Is newly-formed task force Getting Results on Crime?

Violent Crime Intervention Task Force - 3 weeks, 1 meeting later

Three weeks ago, after a 9-year-old girl sleeping on her couch was hit in the leg during a drive-by shooting, Sheriff Jerry Demings announced the formation of a Violent Crime Intervention Task Force.

A week and a half ago, the task force met for the first time. More than 150 people attended - not just law enforcement, but also Pastors, teachers, school leaders, and neighborhood watch-persons. Demings said they all expressed interested in the 4 areas on which the task force will focus: prevention, intervention, enforcement and prosecution.

News 6 anchor Erik von Ancken interviewed Demings the day he announced the task force. Wednesday afternoon, von Ancken followed up with Demings.

"Since we last talked, how is this task force getting results?" asked von Ancken.

"The task force is something that will be put in place over time," said Demings. "Many of the solutions to the issues in which young people being involved in violent crime is not something that can be solved overnight."

Demings said the people who attended the first task force meeting will now be organized into groups based on the areas in which they expressed interest. Demings said the groups will then discuss solutions to steering juveniles away from crime. He believes everyone, not just law enforcement, has a responsibility to come up with a solution.

"At the end of the day I really want the community to provide some positive alternatives for the young people hanging out on the street corner getting in trouble," said Demings. "This is not something police can solve. Remember, these are human beings choosing to go out and rob people, shoot people, and kill people. That starts in their homes."

This year in Orange County, 11 juveniles have been shot. Two of them died.

Bonnie Hyberger likes the idea of a task force with long-term goals. But her community needs help in the short term, she said. Hyberger lives behind the home on 22nd Street where the 9-year-old was shot. She's lived on the same block for 20 years.

"They can talk the talk but they need to walk the walk, that's what it comes down to," said Hyberger. "We just had a stabbing 6 days ago on the corner... 3 weeks to a month ago, one got shot and killed."

"I won't make it to the long term, I'm terminally ill," said Hyberger. "But while I'm here, I would like to be able to enjoy my porch. I would like to be able to come out of my house. Is there going to be a drive by? Are the hookers going to be picked up in my driveway?"

Demings said his deputies are getting results on crime in the short term, as well. He said he has increased patrols, started a pilot-program that put private security guards in two neighborhoods, and began using software that predicts when and where crime will happen.

"So, in the short terms things are going on and have been going on that's why violent crime overall is down, but to reduce it long term I want double-digit types of reduction that's going to take a more holistic approach," said Demings. "Don't look at as the glass being half-empty. We're trying to come up with positive solutions. Gotta give it a chance."
 


About the Author:

Erik von Ancken anchors and reports for News 6 and is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist in the prestigious and coveted "On-Camera Talent" categories for both anchoring and reporting.