer on this.

Jersey city (we) are giving money and land for this place which mostly used for pit bull placement - 80%+!

Jersey City is getting over run with these killers -- There will be a law suit one of these days -- worse there will be a horrible attack on someone!

http://www.theunexpectedpitbull.com/donate.html
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Pit bull apologists, wake up
by C.W. Nevius - San Francisco Chronicle

Eighty-eight year old Mabel Wong was still in critical condition in John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek on Monday. She's been there since a week ago last Saturday, battling for her life, after a horrible mauling by a neighbor's pit bull near her Concord home.

In the aftermath, people wondered how it could happen. What did this little elderly lady do to trigger such an attack? The answer is simple and blunt. Nothing.

"This lady had interacted with this dog hundreds of times,'' said Lt. Abe Gamez of Contra Costa Animal Services. "She was just trying to get from one place to another.''

Whenever there is an account of a mauling by a pit bull, there is a howl of protest from those who love the breed. There are no bad dogs, just bad owners, they say. Or they ask how the media reporting the incident knew the dog was a pit bull. Pit bulls, they insist, are no more inherently dangerous than any other breed of dog.

That's not true.

"What I usually say is that it is not uncommon to spend thousands of dollars breeding a good hunting dog,'' says Gamez. "With a good hunting dog, that is not something you teach -- he's got it in his genes. The pit bull is bred for fighting.''

"You can't make a German shepherd stop herding,'' says Merritt Clifton, editor of the Washington-based Animal People magazine. "You can't make a Chihuahua stop barking.''

It is at this point that everyone starts yelling at each other and pointing fingers. My pit bull, someone says, plays with my children every day. He's the cutest, most affectionate pet we've ever had. Pits are no more aggressive or dangerous than beagles.

That's not true.

According to a study by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, covering the years between 1979 and 1994, pit bulls were involved in 57 fatal attacks -- well over twice the number for the next breed on the list, rottweilers, with 19, and more than German shepherds (17), huskies (12) and malamutes (12) combined. A 2000 study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association concluded that pit bulls "were involved in 65 fatal attacks between 1979 and 1998 ... twice that of rottweilers and more than three times German shepherds.''

Even more damning are the statistics kept by Clifton, a dog activist who has been keeping meticulous records since 1982 of dog attacks severe enough to have been reported in the media. It should be noted that Clifton excludes attacks by guard dogs, police dogs and trained fighting dogs and does not chart cases where the breed is uncertain.

The numbers are stunning. As of last week, meaning Mabel Wong's mauling would be included, pit bulls were cited in 831 attacks. The next closest was the rottweiler with 373. No other breed made it out of double digits.

"They are off the charts,'' says Gamez. "If you look at the fatals and severe bites, you will see the majority are rottweilers and pits.''

But that's just part of the story. If you've been to an animal shelter lately, you know that it seems like half the dogs there are pit bulls. Naively, our family thought that was because families were not adopting them.

Actually, it is the result of a population boom in pit bulls. In the three days before the Fourth of July holiday, Clifton contacted 22 animal shelters, and compared the results with a study he did 11 years ago. In a sample of 2,918 dogs, he found that the number of rottweilers and pit bulls had increased five times, including an "astonishing'' four times more pit bulls. And, it is important to note that with spay and neuter programs, the number of animals of all breeds in shelters has actually been decreasing.

"I've been in this business since 1975,'' Gamez says. "In those days, we used to pick up lots of types of dogs, Irish setters, Afghans. Now you walk into a shelter, and every other dog is a pit bull. This has been going on for 10 years. It may appear to be exploding, but it has been happening exponentially.''

The result is more opportunities for that sudden, unexpected moment when a pit bull loses control. Gamez says he always cautions his officers to keep an eye on pit bulls when capturing them.

"They don't growl,'' says Gamez, who was also part of the team investigating the Shawn Jones mauling case in Richmond. "It usually just comes right after you. These dogs can just go off. And when they do, they cause tremendous damage.''

What can be done? Gamez says it is important to report incidents of menacing or intimidating behavior by dogs in your neighborhood to animal control. As in the Diane Whipple case in San Francisco, where people came forward after the fatal attack with accounts of having had earlier concerns about the dogs, Wong's neighbors are now reporting having had problems with the dog that attacked her.

And some cities and states are considering "breed specific'' legislation, passing a law to keep pit bulls and rottweilers out of populated neighborhoods. The idea has encountered a firestorm of opposition from owners and dog organizations.

"The human community has been in denial for 20 years,'' says Clifton. "There's only hope where we begin to recognize the problem. We need to get that layer of denial lifted.''

In the meantime, if you encounter a pit bull or a rottweiler, keep an eye on it no matter how often its owner says it is the sweetest little pup you've ever seen. That's especially true if it is a "rehabilitated'' dog, which has supposedly had its breeding curbed by good training.

"Rehabilitated,'' says Gamez, "means it hasn't bitten anyone lately.''

Call the EEOC, let them help you to get rid of this cretin.

All the calls, emails to politicians in the world won't do it.

It's too bad there's politics at the animal shelter too.

Maybe you need Steve Fulop to shake things up, like he did with the Police Chief.

A good point. (Fast eddie is referring to the Chief of Police.)




Quote:

Again I just want to stress -- Pit-Bulls and dogs bred to fight might be good with their owners but may not be good with their owner's children or with other people oout in the world - not to mention other dogs and animals. If these breeds get "set off" they are very scarey! They have killed and maimed countless people! It is an on going and daily problem across america -- just look, any random time, at the news. LAS should not be adopting these breeds out to older people, or to people with children -- maybe they shouldn't be adopting them at all! I think JC should look into a ban of these breeds, as many other cities are already doing. I know the government should not be supporting this in any way! Spay & Nueter and put them all on a remote secure farm somewhere -- Lovers of these dogs can donate to this/these farms and we can let the bred die out naturally -- but don't ask children and adult victims to pay the high price of keeping these breeds out and about.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned ... l+attack&btnG=Search+News

Quote:

Another 2 cents and another couple of steps away from the real topic of this thread...

I have met a few really sweet pitbulls and have fortunately never had a run-in with an aggressive one. But, my understanding of the American Temperament Test is that it really tests a dog's ability to distinguish when its appropriate or not to express aggressive, protective or defensive behavior, not really whether or not the dog has it in him to be aggressive. Its also important to distinguish the amount of damage a pitbull can inflict compared to say, a golden retriever, which has a lower average score on the ATT (not sure if that's a fact, I haven't checked but assume you have). Whereas an aggressive golden retriever would tend to bite and let go or bite and hold to restrain, pit bulls are programmed to inflict the maximum amount of damage and will not hesitate to do so. Pitbulls also have an extremely high tolerance to pain and will fight until exhaustion. We should be cognizant of what this means for someone who sets off the aggression in a pit bull as opposed to a golden retriever or beagle when we go touting the pit bulls ATT score.

Steve,

I appreciate the energy you are focusing on this and other issues. Can you help us understand the department's position on why an open air drug market, like the one everyone is aware of on Wayne Street, is allowed to exist year after year?

Just hopping on in to add my 2 cents...

It's great that the pits you're allowed to walk are temperament-tested, and I can definitely say that I've met some really wonderful pits while out and about. However... I've also met pits that, while great with people, are basically nightmares with other dogs. It's important to remember that this breed has many, many years of lineage with a specific purpose - to fight other dogs. The other, more positive side to this matter is that they were bred to get along beautifully with, and respect, human beings.

Of course, every dog is different - I definitely believe that each animal has its own personality. However, it's unwise, and dangerous, to ignore the history of dog fighting in the pit bull's lineage. And although fights can start up between any two dogs, the immense strength of a pit's jaws can cause much, much more damage than that of many other dogs. Sadly, I've seen the aftermath of this in person - being involved in dog rescue and adoption groups, a good number of otherwise well-mannered pits have been turned in thanks to a spat with another dog within the same residence. Compared to the tears/lacerations/puncture wounds caused by most dogs, those that a pit can inflict are on a completely different level.

I greatly admire your volunteer work with the shelter, Welela - I have a huge appreciation for folks involved with rescue and adoption. But pits require a very high level of awareness on the part of the owner - obedience, socialization and temperament work are key.

I hope things work out well with the situation at the LAS. Will definitely be looking further into what the original poster claims.

I am a volunteer at the shelter and can attest to the fact that pit bulls are wonderful dogs. American Temperment Testing has given them a passing score of 86.6 percent. That's a higher rating than a Golden Retriever. One of the most famous pit bulls of all time is "Petey" of "The Little Rascals". The ones that we are allowed to walk are all tested before we can touch them. I have NEVER had one growl or show any signs of aggression towards me. They are my all-time favorites to walk.

Please come and volunteer at the shelter and you can see for yourself how great these dogs are. And please support the shelter manager so she can keep doing the wonderful job that she has been doing all along!

