To the Editor:
Several Alexandria crime reports for essentially the entire month of December show that besides one recorded homicide, we had 105 assaults, 9 robberies, and 115 thefts/break-ins (includes 17 car thefts) during that very short time span. Although it is a given that crime generally spikes during the holiday season, this appears to be much more than a normal perturbation, and is totally out of sight.
I have on a number of occasions indicated that the members of the Alexandria Police force are understaffed and underpaid as compared to other similar local jurisdictions. By not fully staffing the requirements, we end up having a reactive police presence instead of a proactive police force, and we allow the "bad guys" to have easy targets of opportunity in robbing our banks, stores and citizens. By not paying enough, and despite the fact that we may hire really good people, we will lose them to other jurisdictions who will take better care of them. This unsavory dilemma needs to be turned around immediately. During the upcoming fiscal year 2017 budget discussions, this problem has to be remedied.
Our safety net is the most important city government service provided to all our citizens. It affects each and every one of us on a daily basis. We look forward to the resolution of this matter.
Townsend A. “Van” Van Fleet
Alexandria