PRESENTATION BY
IRA A. LIPMAN
AT THE
EIGHTH ANNUAL
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AWARDS DINNER
OMNI MEMPHIS HOTEL
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

APRIL 6, 1992

THANK YOU, .
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT, AND I FEEL HONORED TO ADDRESS THIS EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZATION.
BECAUSE I CONSIDER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU A HERO. WHILE OTHERS ONLY COMPLAIN ABOUT CRIME, YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU PROTECT OUR HOMES, DEFEND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PRESERVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
YOU REPRESENT ONE OF THE GREATEST UNSUNG GRASS-ROOTS MOVEMENTS OF OUR TIMES. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IS PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER. IT IS PEOPLE SEEING A NEED THAT GOVERNMENT CANNOT MEET- AND FILLING THAT NEED THEMSELVES. IT IS PEOPLE TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR OWN LIVES, RELYING ON THEIR OWN RESOURCES, AND SACRIFICING FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
THAT IS HOW COMMUNITIES ARE CREATED AND KEPT STRONG. BECAUSE A CONEVIUNITY IS NOT JUST A COLLECTION OF PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO LIVE IN THE SAME AREA, BUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON INTEREST, RECOGNIZE THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY, AND THEN WILLINGLY BEAR THE BURDEN OF LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER’S WELFARE.
IT IS THAT KIND OF OLD-FASHIONED AMERICAN SELF-RELIANCE THAT BUILT OUR COMMUNITIES AND CITIES ACROSS THE NATION. AND IT IS THE STRENGTH AND NOBILITY OF THAT EFFORT THAT WILL HELP US KEEP OUR STREETS, OUR PARKS, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FREE OF THE CRIMINALS WHO GROW MORE THREATENING AND VIOLENT EVERY DAY.
THEY THREATEN NOT ONLY OUR PRESENT, BUT ALSO OUR FUTURE. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOPE OF ATTRACTING NEW CORPORATIONS MUST SUFFER IF OUR CRIME RATES CONTINUE TO RISE.
CRIME RATES IN RECENT YEARS HAVE CREATED TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS FOR OUR ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH POLICE TO CATCH ALL THE CRIMINALS, AND IF WE DID, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COURTS TO TRY THEM OR PRISONS TO HOLD THEM. THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY OVERBURDENED: THE POLICE ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND OVERWORKED, THE COURT DOCKETS ARE JAMMED, AND THE JAILS ARE OVERFLOWING.
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? TWO COMMUNITY LEADERS ONCE POSED THAT SAME QUESTION TO ME. I CONSULTED WITH WORLD-CLASS CRIMINOLOGISTS, WHO CAME TO MEMPHIS AND FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEMS IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THEY HAD NO BIAS AND NO POLITICAL AX TO GRIND. THEY PREPARED A STUDY- THE MEMPHIS CRIME REPORT-FULL OF SOLUTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS THAT WORK IN OTHER CITIES, OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE WERE DOING WRONG-AND IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF HOW WE COULD DO IT RIGHT.
FEW IF ANY OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. IT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST FRUSTRATIONS I HAVE EVER FELT IN MY ENTIRE CRIME-FIGHTING CAREER.
THE STUDY WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED BY THE PREVIOUS CITY ADMINISTRATION, AND IT WAS QUICKLY SHELVED. MAYBE IT STEPPED ON TOO MANY TOES. MAYBE IT DID NOT ADEQUATELY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE REALITY OF POLITICAL FIEFDOMS. MAYBE IT JUST ASKED FOR TOO MUCH EFFORT.
WHAT WOULD OUR SITUATION BE NOW, IF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN ADOPTED? HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO WERE MURDERED WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY? HOW MANY BURGLARIES, ROBBERIES, RAPES, AND AUTO THEFTS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED? HOW MANY KIDS WOULD HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM A LIFE OF CRIME?
WE CANNOT KNOW. BUT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE ANSWER IS “MNY”
WE CANNOT NOW PREVENT WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. BUT THE SOONER WE BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM IN MEMPHIS, THE BETTER OUR FUTURE WILL BE.
THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT TONIGHT. THIS CITY NEEDS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND WE NEED IT NOW!
WHETHER YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WORK FOR A SMALL FIRM, OR HELP MANAGE A LARGE CORPORATION, YOU ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND TRUST ARE IN ACCOMPLISHING ANY PLAN. BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THOSE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
CRIME IS THE MAJOR ISSUE FACING MEMPHIS TODAY, THE MAJOR PROBLEM EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT. AND NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDYING IT, ASSESSING IT, OR PLANNING FOR IT.
