Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 Source: Florida Today (Melbourne, FL) Copyright: 2007 Florida Today Contact: http://www.flatoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532 ATTACKING THE PLAGUE Local Law Enforcement And The Public Must Work Together To Bust Criminals Keep up the pressure. That's what local enforcement sees as one way to combat rising crime in Brevard County and we couldn't agree more. A new Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports crime was up 5.5 percent last year countywide. But it didn't take a report to encourage action. In March, the Melbourne Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office joined in Operation Take Back, arresting 80 on drug and prostitution charges in three days . This week, Titusville police nabbed more than 40 suspects linked to violent crimes, drugs, and prostitution and probation violations. Called Operation Teamwork, it was Titusville's most comprehensive crime sweep ever, and came in response to citizens' concerns. That's evidence of a recent and welcome increase in communication between lower-income minority communities and the police. Now, the affected neighborhoods must continue to work with the police to keep the criminals out, says Cheryl Lawson-Young, a local anti-crime activist. That means citizens rejecting the "no snitch" mentality prevalent in some areas and reporting any crimes. The only hope in solving this plague is for a fed-up public and law enforcement to work together every day. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath