First he attacks a city council member who is a Republican. Now Berger goes after the Sheriff. One would think that the moves to reduce crime and bring in business would be priority number one. But that would be too sensible.
Berger said his primary focus is public safety and criticized Beck for how he handled a series of drug raids last week, which included inviting the media, Magnus and Allen County commissioners. Berger called the raids a “staged event†that endangered the public and officers.
“These kind of Rambo tactics simply are not acceptable,†Berger said. “The sheriff needs to demonstrate by his behavior that he is interested in teaming with all law enforcement in Allen County in order to improve the safety of the community and reduce crimes.â€
Beck defended himself saying the raids were far from a staged event.
Tells you the perspective each is coming from. I believe the public is interested in seeing law enforcement at work. It may also put a little awareness in the mind of the ‘bad buys’ that they may be next.
“The media was taken because the public deserves to see we are aggressively attacking the drug problem in the city of Lima,†Beck said. “The public does not care what color the uniform is when it comes to safety. They want help and they deserve help.â€
Beck also restated what he said last week about crime in the city. Police officials and Berger have said crime is down, Beck said. Reported statistics may say it’s down but to rely simply on those numbers is highly misleading, he said.
Mayor says crime is down. Of course he would because of his desire to maintain the “image” of Lima. The Sheriff says crime is not down.
Beck’s department made 370 felony drug arrests in the city in 2006 an increase of 20 percent from the previous year, he said.
“Crime is not down in the city,†Beck said.
Casual observation would agree with the Sheriff. It doesn’t take too much driving around to see the drug houses around.
Berger said he welcomes help from other agencies in the city fighting crime but not the methods Beck uses.
“Only from the sheriff do we continue to get a set of behavior that fractures partnership relationships,†Berger said.
Magnus said his concerns are with the city of Lima and improving it, which includes accepting help from either the Lima Police Department or the Sheriff’s Office. Magnus said he does not condone the rhetoric between Beck and Berger.
Magnus said he supports any agency that works to rid the city of drugs and crime.
Ray Magnus (Lima City Councilman) gets it. Just wonder if the Mayor will continue the attacks just to save face or embrace a more aggressive approach to cleaning up parts of the city.
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