With all the drama surrounding the Greensboro Police Department these days, whether it’s the increase in crime or the Wray controversy, you’d think the City Council would grill Chief Tim Bellamy pretty hard regarding the $500K they gave him to help fight crime.
Wrong.
Bellamy stood in front of the council tonight with some stats in his hand. He’s actually spent $119,000 of the money. There was a 5 percent decrease in major crimes from Dec. ’07 to Jan ’08. There have been no arrests in the city’s three homicides so far this year. Larcenies from motor vehicles increased, while the majority of burglaries are not forced-entry. In other words, lock your cars and lock your doors.
Council member Dianne Bellamy-Small questioned Bellamy about trouble areas in her district, and fellow council member Mike Barber asked one question that I couldn’t figure out.
That was it. Bellamy left the podium. The discussion over whether or not the council should meet in small briefing sessions was more lively.
