Candidates State Their Views About Crime in Superior
We continue with the fourth of our six part series of questions for the Superior mayoral candidates. This series will continue through Monday, February 16th in anticipation of the upcoming primary election on Tuesday, February 17th.
We’ve previously published the candidates’ answers to three other questions:
1. “Why are you the best candidate for Mayor of Superior?” see answers HERE.
2. “What are the three biggest economic issues facing the City today?” see answers HERE.
3. “How will you encourage continued economic development in Superior?” see answers HERE.
Today’s Question: #4
Do you believe that Superior has a crime problem, and if so what will you do to confront it?
Greg Mertzig
Greg Mertzig
As Mayor public safety will be my top priority. To effectively address crime in Superior we must have a well-staffed, well trained, well equipped, community focused police force. Staffing must be at safe sustainable levels. Training must be current and community orientated. Equipment must be up to date and functional.
Jim Paine
Jim Paine
Crime is a community issue. Law enforcement cannot solve this problem alone. We need our whole community to come together to support each other. I will expand support for our neighborhood watch programs and support more community policing officers. I will also parter with Douglas County, our School District, community organizations and churches to take a comprehensive approach to the problem. We will focus on prevention and rehabilitation because fewer criminals means fewer crimes.
Crime is an economic issue. If we can improve economic conditions for everyone, crime goes down. Crime is intrinsically linked to poverty. I will create a poverty task force that will recommend policy to the City Council in my first year in office.
Crime is a complex and changing issue. Crimes that didn’t exist 20 years ago plague our City. Computer crimes, from fraud to human trafficking, challenge our law enforcement and victimize our most vulnerable citizens. I will empower our police force to provide greater education and outreach to the community to prevent and confront these problems. I will also put technology to work for us by making the City more accessible to victims and the community through mobile and digital tools.
Bruce Hagen
Mayor Bruce Hagen
Every city has a crime problem. The difference in combating it is the relativity of services, prevention activities and in some cases being very openly diligent and in the face of crime; especially that against children and women. The Superior/Douglas County, Duluth/St. Louis County Task Force against crime has and continues to be very successful behind the scenes with the results being all of the arrests that we witness from child pornography, to abuse of women and drug trafficking. We are tough on crime and need to be more so. I support and will support further tools that will curtail these and other illegal practices and stronger prosecution. Police Chief Alexander and I have discussed these very matters and necessary resources to bring these criminal activities to a halt. The first new step will be a citizen/professional task force that will provide several more alternatives for addressing this plague of crimes.
The task force will examine patterns of various criminal activity, the ‘people factor’, especially in the drug scene, education for neighborhood watch and greater targeted activity with the Superior Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Let’s be frank here!! We all know and perfectly understand that a considerable amount of criminal activity in Superior is not home grown. We have elements coming out of Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and other larger cities praying on our young and infirm. We know it but we also need to be in their face every day and night. That will take resources and I will fully support what is needed in addition to what is currently available. Our police force and sheriff’s department are excellent, dedicated and positive results oriented with major successes to prove it. We, as citizens, must be more than casually supportive.
Kalee Hermanson
Kalee Hermanson
Superior’s crime problem is on the rise, from drug issues to vandalism. It is imperative that we partner with local agencies, the Local Superior Police Department, and our District Attorney’s office to combat this issue. First and foremost I would like to see us start doing Community Policing. It is important for Citizens and the Local Police Department to work together to combat this issue. The Citizens are our eyes in the community. They need to be able to approach and feel comfortable reaching out to the local police to resolve issues. Having dedicated police officers in their community that they can get to know and trust will greatly benefit our City.
We need to also make sure that offenders are held accountable for their crimes. Many times they are just pushed out the door with no recourse and are back in our community only to commit another crime. We need to make sure that they are being held responsible for their crime and work to find a solution, rather than create another problem.
Mike Herrick
Mike Herrick
I do believe Superior has a crime problem. The biggest one that comes to mind is the use of drugs, especially heroine. The use of this drug not only effects the user, but trickles into neighborhoods through personal robberies, home and car break-ins and business theft. One of the ways we are taking on this issue is through our community police officer. We must also get people to know their neighbors and start more community watch programs in all neighborhoods. Many eyes are efficient than just a few patrolling neighborhoods at random.
Tomorrow’s question for the candidates:
What is your view of labor relations between the City and its employees?
