Tulsa Murder Rate and Taylor's Impact

[swake]

28 murders in the first three and half months of the year, five since the Mayor's crime initiative was rolled out. Wonder if KFAQ or Bates will notice? Good job mayor Taylor!

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0606/335927.html


Operation Bullet Trap, Community Support Credited With Decrease In Murder Rate
Tuesday June 13, 2006 5:37pm   Reporter: Yvonne Harris   Posted By: Kevin King
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'Operation Bullet Trap' Underway To Battle Violent Crime In Tulsa
Tulsa - It's Tulsa's latest tool for fighting crime. But, is it working? Operation Bullet Trap has made more than two hundred arrests since it began nearly two months ago. NewsChannel 8's Yvonne Harris is checking up on the progress.

Something had to be done about Tulsa's rising homicide rate. Since the city's 28th murder on April sixteenth, police have made an impact and so has the community.

After that April 16th murder, Tulsa was on pace to have 96 homicides this year. But, there have been just five killings in the 58 days since. The city is still on pace for 73, which would break the record of 69 set in 2003, but no where near the pace seen in the first four months of the year.

Larry McKinney has lived in North Tulsa most of his life.

"Here lately it's been pretty quiet," he says.

Quiet in part because of Operation Bullet Trap, a task force to curb homicides.

"What I've noticed is that since Operation Bullet Trap that the number of reports we get is still numerous, but we're not getting as many reports in that we were getting in."

Also, part of the solution -- community involvement.

"I think we have to provide the kinds of programs to keep young people busy so that they won't want to get involved in all of these negative things," says Reverend M.C. Potter of Antioch Baptist Church.

"A lot of times, these kids out here doing things just need a little love and they're not getting it," says McKinney.

Several community organizations, including the Tulsa Association of Black Journalists, S.A.V.E.S. and Antioch Church are providing safe havens for kids this summer.

"We would like to have the facilities here so that kids can come almost at any time and have something to do," Reverend Potter says.

Potter says the effort has to be ongoing and not a band-aid approach. In fact, on Saturday night at Lacy Park, there is a free poetry event for high school students. Then, next Saturday, an event will be held at Central High School