Friday, June 05, 2015

Detroit New (Car)Jack City

Vindicating Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's statement about not stopping for gas in Detroit, for which he drew considerable flack, comes both a warning from Detroit's Chief of police and statistics.

Chief Craig, likely the finest chief Detroit has had for a very long time, had this to say according to the Detroit News:

During the conversation with reporters Tuesday morning, Craig was asked if he would gas up overnight in the city.

"I wouldn't, but if I had to, I would," Craig said. "But I'd probably be very aware of my surroundings."

Honesty coming from a Detroit official is always welcome, and Craig has been a straight-shooter since his appointment as Detroit's top cop.

Now in the Detroit Free Press, a report shows that half of all car-jackings in the city happen between 9 pm and 3 am with at least 15% of those occurring at gas stations.

Detroit still has a massive crime problem, with 782 (or 720 depending on which article's statistics you use) carjackings occurring last year. Despite some definite achievements to date because of Craig and the Detroit Police Department, there's still a very long way to go before Detroit can become a truly viable city.

Until crime is reduced, it only makes sense to continue to heed Patterson's advice and not stop to fill up at night in Detroit. Those who criticized him for making that statement owe him an apology.

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