It seems to me like Greensboro’s growing gang problem could be the first true leadership test for new Police Chief Tim Bellamy.
Bellamy keeps pushing for —-gasp—traditional law enforcement in the form of a gang unit to deal with the problem. But the City Council continues to be a formidable obstacle. Council member Sandy Carmany says she supports a gang unit, but…..
Carmany said she thinks the problem of gangs is something the community as a whole will have to tackle.
“This isn’t a job for the city government alone,” Carmany said. “We have some of the churches and synagogues involved, and I think the faith community, the schools and families are going to have to be a part of this effort as much or more than police.”
Bellamy doesn’t exactly disagree, saying
….such a unit should concentrate on community outreach as much as intelligence.
“That’s an important part of what a unit like that would do,” Bellamy said. “Getting out into the community, educating the public, going into the schools. Those are important things along with the intelligence part of it.”
So does Bellamy really believe that, or is he just appeasing our politically-correct City Council — in the hopes of getting what he wants —– and needs. If Bellamy really thinks the city needs a gang unit, he needs to skip the cops-as-social workers talk and stand up for it in no uncertain terms.
