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NORWALK, Conn. – As one of Connecticut’s larger cities, Norwalk is not immune to the issues that accompany urban life, including safety. So, The Norwalk Daily Voice asked readers on Facebook whether they felt safe in the city.
A majority of the nearly 30 respondents said yes they did feel safe in Norwalk, and quite a few also said they sort of felt safe. But almost one-third of residents who answered the question said no they do not feel safe in the city.
“I grew up in Norwalk and then moved to two other towns in Connecticut for 33 yrs,” wrote Lorraine Delia Watcke. “I moved back almost three years ago, and I have to say NO I do NOT feel safe in Norwalk!”
Greg Lally agreed. “No way. But after what happened in Newtown, I don't feel safe anywhere.”
In next year’s city spending plan, Mayor Richard Moccia is recommending the addition of three new police officers to the force, the first new position hires in several years.
Moccia has said that violent crime is down significantly in the city – by about 19 percent in the first six months of 2012 – and the department, under both former Chief Harry Rilling and current Chief Thomas Kulhawik, has tried to be proactive in its approach to making Norwalk safer. One example is the department’s recently launched initiative with federal prosecutors and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to identify and arrest violent offenders.
To many, Norwalk is as safe today, or safer, than it has ever been.
“Feel completely safe,” wrote Board of Education member Mike Barbis. “Never thought twice about it.”
“Yes, the city of Norwalk officials do a great job running the city and keeping our city in triple A rating,” wrote Jason Petrini. “Look at the last snow storm we had, if you ask me Norwalk’s in a lot better shape and safer than most cities in Connecticut.”
Others agreed, but they said they take a more cautious approach.
“Safe is a relative thing,” wrote Ken Prince Jr. “I feel perfectly safe in most of Norwalk but there are definitely some shady areas where I am more careful.”
Brian Burgess believes it would not take much to negatively change some perceptions.
“Feel relatively safe, but when you see some of the senseless stuff going on ALL over town, it wouldn't take much to blow everyone's feelings of security away,” he wrote. “We could be a LOT safer.”
Comments (15)
SnnSunrise
All I can say is what.
People do not go out shooting killing and stabbing people because of a bad economy.
If that were the case we would have seen this during the Bush administration as that's when the economy was bad.
Also we all know that the economy is in the can. When the economy goes bad crime goes up. People feel desperate and will do things they might not normally do. there are no jobs for young people and the next best thing is a gang of hoodlums on the corner. We all know that it will not stay in the areas it is in now. Eventually it will move out. The bad element will become more and moe brazen.
Moccia has said that violent crime is down significantly in the city – by about 19 percent in the first six months of 2012
I guess he forgot about the murders, shootings and stabbings..
Only Moccia would say something so stupid.
I agree with sono and the Norwalk truth crime in Norwalk has become very bad
I guess we have to thank the Daily along with channel 12 and the Hearst for making our city seem safer.
kid is caught with a fully loaded machine gun on Woodward ave and these three mentioned above were out to lunch.Who can tell us what kind of MACHINE gun it was?Used by the Brits if that helps any.
Most crimes don't make it in the news and the ones that do are cherry picked.
Mike is a nice guy but now that he was stopped by the NPD for legal problems why think anything else of our police.Someone tell Mike our police dept after a school bus shooting stop leaving with no arrests last week termed the shooting area safe afterwoods with two armed subjects in the area,yep those people feel real safe after the shooting there was no officer to be found.Mike doesn't remember when Harry was in charge someone forget to tell Sal about the shooting suupect at BM high school to be one of the students until a reporter asked him about the shooting itself.Sal was not informed and the new guy Tony wasn't notified within minutes 5 school busses was to let out many kids after the shooting last week.Seems to be a lot of clouds around that shooting last week.Where did Barbis talk about that school bus stop shooting or does he even know about it,the blind leading the blind how nice of Mike to show us he knows anything.
A death of a child in South Norwalk last week state came in and did the investigation where was the Daily and the rest of the news hounds?You would think a death of a child would be news no matter what the facts were.
Two arrests of people braeking into cars at the Rowyaton train station drew no press yet the chase ended on MLK.This was news but not to Norwalks media.
The crime was not a Norwalk statistic folks its a MTA collar nothing to do with the cities FBI report,many crimes in Norwalk even on the platform of train stations but Not a Norwalk crime stat,in fact NPD goes out of their way to blame a crime where it starts not where it ends up to hand the investigation to MTA or the other agencies in Norwalk with arresting powers its all a joke among law enforcemnet.
If you see the glass half full you have no reason to think Moccias glass is half empty(NO Inn jokes here)by the way news is transmitted to Norwalk.
Those who live in the Shores and Village creek would build a bridge if they were forced to use Woodward ave and why it isn't safe,one resident stated rather get a ticket going thru a stop sign than get shot in South Norwalk.
3 new oficers for the schools yet most crime there happens at functions what a odd display of proactive enforcement.
They now figure only 135 out of 177 officers ever see the street lets here from the Daily what the real deal is,we know there is 5 of them no longer working for some reason or another.What about the officer who was cited for a DUI after almost hitting a police officer with his private car?Trick question most of us know the story it was tragic to say the least yet the media took the high road and ignored the facts.
Whats tragic is the how the truth is handled in the city by both the Mayor and the media.
ask questions without and informative information on crime yes most feel safe,ask those who have been held up or broken into recently bet you percentages will be higher in the don't feel safe area.
30 people asked there will be 100 crimes today how mnay of those 30 have been victims.
