WPD Chief: Media is not to blame for negative perception of downtown | Crime

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Earlier this week Wilmington Police Chief
Ralph Evangelous put an end to the question, "What
is downtown Wilmington?"  At the same
time, he seemingly blamed the media for residents' negative perception of the
area.

Friday, the police chief said the media is not to blame for the
bad perception and that it is very important.

"I'm not blaming the media for doing their job," said
Evangelous.   "You're just doing your
job. Your perception is driven by the media for the most part and sometimes
that's a good perception and sometimes that's a bad perception, but it is what
it is."

Evangelous said the media acts as a "middle man" for the
department and the community and crime just tends to happen the most on the
weekends.

"We take in about 200 plus people released from jail and
prison every month throughout the city, throughout the area," explained
Evangelous.  "200 a month so there are
going to be some bad guys out there. There's no question about it, but
generally speaking we don't have a violent crime problem in the downtown area."

The chief emphasized that downtown Wilmington safe, and crime
has gone down in the area over the past ten years.

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