To Snitch Or Not To Snitch
by Sherri Jackson
CBS 42 News
2007-11-23 10:05:00.0
|
|
| |
|
To snitch or not to snitch, that's the question we're asking after Birmingham's police chief brought up a disturbing trend called “stop snitching” at a town hall meeting on violence in The Magic City.
Unlike the old crook turned informer snitch, these days those who would normally be considered eyewitnesses are being labeled snitches and it's creating a major void in solving crimes, not just in Birmingham, but across the country.
From music to videos to movies there's a growing movement in popular culture that's about as disturbing as the message itself: Stop snitchin'! Or, in plain English, don't tell, no matter who committed the crime. Or else.
The Buck Wilde Morning Show is on Birmingham's premiere hip hop station, 95.7 FM. If it's happening in the world of hip hop, they're the one's talking about it including the topic of snitching.
"Everybody got it all wrong about what snitch is - a snitch is someone who tells to get out of trouble."
Webster’s Dictionary defines snitching as “To steal or pilfer,” or as slang, “To turn informer.”
There’s a documentary on DVD featuring various entertainers warning about talking to the police. And who could forget rapper Cam'ron on 60 minutes last month.
"I wouldn't tell if a serial killer lived next door to me!"
That's not snitching…
Then there's Busta Rhymes. The rapper’s body guard was actually gunned down in front of him. But investigators say Busta is keeping his mouth shut.
Ultimately, Cam'ron, who said snitching would hurt record sales, apologized for what he said in his 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper. However, the reality of this campaign has filtered into the streets of Birmingham. And it's giving detectives a hard time solving serious crimes.
Sergeant Cory Hardiman with the Birmingham Homicide Division said, "There's not a homicide that happens in the city of Birmingham that there's not someone who is there. A witness who knows what happened or may know what happened."
With 32 years experience between them, Hardiman and Sergeant Scott Praytor have had their fair share of frustrations.
"It may be a new slogan to put on a t-shirt, but the fact that people are not willing to get involved is nothing new."
In a newspaper clipping posted in the Birmingham Police Museum from 27 years ago one Birmingham police chief referred to people in some communities as cowards for not coming forward in an officer's murder investigation. 95.7 Jamz callers see it a different way: They're between a rock and a hard place.
"Would you take the risk of getting your mama's house shot up?”
What do you think? Is it that difficult to help police solve a crime in your neighborhood, especially if someone has been murdered?
"The bullets came through the windshield of Rodreckus' car and struck him in the head and killed him," said Rodreckus Johnson’s mother, Carolyn.
Johnson was gunned down in cold blood in front of dozens of witnesses. Yet three years later, none of those people have cooperated with Birmingham detectives. It’s very frustrating for Johnson's mother, Carolyn.
"Even adults were out there. Also in the house and nobody would come forward with any information. It's been real hard to deal with,” said Johnson.
So Johnson is taking matters into her own hands, starting the "Who Killed My Child” campaign.
“11 of my members, their cases have not been solved. We started billboards and flyers," said Johnson.
But this grieving mother's push directly conflicts with another one, one with a message many witnesses seem to be heeding: Stop snitching.
The slogan marks t-shirts, is the subject of songs and even has a DVD devoted to it.
"We keep seeing people saying stop snitching, and while we are out there trying to get people to talk, and they're saying don't talk."
Enter Reverend Dwayne Thompson, who's battling back a campaign of his own, "Start Snitching." He says the problem is much deeper in the community than you think.
"Even when we used to have the nosey old neighbor who would call the police, they are now looking out seeing things and turning a deaf ear," said Thompson.
Remember two-year-old George Amison? His death from a stray bullet went unsolved for eight months, but that may change thanks to a witness who came forward just last week.
And when witnesses talk, criminal cases go to court.
During a town hall meeting on violence in April, District Attorney David Barber told a crowd of more than 100 just that.
"The community has got to get involved they have to step forward when they see crime committed because without witnesses our hands are tied," said Barber.
Fear or failure to talk to police stretches across all communities. Ernesto Obregon started The Magic City's first Spanish speaking neighborhood watch program. He says its working.
"Drug dealers began to get caught in the neighborhood where the neighborhood watch was," said Obregon.
And remember this, if you do have information of a crime but fear retaliation, police can take care of you.
"There are avenues that have been developed and created just for that, and those were all designed for the simple fact that people are not talking."
If you have witnessed a crime or have information on any unsolved crimes in the area you can call Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.
|