...Watch what you say, 'cause you can be sued for libel and defamation, if you don't have evidence and/or witnesses.

....As for pitbulls....I saw once a pitbull trying to eat a cat...the poor cat was trapped under a car, and the owner was goading along the pitbull.....and shouting "get him!"

I will be calling in and writing in to support the Shelter. The city needs an Animal Control Officer who supports the Shelter, its workers, its volunteers and the animals, not to mention working on behalf of the community instead of his own self-interest.

My understanding is that the Liberty Shelter came into being because another shelter that the city was dealing with previously was a disaster, shelter worker killed a dog by beating it to death with a shovel.

One would think if the Animal Control Officer was truly concerned about animals he would be working with the Liberty Shelter rather than against it. I have not heard one good word about this guy from anyone.

Obviously 30 years in the position is enough, talk about a waste of city money if he is spending it harassing people and the shelther instead of spending his time and city resources on helping animals. Get rid of the guy.

Alan-

I value your opinion so let?s drill down further. This discussion is not really only about murders. In order to not misconstrue my rationale for this request it was not based solely on the murder increase but it was based on an increase in most of types of violent crime including rape, burglary, robbery, auto theft etc. The FBI crime statistics don?t lie. They show Jersey City with an increase in crime since Chief Troy has taken charge of 11%. When comparing these numbers to other municipalities, Newark had a much smaller increase, while NYC actually showed a decrease of .5% and even Camden showed a decrease in violent crimes. Furthermore, Jersey City has dropped in the widely regarded Morgan Quinto rankings of safest cities. To me our poor performance not only jeopardizes the safety of our residents, it jeopardizes property value, and it jeopardizes our standing in the region. Now, if we agree that there is an increase in crime which I think is fairly difficult to dispute the question that needs to be addressed is WHY?

Personally, I have heard many times the Chief?s rationale for the increase in crime however personally, I can?t subscribe to the theory that the increase is solely based on man power because our police force numbers are relatively the same from the previous two administrations to Chief Troy- if anything he has more but there is still less visibility. Furthermore, I can?t subscribe to the theory that crime is increasing everywhere in NJ because if you look at statistics of our neighboring cities as cited earlier several have shown a decrease.

To me, the issue is based in deployment changes as he has taken many police out of uniform into plain clothes, and the massive promotions the Chief has pushed through the system last year despite tax increases facing the city. As the Jersey Journal has cited we have a very high number of supervisors to officers now. This is a management issue. It is never easy to put pressure on someone?s job but the first priority is too correct a wrong situation.

In the last week since my request, Chief Troy has held more commander meetings. Furthermore, he has returned several walking posts back on the street, he has moved additional police details to night shifts that previously were not, he has shown up at several community meetings, and the police visibility has increased overall in many parts of the city. Although it has only been one week since pressure mounted, I think this is a step in the right direction. We need to address crime aggressively in this city without excuses, and I wholeheartedly believe that mediocre performance in any government department is unacceptable when considering what our taxpayers are asked to pay.

Steven Fulop

The "why" part of your question GrovePath is because of the Liberty Humane Societies (LHS) proximity to the Greenville and Bergen Lafayette sections of Jersey City. These areas are stocked full of pitbulls. It's the dog of choice in these sections.

I have heard that many of these poor animals in this area are often the ones that could not match up in a fight and were essentially tossed away. The city needs to take a stronger stand on pitbull fighting and if you are caught fighting a pitbull then you will not be allowed to own another one. That goes for the pitbulls that have had histories of aggressive behavior. Sporting a macho, bad-ass dog that could fly off the handle and hurt someone is a person with little intelligence. To be fair, I am not talking about all pitbull owners. Only the ones that fight them or walk, in public, a knowling ill-mannered onen.

Until this area changes the main dog for adoption at the LHS will be the pitbull. Perhaps the neighboring humane societies could shuffle other breeds of dogs around for more of a selection.



Quote:

"he seemed to think it was such an accomplishment to be down 75% compared to last January when a whole family was slaughtered"


I was at that meeting - my first. Granted the acoustics were awful, but I think I heard Troy say that you couldn't compare last January to this because of the slaughter of one family - that calling the numbers going down an improvement was misleading.

I think Fulop sounded silly by saying he was a "numbers man" after Troy made a good case for numbers needing interpretation.

Thanks for the update, brewster. Those were good questions & insight. Chief Troy (aka The Chief) was in the NWA meeting last week or so, and now HPNA's. I wonder when he's coming to a VVPNA meeting. I will do my best to attend.