Letter to editor: Why are downtown crimes not being reported by local press?
Letter to editor
Why are downtown crimes not being reported by local press?
Dear Editor,
I am trying to discover why the public is not more aware of the escalating crime occurring in downtown Beaufort.
Over the last several months we have seen an increase in not only the number of incidents occurring but also in the type of criminal activity occurring in the core commercial district, waterfront park and city marina.
There has been little to no coverage of this activity including the three muggings that have occurred in the last week.
There have been an increasing number of automobile break ins, office and business break ins, boat break ins at the marina, fights the size of riots requiring the city to request back-up from the County to squelch (before and after the water festival incident).
I have met with the mayor and the police chief and was met with less than indifference and would be willing to share the contents of the meeting if I feel it will be reported on.
Both the mayor and the police chief had some interesting comments.
I am curious if the Gazette has been aware of these issues and has chosen to not report them or if the City has been less than forthright with press on this activity?
Alton Aimar
Beaufort SC
Editor’s comment:
The Beaufort Tribune is forthright in reporting crime without regard to how the news might affect local businesses or local tourism. We have even gone to the extent of creating a separate online publication, MugFaces.com, to inform the public of the names and arrest details of everyone put in the County jail each day.
We did not know about these incidents until they were reported to us today by three concerned citizens. We immediately contacted Chief Clancy for details, which we published a few minutes ago.
Unless law-abiding citizens and visitors perceive they are safe when they go downtown, local businesses will suffer loss of revenue, and our town will suffer loss of reputation, far worse than feared by reports of crime downtown.
If the writer of this letter wishes to share with The Beaufort Tribune the contents of his meeting with the mayor and the police chief, we will be happy to consider publishing them after asking Mayor Keyserling and Chief Clancy for their comments.
Further, we ask our readers always to be forthcoming in reporting to us criminal activities and incidents. We will fearlessly publish these items and seek comments from our police authorities.
Related posts:
- Letter to editor: Downtown parking increase is the last straw
- Letter to editor: New downtown parking plan is excellent
- Letter to editor: If the City keeps on, downtown’s going to be broken
- Letter to editor: No one held accountable for crimes
- Rash of muggings and a robbery in Bay Street commercial area of downtown Beaufort
Comments
4 Responses to “Letter to editor: Why are downtown crimes not being reported by local press?”
As a former resident of this once safe town; the fact that these concerns are being raised once again does not surprise me. It seems as though the government has fallen victim to the act of becoming complacent in their job. A feeling as though, they are pleased with doing just enough to get by and let others ( the citizens of Beaufort)deal with the repercussions. When the citizens see this in their local government they feel stuck, no matter what they do, the complacency has already set in, therefore the crime will flow unless something/anything is done that require change. A sad and real issue is, if a victim or citizen does comes forward with criminal information they are shunned by the very people who were “elected” to protect them and their town. It saddens me to see these issues being raised once again, it is my hope that maybe there will be someone, a leader, to come along seeking great and positive changes in this community.
While I appreciate the economic impact of reporting such criminal activity, creating a false sense of security is criminal and the easy way out. If citizens are aware of the problem, I bet there would be an increased police presence and a public out cry to the stiffest penalties for criminals. Anything less is a cover up that endangers the general public. Shine light on the problem deal with it because not doing so results in more criminal activity.
Ms. Shipper -
It was in the spirit of which you speak, that I approached the Mayor and The police Chief. To share what I had witnessed in a very short period of time and was watching escalate at a fairly rapid pace.
I was hoping to see some swift patrols and police presence in the area, but was very disheartened by not only the lack of concern, but by the excuses I heard from them both as to why nothing would be done.
Since I met with both the Mayor and Police Chief, the criminal activity has grown from property damage to physical violence with three citizens being mugged.
I have to ask, what will be next to occur and what is the City doing to curb the criminal activity that we now know is occuring downtown?
I think the City just had two police officers resign. The information came from a very good source. Since the city is doing more for less they will not be replaced.