Pubdate: Tue, 24 Nov 2009
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2009 El Paso Times
Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom
Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Author: Daniel Borunda
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/El+Paso
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Juarez

EL PASO 2ND SAFEST U.S. CITY

Ranking a Contrast to Violence Across Border

EL PASO -- A new ranking shows El Paso moved up to the second-safest 
large city in the nation even while a vicious drug cartel war has 
turned Juarez into one of the deadliest cities in the world. El Paso 
trailed only Honolulu for the lowest crime rate for cities with more 
than 500,000 population in an annual publication released Monday by 
CQ Press. The ranking is based on crime data for 2008. Civic leaders 
lauded the rating, saying it counters a negative perception that El 
Paso is a violent place because of the killings across the border.

"I don't think the timing for this announcement could be any better," 
said Richard Dayoub, CEO and president of the Greater El Paso Chamber 
of Commerce.

"We have spent a lot of time trying to get the message across the 
country that El Paso is still one of the safest large cities in 
America," Dayoub said.

Violent crime in El Paso -- which was ranked the No. 3 safest large 
city last year -- has remained steady even as a drug war has claimed 
more than 3,000 lives in Juarez since it began in January 2008. Last 
year, there were 18 homicides in El Paso. There have been 11 
homicides so far this year.

"I am proud of the work of the men and women of the El Paso Police 
Department and the support of the community that helps us remain such 
a safe city," Police Chief Greg Allen said in a statement.

In Juarez, daytime shootings on busy streets, massacres inside bars 
and grisly mutilations and beheadings have become a common occurrence 
as drug traffickers battle for control of a lucrative smuggling corridor.

Extortion, kidnappings and carjackings also increased to 
unprecedented levels, causing some residents to flee to El Paso.

Last weekend, Chihuahua state police reported 31 murders in Juarez. 
There have been more than 2,200 deaths this year.

The bloodshed has gained international attention. "Mexican city is 
'murder capital of the world,'" stated a headline on a story about 
Juarez in the London Telegraph newspaper.

Phil Jordan, a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official 
from El Paso, said the safe city label for El Paso is misleading 
because cartels operate on both sides of the border.

"The narcotraffickers will not kill somebody in El Paso unless they 
absolutely have to," Jordan said. "They will kidnap an individual, 
take them to Mexico, torture and kill them. There won't be an 
investigation and the person will simply disappear."

Jordan recommended that the U.S. and Mexico form a task force 
supported by their respective militaries to quell violence that 
remains rampant.

"It's long overdue. In Juarez, it never should have gotten to this 
point," he said.

El Paso city Rep. Emma Acosta, who earlier this year hosted a 
community meeting on the drug violence, said the latest ranking 
should make residents feel secure even if concerns linger.

"I think it (the violence) makes El Pasoans nervous because it's 
right across the border," Acosta said. "We can see the other side. I 
can see Juarez from my office window. I think there is this 
insecurity. Is it going to come over here?"

[sidebar]

RANKINGS

Lowest Crime

1. Honolulu. 2. El Paso. 3. New York City. 4. San Jose, Calif. 5. 
Austin. 6. San Diego. 7. Seattle. 8. Portland, Ore. 9. Denver. 10. Los Angeles.

Highest Crime

1. Detroit. 2. Memphis, Tenn. 3. Baltimore. 4. Washington, D.C. 5. 
Atlanta. 6. Philadelphia. 7. Indianapolis. 8. Columbus, Ohio. 9. 
Milwaukee. 10. Dallas.

Source: CQ Press City Crime Rankings 2009-2010 for cities of 500,000 
or more population.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake