{"id":7216,"date":"2012-01-12T00:18:39","date_gmt":"2012-01-12T08:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.57.196.122\/~gdatwofo\/theavtimes\/?p=7216"},"modified":"2012-07-03T10:08:29","modified_gmt":"2012-07-03T17:08:29","slug":"parris-lancaster-is-an-absolutely-safe-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2012\/01\/12\/parris-lancaster-is-an-absolutely-safe-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Parris: Lancaster is an absolutely safe city"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris speaks Wednesday at a press conference held by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to discuss the drop in crime.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LOS ANGELES \u2013 Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris joined Sheriff Lee Baca and executive members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday for a press conference to discuss the latest crime statistics, which reflect an overall drop in crime for Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n

At the news conference, the City of Lancaster was recognized for its dramatic reduction in crime rates for 2011. There were three homicides in 2011, compared to 18 in 2006.<\/p>\n

Additionally, there were no gang-related homicides in Lancaster in 2011, compared to eight in 2006.<\/p>\n

Parris, who spoke at the press conference, described how the community pulled together to transform a bleak, crime-ridden city into a place where, for the first time, \u201ccitizens aren\u2019t afraid to walk the streets.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following are excerpts of Parris\u2019 remarks at the Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department\u2019s press conference Wednesday:<\/p>\n

On crime in Lancaster five years ago:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cImagine a city five years ago where, in several neighborhoods, police officers wouldn\u2019t go in alone. I mean, two would not go in, it took four to go in. Where people would drive home [from] work and there would be toll booths erected, meaning they would block off the street and charge people to be able to go to their home\u2026”<\/p>\n

The sound of gunfire was everywhere. It was not a night gone by where you did not hear gunfire in the streets of Lancaster\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On turning things around<\/strong><\/h4>\n

“Five years ago, the Sheriff and I had a conversation, and it was \u2018Sheriff, if you would create innovative new ways to deal with this, we promise you the community will support you.\u2019<\/p>\n

He looked at me like he looks at every politician, [like] \u2018you know I\u2019ve heard that before\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n

But then he came to a town hall meeting, and there were three thousand people there who were telling him \u2018yes, we will support you\u2026\u2019”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On Lancaster\u2019s 2011 crime rate<\/strong><\/h4>\n

“We have a city of 145,000 people, [yet] we had a crime rate higher than Compton\u2019s five years ago. We did not have one gang-related shooting or murder the entire year [2011], not one.<\/p>\n

That is historic. It is unbelievable to us\u2026 not one homicide with a gun.<\/p>\n

Now I don\u2019t know if you folks have been to Lancaster, but we all have five or six guns. That\u2019s the way we are up there.<\/p>\n

It is truly phenomenal. But let\u2019s be clear how that happened: it was supporting the Sheriff. It was when something went wrong, not criticizing him of what happened that was wrong. It was how do we do it better next time?<\/p>\n

It was absolute confidence and faith and love for Sheriff Baca. And that whole City loves him, because he saved it.<\/p>\n

The lesson is, if we do this together, as a supportive group, instead of looking to cast blame when something goes wrong, look what happens.<\/p>\n

For the first time, our citizens aren\u2019t afraid to walk the streets. They\u2019re not afraid to walk downtown. It is an absolutely safe city. We owe that to the Sheriff. [To Baca] thank you!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View the entire press conference below. Parris\u2019 remarks start at the 13:30 mark.<\/p>\n