I watched the meeting tonight online, there were great questions and good answers. WATCH REPLAY.
I think the officers present did their best to lay out a plan. I also understand that it is these officer’s jobs to have a plan and explain it to the public. But many in attendance were wondering where the Police Chief and Mayor were? The peeps I talked to who were there said they didn’t see them. Even if they would have been sitting in the audience, their presence would have been appreciated.
Say what you will about former Mayor Bowlcut and Bucktooth, but you damn well know he would have been there . . . of course he would have never had the meeting because he blamed increased crime on increased population.
There was over 300 people at the event. All councilors were present except Selberg and Brekke.
The Mayor was probably absent, because he most likely was busy beating the back to school rush in his pursuit of a new pair of tennis shoes.
(“Maybe he was in his garage doing an other video instead?”….(“Well, I think he should skip any video and go get some razors myself…”))
It’s tough being a cop now. Everybody is better armed. The mayor and most councilors didn’t show because police get passed over for raises while city directors get double digit and bonuses. The shootings will continue. We’re gonna have to buy the mayor a used presidential limo. The rest of us are target practice.
A post by Councilor Stehly alerted people to the Mayor and Police Chief putting this meeting together. Many thought they were going to finally be proactive towards this crime. I guess those two felt that was enough and their presence wasn’t needed. More disappointing actions from this Mayor.
Our small city is growing up and experiencing growing pains. Nice to see the police and community interaction tonight so kudos to the PD for holding this event. Sounds like they are all over the problem.
I agree we have growing pains, but the stats don’t lie. The crime rate has increased faster than the population. Are drugs to blame? Yes. I think the triage center will help a lot and it is way past due. But you also have to look at who is dealing these drugs. My aunt has been a drug/alcohol counselor for around 20 years, and a recovering addict herself. She works in a city in the Northwest. The agency she works for is expanding throughout the midwest (mostly Iowa). She said that the need for drug counselors is so dire, she has been asked to counsel people in the midwest via teleconferencing. She told me that opiod addiction has now surpassed other illicit drugs like meth and heroine. She said that is a major epidemic right now. We have to realize that our broken healthcare system has created most of these addicts, and when they can’t get those drugs thru the proper channels, they go to dealers. The Pharma companies need to be held accountable and the black market for these drugs needs to end. I feel sorry for the SFPD that now they have to deal with this kind of drug invasion.
When I was going to HS in a suburb of Seattle we had 1500 students in our school, 3 grades. We had several gangs in our school, and they were the real deal. This was the late 80’s and we had metal detectors. Someone was busted daily trying to carry guns and mostly knives into the school. Saw a fellow student get stabbed in the hallway one day and was shot at by gang members one night off school campus. This is the ‘real deal’ folks and not to be taken lightly. The police are right that a lot of this originates in our schools. Certain colors were even banned in our school, you couldn’t wear a combination of silver and black. They tried to ban ALL black clothing and the punk rockers flipped out and there was a walkout, so that never happened.
I am surprised that former police chief and current legislator, Doug Barthel, didn’t show up to tell us that there is no real problem here.
I hope they solve this problem before the new Reifel Middle School opens. Else, it could all be a little embarassing, don’t you think?
“HEADLINES SIOUX FALLS!…….(AP)…..Two gangs in Sioux Falls today fought it out near the new Reifel Middle School, then one faction preceded to the Bunker Ramp development area for greater protection. At this time, the police have the Bunker Ramp faction surrounded, while the pursuing gang has been caught up in traffic near the 26th Street bridge construction site…This is a developing story (In more ways than one).” 😉
Very disappointed in the chief and mayor. You better have a good alibi Paul.
When is it we’re going to get real and discuss who’s committing the violence? Does LSS provide them with weapons and ammo in their welcome packet?
Yep, you’ll call me a racist but I’ve listened to folks in this neighborhood and their scared of only a few city blocks of condensed housing. Shokopee MN is having the same issues but only a few dare point out the obvious.
Why do we have the SFPD spy trailer in the Walmart parking lot and not in the streets were these acts are committed. If this happens in my hood (and it could) I would be demanding that equipment in my front yard.
BTW Wyze cameras are cheap and easy to setup!!!
Let me be a bit specific. This area has a very strong and growing Asian community. They’re not the problem and my friend who is a part of that community has a very specific route she drives after dark to keep safe. She said her kids classmates talk about the things they see but their parents don’t report as they’re afraid of community retribution.
In her words “ often the violence they leave behind is the only normal pattern they recreate somewhere elseâ€.
Well handled by the PD and great citizen turn out. Sioux Falls does have a great relationship with its police department and the chief and mayor’s confidence in them is well placed. Sure can’t say that about a lot of places.
i agree with ljl. look at where these shootings are occurring and look at what kind of apartment buildings that are there. i was told that lss settles these people in this area because it’s close to bus lines and washington high school.
LSS has 29 ‘Gateway Cities’ in the U.S.
Sioux Falls is 1 of the 29.
Gateway City: I wonder if we are 1 of 29 on that list mostly because of Smithfield. I lived near Barron, WI and it has a huge Somali community because of the Jennie 0 turkey slaughterhouse.
Yep:
https://www.argusleader.com/story/blogs/joemetro/2016/03/03/sioux-falls-among-new-immigrant-gateway-cities/81266636/