Worcester’s Emerging Crime Trends: Is the City Safe?

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Monday, September 29, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

In a city where youth are becoming more prevalent in gang crimes, robberies are being strung together, and drugs like heroin are leading to overdose deaths, Worcester is certainly seeing a shift in crime.

Capped by a recent shooting of a 15-year-old boy and an armed sexual assault at Worcester State University, Worcester is certainly seeing an increase in violent crimes. Additionally, the recent heroin overdose epidemic and issues with illegal synthetic marijuana being sold in convenience stores is bringing to light the many drug problems that the city is facing.

“I feel safe in the city, but I know that there are plenty of people who don’t, especially elderly people in the Main St. area,” said Joan Tolson, a Worcester resident of 50 years. “I don’t think that there is more crime in the city, but the types of crimes that people are doing are getting worse. It seems like there are more gang and drug crimes in Worcester than there used to be.”

Crime statistics for the city show that crime in the city is beginning to change to a younger generation; more adolescents are becoming the victim or the assailant in violent crimes involving guns and knives. Comparing last summer to this summer, violent crimes – like aggravated assaults and battery – are slightly in the city. Additionally, there has been a slight drop in gun violence overall, but there has been an increase in shootings.

Residents React

Depending on who you ask in the city of Worcester, you may get a different reaction as to whether or not they feel the city is safe or not.

Patty Genese – who has worked in the Main South community for over 20 years – believes that the city is safe. Having lived in Worcester her entire life, Genese has never felt anything but safe and says that she walks around at night and in areas associated with crime without issue.

According to Sheryl Senior, she lives in the city, but tries to avoid interactions in the city at all costs. There are certain areas of Worcester that Senior feels unsafe in, saying that she will intentionally avoid the areas but driving around them.

“Statistical data for Worcester shows that violent crimes are getting younger and younger,” said Bill Breault, Chair of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety. “Not only are the people involved in crimes getting younger, but their bases are expanding. We are working with the police daily to try to keep a lid on crime, but we really need our communities to come together so that we all can address the issue at hand.”

Youth Crimes

Although crime is always a hot button topic in Worcester, youth and adolescent crimes are rapidly becoming one of the largest concerns throughout the city of Worcester, as made evident by 13 of the city’s 28 shootings this year having a victim aged 19 or under.

The issue has recently come to a head with the shooting of a 15-year-old boy of September 17th, drawing concerns of Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme and the City Council.

While the city council looks to ways to solve the problem through community outreach and other avenues, City Councilor Sarai Rivera cautioned the other Councilors, telling them some concerns may be raised by people who have been working on this issue at the ground level throughout the city because they have raised concerns and strategies in the past and have been relatively unheard.

“There’s also a level of frustration,” said Councilor Sarai Rivera at the most recent City Council meeting. “People have expressed ideas and strategies on this already. We should be able to be open-minded and say where we’ve faulted. We need to really think outside the box…to move forward.”

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Related Slideshow: Worcester Crime Trends and Lack of Police Transparency

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