WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. Conference with Mayor Joseph Delfino and Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub on Crime Reduction. January 24, 2008: In a Conference Call today with WPCNR, Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub and Mayor Joseph Delfino discussed the decrease  in crime trends in the city and the community team effort that has made the city one of the safest cities you can  live. White Plains is a city where the  Part I crime most often committed in 2007  was shoplifting by young persons; where assaults are mostly street scuffles, robberies  mostly involving taking I-pods and cellphones committed again by the younger segment, and where home burglaries were lowered 35% in one year.

Dr. Frank Straub, White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety, left and Mayor Joseph Delfino, September, 2007 WPCNR News Archives

In one year, Robberies were reduced by 40%; Aggravated Assaults by 19% to an 18 year low; Burglaries by 35%. Over a 42 year period (when the city was smaller). In 1965 there were 1,925 Part I crimes and in 2007, there were 1,162 Part I Crimes.  In the last 5 years, Larcenies (mostly shoplifting) have been reduced 35%; Burglaries, 70%, Aggravated Assaults, 37%.

In a wide ranging conversation today, The Commissioner said there was no gang presence in White Plains mainly due to extensive networking with youth by the city’s Youth Bureau. He stated  narcotics trafficking was very low, and that the street homeless presented no crime threat to the citizens.  The department maintains such effective outreach with criminals who are released back into White Plains that only 9 of 84 were rearrested in one year, the Commissioner noted.

Commissioner Straub said he was not surprised by the dramatic drop in crime since his department monitors incidents daily, identifies hotspots: “We are very precise at measuring crime data, we look at our numbers every 24 hours 7 days a week. We’re very attuned to emerging trends, public safety issues and we try to put things in place to prevent crimes rather than waiting to react until the horse is out of the barn.”

Outreach the Equalizer

Mayor Delfino  said police outreach to persons at risk was unique in making the “safe” difference:   “I think the other thing that’s so important is there have been so many programs implemented  in the last five years by our police department particularly those in high risk, the program we won the award for from the National League of Cities, the Step-Up Youth Program where our police officers have a one-on-one with our young high-risk teens in our city where the relationship between the high risk and the police department has gotten much, much closer, and the relationship  has gotten so much better that it’s been a tremendous help in the reduction of crime. 

Another thing is the training of our police officers has made so much a difference. One that has been exceptional is the Pyschological and Crisis Intervention Technicians where these men and women are trained how to handle the situation, particularly those who have mental issues, and the homeless, and handle the situation in a manner which reduces physical injuries to the people of White Plains and the police officer. Those types of programs make a difference in getting our crime down. To think with all we’ve had from traffic, to crime, the number of people with the Renaissance we’ve had,  that Part I Crimes have been reduced to the lowest level in 42 years is an outstanding accomplishment .

 Safer Roads

The Mayor also said the roads were demonstrably safer:

“Last year we only had 285 injuries in traffic accidents, which is a record low. We have not had a traffic fatality in White Plains in 2007, nor have we had a homicide since May of 2006. How did this happen with traffic? The summonses we’ve given were really to support national safety programs, inspections to make sure cars were in the condition they were. Between the traffic department, where Tom Soyk does an unbelievable job, and the police working together we were able to accomplish that.”

Asked the effect  the Traffic Initiative, in effect for the last four years, whether it was a crime suppressant,  Dr. Straub said it was definitely a crime deterrent, and credited a city team effort:

“I think we have an incredibly unique city. The Mayor has this saying, there’s nothing we can’t do when we work together. When you look at two things, one being traffic. We’re very aggressive in writing summonses; very aggressive in driver education checkpoints, DWI checkpoints. But, reductions, no fatalities, a reduction as significant as this is in serious injuries, that doesn’t happen without the cooperation of the Parking Department and the Traffic Department. It also happens because of the Planning Department.  As we open up new streets, plan construction projects, we all talk about things as projects start, allows the city to plan effectively so that all tools and resources are brought to bear on the situation."

Teamwork

On crime reduction, Straub credited teamwork with other city departments, too:

“We look at the crime numbers. We’re very active as the Mayor said with programs like Step Up, and the Youth Police Initiative. That’s because we’re working with  the Youth Bureau, Parks and Recreation, service providers not-for-profit and other government agencies. It really happens because the message from the Mayor to the commissioners is we have to work in concert. Clearly, the crime statistics show  pretty dramatically what happens after 5-plus years of everybody putting their heads together and putting their best ideas on the table to deal with issues.”

The Traffic Enforcement Effect, Straub said traffic enforcement had a definite impact on crime reduction:

“You know, coming into White Plains, you’re going to have contact with a White Plains Police Officer and a Parking Enforcement Officer, so I think there is clearly a preventive value there. Also,  just the mere interaction of police officers with motorists sends a message that you’re again going to come in contact with a police officer so you need to conduct yourself in a manner that is consistent with “no crime.” You’re not going to be coming into the city with a gun in your car. You’re not going to be coming into the city with drugs in your car. Because there is a high probability that there’s going to be an interaction with an enforcement type person.”

A Safe Place to Visit

I asked if White Plains has a reputation among those prone to commit crimes as a place not to commit crimes.

Mayor Delfino took this question. “I’m out there a lot as you know, John. I’m in common places, I visit downtown a lot. I’m around young people a lot, 21 and older. I can tell you the feeling is, when you’re in White Plains you have to behave. It’s proactive in a sense we work with our colleges to assure their students who come here are comfortable, safe, and get back to colleges safe. We’ve had recent meetings about that.  We want to be sure  when you come here we want you to enjoy the city. The Renaissance is for everyone. But, in turn, you live by the rules when you’re here.

The police presence isn’t because we have high crime, obviously, you can see by the numbers, the fact is the presence is there and we have concern. They come here and they say, in White Plains, you can have a good time, but you better be careful  because you have to live by the rules. That’s the way we want it to be. That’s why we do the DWI checks. It’s a safety for them, for pedestrian issues. It works for everybody’s benefit. The comment of there’s a lot of cops around that comment is only because we are concerned about them and our residents.”

Presence is Real

I asked the Commissioner how the sense of police presence is created

“ I go back to our concept of data gathering and analysis. The idea is to put the police out on the street when they are most needed. As we pick up a pattern or a trend that’s where we deploy our resources. One of the examples is the Neighborhood Conditions Unit. They work from 6 at night to 4 in the morning, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday. They work primarily in the Central Business District.

What you just heard the Mayor say, people come to White Plains because they feel safe here bringing their families, bringing there friends, because of the police presence. We’ve moved police resources based on the data we’re gathering in those 24 hour cycles.”

The Downtown Connection

The Mayor added, “You mentioned the hot spots in our city, Frank,  when we think there’s an issue in a specific neighborhood, if we see a high concentration there, that’s where we put the people. I don’t know if you know this John, but   we meet with the restaurant and pub owners semi-annually and we discuss with them the roles, we’re there to help them, and whatever actions they should be taking.

"The latest incident at Prophecy, I cannot thank them enough.( Editor’s Note: the restaurant Prophecy called the police when they noticed some teens arriving for a party who needed help.)  The owner of Prophecy was in attendance at the last meeting we had with restaurant owners. We told them, if there’s an incident at your place, call the police department, we’re here to help you. I was in a place last night, where the comment was made, by a person who owns pubs in other communities, said, one thing about White Plains, they are there (the police) and they are helpful. That’s the difference, Frank, even the owners here feel comfortable that we are here to help.”

Asked how he had contributed to building this atmosphere, Dr. Straub said, “I think the police department always enjoyed a good relationship with the community. I’ve said this at neighborhood meetings. We’re public servants. The White Plains community pays our salaries, our obligation every day is to deliver the highest caliber of service that we can. Going into a bar or restaurant and writing a summons after an incident accomplishes nothing. Having Lieutenant  (Kevin) Christopher out there talking to them every day, talking to them and building relationships that prevents problems and that’s what really policing needs to be about."