The U.S. Department of Justice released its 2006 Crime in the United States report Monday (find it here) and there’s all kinds of interesting data to look at, including lots of local stuff.
For example, here’s the staffing levels at our local police departments (and sheriff’s office)*:
The Bremerton Police Department’s “pro act” team of officers conducted another criminal emphasis in the Westpark housing area Monday evening, according to a press release I received today.
Seven officers, from patrol and the detectives division, scoured Westpark for suspicious activity. The area was chosen due to “frequent 911 calls for assistance,” the release said.
Andrew Binion writes:
There’s been much ink spilled lately over the scourge of the “green, leafy substance,” how it can unleash the specter of mental illness and that a single joint of high-quality marijuana can drive a middle-class, classically trained violinist with an eating disorder to suicide.
Democrats vying for their party’s presidential nomination have vowed to keep federal agents from raiding medical marijuana clinics in state’s that have approved the drugs use for treatment of various ailments, and two Republicans running to be their party’s standard bearer have done the same. (story here)
As for your average marijuana-smoker, who probably won’t devolve into a schizophrenic stupor, won’t go on a murder rape rampage and doesn’t smoke pot to help with their “glaucoma” they will certainly lay down some cold, hard cash.
But how much? Not including bail, court costs, lawyer fees and fines if they get busted, how much does the county’s booming cash crop cost?
Andrew Binion writes:
As young couples hoping to tie the knot and save a little money know, instead of hiring a preacher or clergyman that they may or may not know, or agree with, some are having mutual friends of the couple go online and get instantly ordained.
Not only is it cheaper, but it can give the wedding a more personal, intimate feel.
Some of you may have read our story in Saturday’s paper regarding changes a task force could recommend making to the state’s sex offender laws.
GPS monitoring? DNA sampling? A year in jail for probation violation?
Those are just some of the possibilities that could be contemplated by Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge and a team of criminal justice experts. They tapped by the governor to reshape sex offender laws — if necessary — in the wake of the kidnapping and killing Zinaida “Zina” Linnik, 12, on July 4 in Tacoma, allegedly at the hands of a convicted sex offender.
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Law enforcement agencies around the country are finding themselves low on ammo, and at least one local department is finding itself scurrying for bullets.
“We’re in the crunch just like everybody else,” said Greg Rawlins, Bremerton Police lieutenant.
The Associated Press wrote a story dated August 25 chronicling the use of ammunition by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan — coupled with the rising price of metals that make the bullets — is making ammo more expensive and less easy to get.
