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Violence In Downtown Madison  SURVEY: Who Is Responsible At Bar-Closing Time?SURVEY: Is The New Plan Enough?SURVEY: Worried About Muggings?SURVEY: Is Downtown Madison Safe? TALKBACK: What Do You Think? READ: Article Archive Of Previous StoriesVideo  VIDEO: Victim Talks About Attack (July 2006)VIDEO: Student Discusses Mugging (May 2006)VIDEO: Police Discuss Muggings (May 2006)VIDEO: Police To Increase Patrols (May 2006) |
Madison Police Announce Plan To Combat Downtown Violence
More Officers To Patrol Downtown
POSTED: 6:06 pm CDT August 3,
2006
UPDATED: 10:20 pm CDT August 3,
2006
MADISON, Wis. -- Madison police are stepping up an effort to protect the downtown from what Chief Noble Wray calls "mini Halloweens" every weekend.
SURVEY: Is This Enough? | VIDEO: Watch The ReportNew figures released Thursday show robberies were up 13 percent in 2005 and are on pace to top 400 citywide this year -- which would be an all-time record.There were 25 violent robberies in the downtown area near State Street, WISC-TV reported. The victims are often college-age men, and many are drunk when attacked by groups of young men.Wray and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz released a plan to immediately step up the police presence downtown at night by pulling officers into the downtown area."It's the heart and soul of the city, and it's imperative that we make sure that it's safe," Wray said.Roughly 25 officers patrol Madison during the late night, and about 15 patrol downtown."The message to perpetrators of these crimes is clear: If you continue, we'll catch you, we will prosecute you, and we will put you in prison for a very long time," Cieslewicz said.The police chief and mayor believe alcohol is fueling the violence. They are pushing to scale back or limit the number of liquor licenses downtown.Downtown Alderman Mike Verveer has fought the idea in the past but will now push for a plan."That there be no new tavern liquor licenses granted ... I think there definitely should be an exemption for restaurants as long as they're bona fide restaurants," Verveer said.Downtown businesses and residents have been rattled by the violence and are looking for action."This kind of makes them mad ... It's like how dare a small group of folks do this to our downtown," said Susan Schmitz, of Downtown Madison Inc.Both the mayor and police chief will look to add to the 2007 budget officers specifically to deal with downtown violence, but neither will say how many officers.
SURVEY: Is This Enough? | VIDEO: Watch The ReportNew figures released Thursday show robberies were up 13 percent in 2005 and are on pace to top 400 citywide this year -- which would be an all-time record.There were 25 violent robberies in the downtown area near State Street, WISC-TV reported. The victims are often college-age men, and many are drunk when attacked by groups of young men.Wray and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz released a plan to immediately step up the police presence downtown at night by pulling officers into the downtown area."It's the heart and soul of the city, and it's imperative that we make sure that it's safe," Wray said.Roughly 25 officers patrol Madison during the late night, and about 15 patrol downtown."The message to perpetrators of these crimes is clear: If you continue, we'll catch you, we will prosecute you, and we will put you in prison for a very long time," Cieslewicz said.The police chief and mayor believe alcohol is fueling the violence. They are pushing to scale back or limit the number of liquor licenses downtown.Downtown Alderman Mike Verveer has fought the idea in the past but will now push for a plan."That there be no new tavern liquor licenses granted ... I think there definitely should be an exemption for restaurants as long as they're bona fide restaurants," Verveer said.Downtown businesses and residents have been rattled by the violence and are looking for action."This kind of makes them mad ... It's like how dare a small group of folks do this to our downtown," said Susan Schmitz, of Downtown Madison Inc.Both the mayor and police chief will look to add to the 2007 budget officers specifically to deal with downtown violence, but neither will say how many officers. Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
