Police State

Fortnight in Review
By Jayne W. Miller

Crime in Massachusetts. Not being an attorney, a politician, a criminal, or thankfully, a victim, I may not be in a position to write something pithy about crime in Massachusetts.

Yet, I’m a parent and I write stories every week about crime and I’m concerned. The number of murders in Boston is on the rise. Burglaries, home invasions, gun-related violence and especially crimes against children are on the rise all over Massachusetts. In Tewksbury two level three sex offenders, previously convicted and served time for crimes against children, live within a half mile of an elementary school. Our police have arrested more than eight suspects in six drug busts in two weeks. Drug busts for cocaine and heroin trafficking. These aren’t kids getting high in the basement; they are people trying to erode the fabric of suburban life in Tewksbury.

Tewksbury, located so very close to Lowell and with two major highways running though it, is becoming a gateway town for druggies and deadbeats to do business. With an understaffed police force relative to the level of crime in and around town, these losers are picking Tewksbury as a great spot to stop, sell some major drugs near a school, and move on. At what point do gangs come in, start staking out territory, and begin protecting their turf with knives and guns? Gang violence, along with nearly all other forms of crime, is up statewide.

I don’t want to be an alarmist and I seriously doubt the bloods and crips will take up arms on either end of 38, but the point remains. Police are working incredibly hard to catch these losers while chasing other crimes around town such as a rash of automobile break-ins, home invasions, even a carjacking. In Wilmington another burned body was found, but no arrests have been made in this baffling case.

This violent crime is way beyond the greedy hands of little league president and major league alleged embezzler Wilford Daley. We are facing drugs and violent crime. Right now these levels are not out of control but they are on the rise. Our lackluster governor seems more interested in lush draperies and Cadillacs than promoting public safety or hiring those 1000 more officers he promised during his campaign.

We cannot build a fence around our towns or run customs offices at every off ramp. We cannot run background checks on folks that drive our streets; we cannot stop criminals and high risk recidivists from living in our midst. But we can put more feet on the ground. We can hire more police officers, add to our force, and ensure the safety of our elders, our children, our businesses and our neighborhoods.

Tewksbury’s finest is doing a commendable job with the resources they have. But we know they don’t have enough. As our budget process gets underway we already know from preliminary figures that we do not have the funds for two badly needed officers to help combat the drug problem this community faces. As a community, we need to seriously consider our needs and how to balance them with our means. As residents and taxpayers we must engage in the budget process and look for creative solutions for shortages that exist throughout the budget, not just for police.

It does not take much to lose a way of life, safety, or peace of mind. Just apathy.