The Riots of Spring

It's springtime, the time of year Youngstowners emerge from their caves and celebrate the fleeting five months of good weather we are rationed out by God as some sort of punishment that the Midwest must have committed. All winter long, especially since the first of the year, a good portion of the crime in the city largely went unwitnessed, as us sane citizens stayed warm indoors merely counting the gunshots, as opposed to being outside and having to bear witness.

Usually, it seems that the first warm snap garners a fair share of violence and crimes, but the past few weekends have been relatively uneventful. The real bender was at the first of the year, when several murders occurred within a matter of weeks. I guess snow is good for people wanting to get away with crimes, since no one is hanging around outside. But the more people strolling about it seems, the more petty thefts and fights and random gunshots there are. And the bigger chance a passer-by may be caught up in trouble.

The gunshots, strangely enough, are not too unsettling, as our neighbors in yon Trumbull County know well enough when the four-wheelers start revving up and hunters start coming out of their camo and into their yards. Shots can either mean people hanging around outside bored blowing off a pellet gun, or something more sinister. But the nice weather almost seems to guarantee an upswing in crimes both big and small, or at least ones that we witness.

In either spring or winter, reporting gunshots or a fight or a theft to the YPD can go either smoothly or incredibly irritatingly. First off: Call YPD, not 911. I have found that this is faster and easier, especially if you live near downtown. Save the number in your phone - (330) 742-8900. Mahoning County 911 call center covers a wider area and are often busier.
Second off, be specific. If you hear shots, know how many. If you see a car drive off, make a note of the make and model. This will help both you and the police - the more details you have, the more seriously they will take the call.
Third off, just make the call. Shrugging off shots as an everyday occurrence is just another roadblock from having a safer city. Call every time - be an asshole, that's what we pay cops and dispatchers for. Don't let unreported shooting become a way of life.

So take care, everyone, but when shit goes down, be prepared.