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Holy Crimebusters
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The Chicago suburb of Harvey, Ill., occupies only six square miles, but is plagued by the statistics of big-city crime. Eleven murders, 800 assaults and 42 rapes happened in Harvey last year. But the city has now launched an anti-crime crusade and, as Reed Galin reports, it has its sights set on a spiritual solution. |
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Police in Harvey, Ill., are teaming up with a different kind of partner to fight crime.
The Rev. Charles Woolery / First Wesley Academy United Methodist Church: “Laws cannot legislate morality and ethical living. Laws cannot legislate godly living.”
The mayor has appointed a kind of “God Squad” – a group of chaplains, including United Methodist Charles Woolery.
The Rev. Charles Woolery: “Our goal is to transform hearts and minds.”
So far, eight ministers have followed head chaplain Lance Davis out of the sanctuary and onto the street.
Bishop Lance Davis / Head Chaplain, City of Harvey: “If we’re trying to convert anyone to anything, we’re trying to convert them to a message of the community has to be accountable.”
The chaplains risk their own safety riding unarmed with officers. They are always on call, providing counsel to a poor community overrun with drugs and crime.
The Rev. Charles Woolery: “It’s a situation that is volatile and could explode at any moment and the pastors need to be out here to transform it.”
There are critics who say the program violates separation of church and state. But residents who live on a street barricaded by police 24-7 applaud the program.
Jackie Bynum / Resident: “It’s stopping a lot of crime. Where they shoot over here all the time, it’s stopped that. Kids can play out here.”
Darnell Keel / Harvey Police Department: “I’m glad to see it, because when we go to somebody’s house – their mother died – as a police officer, I can’t really give them that comfort, being in a uniform. It may intimidate them. But when you have a minister there, it helps them.”
Ministers are hoping a safer community will encourage new economic development.
The Rev. Charles Woolery: “The jobs have already left us. We want to try to create an environment where businesses want to come back.”
In spite of heat from critics, this God Squad in squad cars hopes to bring a greater power to the streets of Harvey, Ill.
Holy Crimebusters – TAG:
The mayor is planning on expanding the program and is looking for a rabbi or imam to include in his city’s fight against crime.