This is electiion year hype aided by inexperienced city reporters only tell us all it was a great headline now replace t with some interesting bathroom material.
But lets hand it to our Mayor he once suggested if he hired more police it there would be more arrests,,,,,,,,,,,now the idiots who find that comforting havn't been victims yet we shall pray they are not hurt when its time.
How does the Daily prove to us crime went down when case numbers went up and arrests of juveniles increased by a high rate,just because the crime was committed by a 14 year old with a gun and doesn't count on the FBI books as a adult crime what about logic why defy it and write around it?
The Mayor is looking great right about now he doesn't have to prove anything there are those who can't afford a unsafe Norwalk .
The city did a great job in removing the snow in front of the two post offices mounds of snow in the free parking spots have yet to be removed,what snow removal has to do with safety was a stretch yet if its a subject lets talk fact Jason.Not only did the city not remove snow in front of the post offices they never gave them lines to park withing causing a mess and thats not safe when most take two spots out of te four they give you free for using the post office.
We have idiots running the city,those who vote for them proves it takes one to vote for one.The ratoing will fall soon from years of neglect to our city so enjoy the high ratings what has been a shell game for years is coming to an end we have new blood asking questions in council and the answers are getting harder to give under the old school terms.
Itw as nice Bondi did point out and confirmed he was voting on a paving project that already has been done,this shows us all there is no one at the helm of Norwalk.Safety issue no taxpayer worry,,,,,,,,,plenty.
If you changed the driving pattern of Norwalk and made all traffic divert to Woodwward ave Im sure most who feel safe will feel otherwise.This is Winter there is no crime right now or at least for the media.
Mayor Giuliani enforced a Community Based Policing plan that started the decline in crime in New York City. It is the standard now for New York under the Bloomberg administration. It is a prescriptive, quality of life enforcement as mentioned above that makes crime and criminals uncomfortable enough to leave formally crime ridden neighborhoods. This includes formerly dangerous project areas in the City where there is a greater sense of vigilant neighborhood than the fear standard that used to exist in these areas. There is no reason why this paradigm shift for policing could not be used in Norwalk. Or, it could be like Yonkers where the police are satisfied with the crime-ridden area in the southwest of the City because, as I was told by the police chief there, "at least they know where the drugs are coming from."
Reform is a far better approach for criminals than simple punishment. Many people who commit crimes are uneducated and often on the edge of poverty. Teach them useful skills, teach them good behavior often through 12-step programs because drug and alcohol abuse is rampant, and be sure they are followed into the community, giving back. It takes more organization, more up-front costs to teach but the return on lower crime rates is well-rewarded. It is also logical - it is expensive to keep a person continuously incarcerated, fed, clothed and medically treated when they could be out, working and being responsible for themselves.
I feel uncomfortable in our culture as a rule and no less so in Norwalk. I take precautions on a normal basis and stay aware of my environment whether at home or out in the community. The world is not a safe place but being aware and securing yourself is just smart in any environment.
Norwalk crime is out of control do to the failure of the Norwalk Police Department to prevent or solve crime.
Well your neighborhood and mine are clearly different.
I do not understand why there is not a blitz on QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES. Make it so uncomfortable for the bad guys. The poeple who need to know who and where they are do. The authorities need to make is so uncomfortable for them to be here that they will give up and go.
Arrest them over and over and over and over. THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES!!!
Yes there will always be bad areas but we could do more. And i am so sick of hearing leave them alone or they might come to my neighborhood.
Where is Mayor Guilliani when we need him.
We dont need to arrest people repeatedly, we need to vote out the Democrats in the state legislature that consistently pass light on crime legislation. People blame the police but how frustrating is it for them to arrest the same person repeatedly knowing that the guy will be back on the street next week. What it takes is a society that refuses to tolerate criminals instead of one that just wants to discourage them or reshape them.
I feel safe in Norwalk everywhere that I want to go. There may be some areas where I would feel less safe, but I have no reason or desire to go there.
Thing is you should feel safe anywhere, especially places bought, paid for & maintained with taxpayer dollars. Like I said, I feel safe everyplace, but I definitely watch my back more on Lexington Ave than at the beach.
You can add Woodward Ave on that list but its not like I would go for a walk in that area anyways.
I don't want my remark construed as saying the fault, if there is one, lies with either the Norwalk PD or the current administration. I.v lived here about 36 years now and the places that you need to be careful in now are the same places you needed to be careful in 30 years ago. It's that way in any city. There's going to be bad areas and sometimes that violence will spill over into other parts of the city. Nature of the beast, IF you are going to have housing projects and low income areas you are going to have more street crimes than if you don't. A quick look at our neighbors, Darien, New Cannan and Westport bear that out.
You could be right Ken but those who own businesses in Norwalk can tell you coming in on a Monday morning to find you place cleaned out involving a lot of time to do so and ask where were the police all weekend the answer is responding to crimes.Norwalk has lost a huge tax base to those leaving the city after many years is a great loss.You may of been effected by crime in other ways by losing some great places to frequent I call it crime Moccia calls it progress or urban development.Maybe you should read up on crime in Norwalk most of the problems are not in the housing projects but on quiet side streets these kids know there is nothing to stop them,most that are caught are not from Norwalk that in itself tells you its not homegrown talent.Norwalk didn't have 100,000 people 30 years ago,to compare Norwalk you need Bridgeport not the three you mentioned.One thing that sticks out id the booze factor ever see when the bars get out in Norwalk? Darien, New Cannan and Westport don't have the same drinking problem as Norwalk now or 30 years ago who is to blame for Norwalk last call addiction?