Dear Editor:
I have the utmost respect for the men and women who are cops in Jersey City. Anyone who leaves their family in the morning to serve and protect the community is brave and heroic. I do, however, believe that not enough is being done to protect the people and the streets of this city.
Too many times I have seen people, who I consider suspicious, loitering for hours with nothing being done by law enforcement. I do not mean people lounging on their porches taking the sun. I have also seen people walking on the streets drinking alcohol out of paper and men trying to break open pay phones. Most of these times I saw cops driving by without even noticing or no cops in the vicinity at all. I know that I am not the only Jersey City resident who sees these things occurring. Perhaps the cops are patrolling the most dangerous sections of Jersey City constantly, but other areas of the city cannot be forgotten. The criminals are now casing out the more affluent areas of the city such as the Heights and Downtown Jersey City. These lawbreakers know that the police presence is lower in these areas, thus decreasing the risk of getting caught.
As a resident of a quiet block in Downtown Jersey City where I feel there is very little police patrol, I get a little concerned when my wife and family members are coming in and out of the house alone. On this quiet block, in perhaps one of the best areas of the city, my neighbors= homes have been broken into and I am cautious about these things happening again in the area. I am not one of those people who would mind the cops circling my block four or fives times a day. I am not afraid of Abig brother@ or a strong government. I believe that a stronger police presence is needed all over the city; not just police stations that make us feel secure, but constant patrols, more police officers on bikes and more officers walking the beat. Why should most of the force be inside the station waiting for something to happen when they could be out on the streets preventing things before they happen? If the police made rounds in my area as often as the parking authority, I would feel much safer.
Wayne