Crime statistics including homicides, gang violence, drug trafficking, rape, robbery and domestic battery have risen in recent years. However, these statistics will be moved from the back burner to the front burner in the Rogers Administration. Policing in cooperation with residents is the optimum way for law enforcement to be effective. It will not happen without both components working together, nor without a plan to see that such comes to fruition.
The Bloomberg Administration has proposed cuts in the police force in 2009 of 1,000-2000 less police officers. It will put law and order in a decidedly disadvantageous position at pre-Dinkins Administration levels and at a time when the City of New York Police Department employs a counter-terrorism task force component, added to its force since 2001. In a Rogers' Administration, across the board cuts for such crucial services such as law enforcement, fire department personnel, and sanitation services will not be the status quo. It is not a productive nor prudent way to eliminate budget shortfalls.
