BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Crime across Cincinnati's 53 neighborhoods during the year's first three months of 1998 showed little change from the same period last year.
Statistics released Monday by Cincinnati police give community leaders a glimpse at what is happening in their neighborhoods. The report focuses on major crimes of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft.
The numbers may be static, but Dorothy Vogt, president of the East Walnut Hills Assembly, said she has felt an undercurrent of fear among her neighbors after the high-profile beating death in November of 29-year-old neighborhood resident Shanon Marks, allegedly bludgeoned by a neighbor.
Mrs. Vogt also has heard concerns over drug activity in the area. Crime is a big topic of conversation among her community group. "The neighborhood people just love to see cops walking around," she said. "It's a welcome presence."
The feeling is the same in Northside, where community leaders support having video cameras at street corners where drug activity is high, said Terry Bazeley, community council president.
His neighborhood actually had a slight decrease in crime for the first three months, with 21 fewer burglaries, 17 fewer larcenies and 10 fewer auto thefts than reported during the same period last year.
Mr. Bazeley credits increased police foot patrols, neighborhood block watch groups and housing improvements for the drop.
