stlouisinsite's Blog

     To help curtail gang thuggery, beatings and robberies at the Delmar and Forest Park Metrolink stations, KMOX radio breathlessly reports, police may now 'call in air support,' or use a police helicopter.  Wow, really?  St. Louis seems to be experiencing a serious disconnect from reality lately.  First, the news media reported, equally breathlessly, SLPD's plan to use microphones to identify the locations of gunshots in some neighborhoods.

     Really?  How about stop pulling these great sounding stunts, and get serious about combating crime instead.  Because 'air support' and microphones mean absolutely NOTHING if real cops are not on the ground going after the criminals.  Think about it -- these are essentially after the fact fancy sounding techniques that may hide inattention to the real task at hand, and do very little to ensure the safety of St. Louisians.

     Anyone who has recently been in the Delmar Loop or on Metrolink likely has seen evidence of these problems being mentioned on the news.  How difficult is to put an armed police officer -- not a security guard with a walkie/talkie -- or two at these metrolink stations -- and on the trains -- with instructions to do the job of protecting innocent residents?  Personally, I am all for a little efficient billy-clubbing when the occasion calls for it.

     And, then, police might not have to call in 'air support.' 

     And during a stop yesterday at the Forest Park metrolink, the only person providing security that I observed was a completely unarmed -- not even a stick or club -- private guard. 

     Reports I've heard say one of the young men beaten up last week has a damaged eye socket and blurred vision (in contrast to Kmox reporting yesterday the victim had a gash on his forehead). 

     Of course, large groups of people cannot perhaps be stopped before the fact.  But certainly police can be made available and ready for such a possibility.