WE HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TOURISM-FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT- FOR EDUCATION-FOR ROADS AND STREET SIGNS AND SEWERS. WE PLAN FOR HOW WE’LL COPE WITH TRAFFIC, AIRPORT CONGESTION, AND ZOO EXPANSION.
BUT NOT FOR CRIME.
THE TYPICAL WAY WE PLAN FOR CRIME IS TO IGNORE IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. SO WE RUN OUT OF JAIL CELLS AND PACK PRISONERS INTO A GYM-OR HANDCUFF THEM TO FENCES.
WHAT IS OUR SITUATION NOW COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES? HOW WELL DOES OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WORK? HOW EFFICIENT ARE OUR POLICE? HOW EFFECTIVE ARE WE IN DIVERTING JUVENILES FROM CRIME? HOW HIGH ARE OUR STANDARDS OF QUALITY?
NO ONE IN MEMPHIS KNOWS, BECAUSE UP UNTIL NOW NO ONE IN AUTHORITY HAS DECIDED THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS.
WHAT WILL OUR SITUATION BE IN 1995 OR THE YEAR 2000? HOW MANY POLICE WILL WE NEED? HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE OUR JUVENILE COURTS FOR THE FUTURE? WHAT FACILITIES WILL WE NEED TO BUILD?
NO ONE IN MEMPHIS KNOWS, BECAUSE UP UNTIL NOW NO ONE HAS DONE THE PLANNING. WE SIMPLY DRIFT FROM DAY TO DAY AND CRISIS TO CRISIS.
WE NEED A CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO TAKE ON THIS PLANNING FUNCTION, STUDY THE PROBLEMS WE FACE, PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, SET GOALS, AND SPEARHEAD THE EFFORT TO CONSTRUCT A SERIOUS AND BUSINESSLIKE APPROACH TO CRIME.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE BROAD-BASED AND HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL SECTORS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE POLICE, THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, AND PRIVATE CITIZENS.
THE COUNCIL WOULD BE MORE THAN OUR PLANNING AGENCY. HEADED BY A SPECIAL COORDINATOR, IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, AND CENTRALIZED CONTROL THAT IS CURRENTLY MISSING.
THE MAJOR DEFECT OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW-BESIDES THE LACK OF PLANNING-IS ITS PIECEMEAL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME. EACH AGENCY HAS ITS OWN OBJECTIVES, OPERATIONS, AND GOALS.
IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL IN ANY GOVERNMENT FOR EACH AGENCY TO PURSUE ITS OWN AGENDA, FOCUS ON ITS OWN AREA OF OPERATIONS, AND CONSIDER EVERY PROBLEM FROM ITS OWN PERSPECTIVE. BUT DIFFICULTIES ARISE WHEN AN AGENCY THAT IS PURSUING ITS OWN INTERESTS CREATES PROBLEMS FOR OTHER AGENCIES.
THROUGH COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, THE COUNCIL WOULD HELP PREVENT THESE NATURAL CONFLICTS FROM CAUSING UNNECESSARY PROBLEMS.
THE RESULT WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY, AND AN END TO THE CURRENTLY FRAGMENTED EFFORT THAT COSTS SO MUCH IN TIME, EFFORT, AND MONEY.
EVERY GREAT ATTEMPT THAT HAS EVER SUCCEEDED IN FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE HAS REQUIRED A NERVE CENTER, A HEADQUARTERS FOR COORDINATING THE EFFORTS AND CHANNELING THE ENERGIES OF THE KEY PLAYERS. THAT’S WHY WE NEED A NERVE CENTER-IN THE FORM OF A COORDINATING COUNCIL-TO CONTROL CRIME HERE IN THE CITY OF MEMPHIS!
I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT CRIME CAN BE CONTROLLED WHEN PEOPLE DEMAND IT.x CORPORATIONS MAKE SURE IT IS CONTROLLED, BECAUSE SHAREHOLDERS OF CORPORATIONS WANT GOOD RETURNS AND CRIME IMPAIRS THEIR RESULTS. AND THEY MAKE SURE THEIR VOICE IS HEARD.
YOU ARE THE SHAREHOLDERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU TOO CAN MAKE
YOUR VOICE HEARD. I CHALLENGE YOU TONIGHT TO MAKE A CRIMINAL
JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL A PRIORITY OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.
AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE NEIGHBORHOOD –X
WATCH AND OTHER CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS. IT’S A BASIC PREMISE OF
OUR BOOK, HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM CRIME-AND IT’S BEEN PROVEN
TIME AND AGAIN-THAT THE STRONGER YOUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE GREATER YOUR EFFECT WILL BE. CRIME
WILL STILL BE COMMITTED, BUT NOT THERE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE OFTEN HEAR FROM SOCIOLOGISTS ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.
WE KNOW THAT TO ELIMINATE IT, OUR SOCIETY MUST FIRST WIPE OUT
POVERTY, NURTURE OUR CHILDREN, AND STOP THE FLOW OF DRUGS. AND
MANY GOOD PEOPLE DEVOTE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO WORTHWHILE
SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
I APPLAUD THOSE EFFORTS, BUT WE MUST NOT LET DISCUSSION OF CAUSES DETER US FROM FIGHTING CRIME HERE AND NOW. THAT IS WHY WHAT YOU DO IS SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOU FOCUS ON WHAT WORKS. YOU ARE THE PRACTICAL ONES WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME TODAY. AND BY DEMONSTRATING YOUR SUCCESS IN THE SHORT TERM, YOU ALSO SHOW WHAT WILL WORK IN THE LONG TERM.
WITH ALMOST 1,200 CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT SHELBY COUNTY, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IS GROWING INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE. AND THE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE ;)( THAT ALL AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE PROTECTED BY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH-UNTIL THE CRIMINALS HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
THE NATION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS RESULT FROM EXCELLENT COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, AND BONDING BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE GOALS THAT WE MUST/ . STRIVE FOR CONSTANTLY, WHATEVER THE OBSTACLES WE FIND IN OUR WAY.
COOPERATION IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE TODAY NO ONE CAN GO IT ALONE. WE NEED THE POLICE-AND THE POLICE NEED NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. AS THE EYES AND EARS OF THE POLICE, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH CAN MONITOR WHAT THE POLICE CANNOT. THEY CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE, BUT WITH YOUR INCREASING GROWTH, YOU CAN.
YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION. YOU COVER THE GROUND. YOU KNOW THE TERRITORY. AND WITH THE CONTINUING AND STRENGTHENED COOPERATION THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND OUR POLICE, THE BENEFITS OF OUR COMMON EFFORT WILL GROW TREMENDOUSLY.
COMMUNICATION IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT WE CANNOT HELP EACH OTHER. THE POLICE MUST KNOW YOUR NEEDS, THE LEVEL OF YOUR ABILITIES, THE EXTENT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION, AND THE LIMITS OF WHAT YOU CAN OFFER.
IN TURN, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS MUST BE AWARE OF WHAT THE POLICE ALREADY PROVIDE IN THE WAY OF INSTRUCTION AND ASSISTANCE IN GETTING ORGANIZED, WHAT SERVICES THEY MAKE AVAILABLE FOR SPECIFIC CRIME PREVENTION CAMPAIGNS, AND WHAT THEY CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO DO TO HELP YOU IN OTHER WAYS.
THERE MUST ALSO BE REAL BONDING BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH COMMUNITY IF CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS ARE TO BE TRULY EFFECTIVE. AND THERE SHOULD BE BONDING, FOR WE ARE IN THE SAME BUSINESS. WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS. WE SHARE THE SAME INTERESTS.
WITH COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, AND BONDING, WE CAN CREATE HERE IN MEMPHIS A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ORGANIZATION THAT WILL BE THE ENVY OF COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THOSE EFFORTS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN, AND THEY SHOULD BE REINFORCED AND REDOUBLED.
IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF WILL-A MATTER OF DECIDING OUR PRIORITIES-A MATTER OF BEING WILLING TO LISTEN, AND UNDERSTAND, AND FIND WAYS OF WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.
CREATING THE MOST DYNAMIC NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ORGANIZATION IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES IS A NOBLE GOAL. BUT I KNOW IT IS ONE THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE-ONE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE. WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN MEMPHIS SINCE I ADDRESSED THE FIRST AWARDS BREAKFAST IN 1985 IS NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL. WHAT YOU CAN-AND I HAVE NO DOUBT- WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS WILL BE NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING.
I SALUTE YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING, AND I CAN’T SAY HOW MUCH I RESPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. YOU ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL KEEP MEMPHIS A LIVABLE CITY. AND FOR THAT, ALL MEMPHIANS OWE YOU A TREMENDOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
THANK YOU.