Crime Fighting

 
Major Marty Sumner standing in front of his charts.  Computer mapping proves the West End miracle.. . . Before and After charts show the reduction in violent crime in the neighborhood.

Time was, the West End was a good solid blue-collar neighborhood, filled with folks who proudly owned their own homes. Then the furniture industry, the backbone of High Point's industrial workers, moved to China, and hard times fell on the residents of the West End.

The neighborhood went downhill. Drug dealers moved in, and with them, prostitutes, muggings, and other violent crimes. The neighbors began to be afraid to go out at night. Even a group of youngsters, 11-14 years of age, normally so keen on saving face and appearing "cool," told a survey team they felt afraid to walk the streets of their own neighborhood.

The neighbors rose up and, in partnership with West End Ministries and the High Point Police Department, took back their neighborhood. Using a never-been-tried approach that offers the nonviolent street dealers a second chance with community help, AND promises them hard jail time if they don't stop dealing drugs NOW, the coalition has accomplished its goal.

Violent crime in the West End is down 40 per cent. More importantly, it has STAYED down for the past four years.