Now that the shock and outrage over the slayings of Melissa Barratt and Michael Martin have faded, the time has come to think about where we go from here.
The concept of two killings in less than two weeks remains unsettling, and many have contemplated whether this is a growing trend in southern Vermont.
But one common thread can be reassuring: the victims knew their alleged killers. The state's crime statistics show that random homicides rarely happen here.
That same database also shows that the level of violent crime in Brattleboro has been stable over the past few years, and that drug and alcohol use fuels much of the criminal activity.
With its proximity to urban areas where drug trafficking is a major business, Brattleboro will always see more crime than other towns around Vermont do. That is one reason why the town has a full-time police force.
But it is facile for town officials to say, as Town Manager Barbara Sondag did last month, that “crime is not just fought by police officers...we need the whole community to rally together.”
“Community” is one of the most overused words in Brattleboro. When town officials say the word, it almost comes across as a cop out, a means of avoiding action.
The problem is not that the community isn't involved in trying to reduce drug crimes; many residents and business owners have been, including over the past few weeks. They have been watching drug transactions happening in broad daylight in public spaces in the community. They have identified the hot spots where drug deals are going on, and they know the dwellings that are being used as drug dens.
They have reported all this information to the police, and they have watched the police brush off many of their complaints.
Community members can't conduct investigations. They can't make arrests. They can't prosecute cases. They can't sentence offenders. Enforcing the laws and punishing the offenders? Those are the jobs of the local and state police, the State's Attorney's office, and the judicial system.
Police Chief Eugene Wrinn complains about limited resources, an understandable constraint. But the best deterrent to illegal activity downtown is not a surge of costly additional forces.
A good policy comes in the form of regular foot and bicycle patrols.
When officers patrol a beat and get to know the people in a neighborhood, it promotes a totally different relationship between police and the citizenry. Suspicion and distrust is reduced, and cooperation increases.
For now, the biggest police presence downtown is the parking enforcement officers. If we all saw the level of vigor in crime prevention that we see in writing parking tickets, the word would get around that Brattleboro isn't place for drug dealers.
Over the past few years, we have seen flurries of activity where the community has worked up enough outrage to get the attention of town officials. This surge of interest prompts meetings, expressions of concern, and stepped-up police patrols. But after a few months, the sense of urgency dissipates and things go back to the way they were.
Brattleboro must do better. Residents want to see an honest and sustained commitment toward reducing crime by the police, and they want to see their concerns and complaints taken seriously.
We don't need more meetings.
We need action.