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Crime: Perception Vs. Reality

907 views · Published 11 February 2013 · 2:41 · Indexed 16 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2013 · News & Politics

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by John Madewell  When any act of crime happens, it leaves an impression on the victim.This afternoon a Chattanooga Rotary Club  panel tackled the topic of crime perception versus reality.The panel said many factors drive perception that crime may be up here in Chattanooga. But they cited numbers that point to crime going down in the Scenic City.All acknowledged there's still much work to do.A gunpoint robbery Friday at a convenience store on East 23rd Street provided a snapshot of crime in Chattanooga.NewsChannel 9 asked people from several different parts of the city their perception of crime.John Graham, who lives in Brainerd, said, I think it's getting worse, I think crime is getting worse.Dallas Threadgill, a student at UTC, holds a different viewpoint. It's a beautiful downtown area and I feel like a lot of the crime has moved out.It's  a very subjective topic, but Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd says over the last 10 years, crime overall has declined.The chief said a majority of the crime comes from a handful of neighborhoods. And he added the same dynamic is true in gangs. Dodd said, The real number we're concerned about is who's active, who's hardcore, who's running the gangs, who's creating the problems.Last year, 106 people were shot in Chattanooga, according to CPD statistics. In contrast, only 26 people were shot in Huntsville, which has about 10,000 more people.Dodd said the FBI cautions against comparing city to city.He adds 80 to 90 percent of violent crime here is targeted -- not random.Meanwhile, Ken Chilton of the Ochs Center, which studies such issues, said disproportionate media attention to violent crime drives negative perception.   He adds social media creates hyper-awareness. Chilton said, So I go back to that statistic that I pointed out. If you ask people is there a crime problem in my city, 68 percent will say yes. Is there a crime problem in my neighborhood? 11 percent will say yes., The perception is that it's very dangerous out there and that's just a lack of access to the facts.District Attorney General Bill Cox sat on the panel and stressed citizens need to shed reluctance to get involved when crime happens.   His example -- more willingness to testify as witnesses. It'll happen, I think that once people begin to realize the degree of problem that they might have in their own communities. Eventually, they're going to start stepping forward. At least that's my hope, Cox said.Chief Dodd said solutions come from the homes where the problems start, The neighborhoods are the ones that need to get fed up with it, the neighborhoods need to get involved, the families need to get involved. That's the reason we're working with the gang task force.Chilton said a more robust African-American middle class would help in areas such as establishing more mentors. And Chief Dodd noted more officers used in an efficient, smart manner would also bring crime rates down.

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