ZERO TOLERANCE? POLITICAL GIMMERICKY IN CANTON UNLESS YOU ARE A SPEEDER?

Only in Canton, Ohio, no?

As most Stark Countians know, Canton police have apparently been directed by the administration of Mayor William J. Healy, II to crack down on speeding on Interstate 77 within city limits in order to help balance the city's budget err... to make the city safer.

Moreover, since Auditor Gary Young of the Canton auditing department is suggesting that he cannot say for sure (e.g. an unplanned shutdown of Interstate 77) that the crackdown for safety will provide the necessary money to balance Canton's budget, The Report is told by a Canton officials that Healy has directed Safety Director Thomas Ream and Police Chief Dean McKimm to crackdown for speed safety in Canton's neighborhoods which will make it much more likely that Canton will generate enough money to balance the 2010 budget with monies actually realized.

Obviously. the crackdown for increased revenues err ... speed safety. means that Canton's police have a lesser ability to deal with actual alleged criminal activity in the city.

The Stark County Political Report has learned that Canton Councilwoman Mary Cirelli (at-large) encountered an interesting situation this past recently at Aldi's out on Route 62 as she endeavor to go through the checkout to pay for merchandise she was purchasing.

As the story goes, she says that she was put on hold by the checkout clerk as store personnel were dealing with an in progress alleged shoplifting.

In a discussion that ensued, store clerks revealed to Cirelli that this was the third time that the store was engaged in trying to thwart the alleged shoplifter and that the Canton Police Department (CPD) refuses to send an officer to the scene.

The police's rationale:  Aldi's video record would later be examined by CPD officials and if the alleged theft was detected then the CPD would publish the photo of the person alleged to be doing the theft on its website in hopes that someone from the public would identify the person to police.

Cirelli, The Report understands, is concerned (as a councilperson) that the apparent disinterest of the CPD in responding immediately when the alleged thief is still in the store communicates the wrong message.  A supplemental Cirelli concern obviously is citizens (including a couple of teenages)  overhearing Aldi personnel describe repetitive occurrences of CPD personnel refusing to respond to an alleged crime in progress.

So Canton has a Zero Tolerance of crime policy, but can't respond to a report of alleged crime in progress?  However, patrolmen can prowl the streets and highways of Canton for speeders?  Wow!

From an email forwarded to the SCPR by a reader:

From: Mary Cirelli

To: mayor healy ; thomas.ream@cantonohio.gov ; dean mckimm

Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 1:59 PM

A direct quote excerpt from Cirelli email, to wit:

I find this totally unacceptable !!! please [Mayor Healy, Safety Director Ream and Police Chief McKimm] let me know the status of the situation so I can share it with my fellow Councilmember's as well as the General Public !!

So what is the reason that the Canton Police Department could not send an officer to Aldi's  to take a report on the alleged theft?

Is it because the Canton PD has strained its law enforcement resources enforcing speed laws throughout the city?

Is the Healy administration with its directives to the Canton Police Department making a mockery of the Healy campaign pledge (the 2007 campaign against Republican Janet Creighton) of Zero Tolerance on dealing with reported criminal allegations?

What's the expression?

"Not a way to run a railroad!!!"