(02/12/13) - What's it going to take to make Flint a safer place to live? Tuesday night, those who call Flint home had a chance to have their say.
One thing that came out Tuesday - Flint's top law enforcers say they're up against two big problems when it comes to fighting crime: witnesses are afraid to come forward, and the police department's technology is out of date.
"People need to not worry about retaliation, they need to not, don't worry about being a rat," said Jerry Boles, a retired Lansing police chief and consultant for the Flint police department through Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice.
That's what Flint-area leaders say is the biggest challenge to fighting crime. They talked about this during a forum called "Making Flint a Safer City."
The panel was made up of the Flint police chief, Boles and more.
"If people don't provide the information that police and investigators need to close cases and make arrests and recover property after the fact, their hands are tied," he said.
It's something even neighborhood watch groups say they struggle with.
"It's hard in every neighborhood, including our own, to get enough people involved," said Craig Wolcott with the College Cultural Neighborhood Association. "People naturally always feel like if someone is out there doing something, they don't have to be involved."
Another key point from the forum: technology upgrades are on the way that should help police do their job.
"It's updating technology that should've been done years ago as far as the police department is concerned," Boles said. "In terms of computers and software, crime analysis, crime mapping, being able to link different cases, different suspects, different areas."
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:33 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:33:06 GMT
(05/22/13)- Memorial Day weekend is upon us and that could mean major headaches for drivers traveling through a stretch of Saginaw County. Construction projects on southbound I-75 and on the Zilwaukee
Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and that could mean major headaches for drivers traveling through a stretch of Saginaw County.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:28 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:28:04 GMT
(5/21/2013) - A second teenager has died following an accident last Friday near the Genesee-Shiawassee County border. Michigan State Police say 16 year old Brandon Anderson of Byron died this afternoon
A second teenager has now died after an accident last Friday near the Genesee-Shiawassee County border.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:20:00 GMT
(05/22/2013) ACO Hardware is closing more than a dozen stores including several in Mid-Michigan. They include locations in Fenton, Lapeer, Clio, Saginaw, and Essexville. Company officials say the closings
ACO Hardware is closing more than a dozen stores including several in Mid-Michigan.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:18:54 GMT
(5/212/2013) - Nexteer Automotive in Saginaw County receives a tax credit expansion tied to job creation. Last October, the Buena Vista Township company announced a goal of bringing 325 new jobs to the
(5/212/2013) - Nexteer Automotive in Saginaw County receives a tax credit expansion tied to job creation. Last October, the Buena Vista Township company announced a goal of bringing 325 new jobs to the
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:38 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:38:03 GMT
(05/22/13) - In Saginaw County, two woman have been killed in a car accident that may have been caused by wet roads. It happened around 1 p.m. Wednesday on Junction Road, between Reimer and Dixie Highway
In Saginaw County, two woman have been killed in a car accident that may have been caused by wet roads.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:31 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:31:53 GMT
(05/22/13) - His life changed more than a year ago when he lost both arms and legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. But he hasn't let those injuries change his outlook on life.Staff Sergeant Travis
His life changed more than a year ago when he lost both arms and legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, but he hasn't let those injuries change his outlook on life.
