HomeMy WebLinkAboutTo the Editor-Sandstedt 020805Dear Editor,
The unfortunate robbery of Krogei s
Grocery Store in Bryan last Saturday is
certainly cause for concern to all citi-
zens of this area. When it is combined
with the reports of the multiple burglar-
ies which occurred this past week-end,
the result is news that makes grim read-
ing for all of us. To my mind, these
events are significant because they rep-
resent a phase in a steady increase in
crime and lawlessness in this area. Un-
fortunately, this is also true of the na-
tion as a whole, as the recently publish-
ed Presidential report on crime and the
administration of justice in the United .
States clearly shows. The purpose of
this letter is the suggest some possible
steps for a better attack on the problem
at the Bryan-Brazos County level.
At the outset, it should be made
clear that no criticism of any local in-
dividuals or police agencies is intended.
As an attorney, I come into personal
contact with many of our local officers,
and find them to be men of high stand-
ards doing a difficult and dangerous job
to the best of their ability. The point,
however, is not the quality of the indi-
vidual officers, though it is certainly
important. It is that our present system
composed of State police, county offi-
cers and two municipal police depart-
ments is not dealing adequately with
the rising tide of violence and crime in
our area.
Our present system has existed vir-
tually without change, other than to in-
crease the number of officers, for at
least the past 10 years. During this
same period the population of the area
has increased to such an extent that we
have become increasingly metropolitan
in nature. What is needed is a thorough
study of the problems of crime in our
area by a commission of local citizens.
This group should be similar in make-
up to the commission which reported to
the President, and its membership ap-
proved by the City of Bryan, the City
of College Station and Brazos County.
It would seem that Texas A&M Univer-
sity with its police school would be a
most useful source of personnel.
The City of Chicago is an example
of what can be accomplished with proper
technique. There, the crime rate in re-
cent years has fallen, while that of most
other major metropolitan areas and the
nation as a whole has risen. I believe
that this resulted from the efforts of
the chief of police who was a criminolo-
gist at a leading university prior to tak-
ing over his office.
This study should begin immediately.
John L. Sandstedt
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