But since 1990, murders have dropped from a high of 15 to none in 1995. And other violent crimes have also decreased. The change is credited not only to police enforcement, but also to the community. Jack Suess, Ocala Police Department spokesman. We have been under the funding from the Weed and Seed grant, which has allowed us to place significant manpower in the very high crime areas.
Law enforcement is just one piece of the puzzle.
There is a significant amount of effort in the community in the revitalization in west Ocala. Weed and Seed is a federal grant that allows the department to focus on, first, reducing drugs in the area, and second, funding programs that help young people stay out of trouble. Very often the murders are related to drug deals, and that's where our emphasis has been, on the open-air drug markets and large scale drug operations. The police department also has been working with businesses on State Road 200 to try and reduce the number of retail thefts. The program allows officers to brief store owners on possible shoplifting rings, as well as business scams.