Worcester Police Chief: My Commitment to Keeping the City Safe
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Most of the people I knew growing up came from modest financial means and homes. Our multi-family houses usually had plenty of stairs for us to walk up to our second and third floor apartments. People seemed to get along and respect one another. There was a network of mothers who kept us in line and kept each other informed. Somehow our mischief was reported before we made it home and punishment was certain and swift.
The City was, and has always been, diverse, tolerant, and protective. Some refer to America as a “melting pot,” where people assimilate into a cohesive whole. I see Worcester as a “melding pot” - as in to blend or become blended; combine - to join together, unite, merge.
Growing up in Worcester most of the families I knew were a combination of two different European Nationalities. There were among others Italian-Irish, Polish-Italian, Irish-Lithuanian, French-Italian families. While these ethnic groups merged to form families, their dual heritage was visible through food and tradition. The neighborhood was also represented by families from Lebanon, Syria, Puerto Rico, and at the Friendly House we met children from other races and cultures.
Neighborhoods were strong and a source of both identity and pride. People recognized you from where you lived, and even before they asked you your name they would ask – “where you from?” I'm from Grafton Hill, Tatnuck, Main South, Vernon Hill, or Shrewsbury Street (even when some didn't actually live on Shrewsbury Street) would be some of the responses.
The City back then was relatively safe. Growing up you felt comfortable in your neighborhood and because you rarely ventured out of your neighborhood there was more apprehension when you did. This fear was based more on perception than reality. You would convince yourself that other neighborhoods weren't as safe or that the people who lived there were somehow different.
Today most people feel safe in their neighborhood but continue to have general fear based on perception that certain locations or neighborhoods in the City are less safe. What adds to this perception, and what is different today, are incidents of gun violence. Particularly the type we witnessed over the past week - a domestic homicide followed by the assailant's suicide and a brazen daytime shooting on a busy street.
While tragic, domestic violence or assaults between individuals who know each other can happen in any neighborhood. In Worcester there are very few incidents of serious random violence. What we do know about most shootings is that a high percentage occurs between people involved in drugs, gangs, or has some type of personal relationship. Sadly, many of our shooting victims and suspects are well known to us working in the criminal justice field.
To give you some perspective on gun violence, in 2005 there were thirty-three shootings in the City of Worcester compared to last year when there were fifteen. Also, in 2011 we had twelve less victims than in 2010 and eighteen less than we had in 2005. Our community has seen a dramatic reduction in shootings as a result of several police and community based initiatives. As a department we never minimize the impact that these events have in our community.
But fortunately, Worcester remains safe because many of our best qualities haven't changed. We continue to be a diverse and tolerant community with strong neighborhoods. The sense of protectiveness is evident and persists within our fifty or so neighborhood watch groups. Members of these groups tend to keep an eye on each other and actively participate in making their neighborhood safe. We could always use more involvement as well as that old network of mothers that kept us in line.
While my message may be somewhat nostalgic, as a lifelong resident of Worcester's district 3 who grew up on Grafton Hill, I am proud of my neighborhood identity. I feel fortunate to work as a police officer in the city where I was born and raised. I have the utmost respect for the hard working men and women of the police department - officers who serve with pride, dedication, and distinction. And finally, as your police chief, I can assure you that I have a strong personal commitment to keeping Worcester a safe City where people want to live, work, and raise a family.
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