Casinos: PLANTING SEEDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BREAKDOWN

http://www.votemikekogut.com/

CASINOS AND CRIME
KOGUT SAYS LEGISLATURE PLANTING SEEDS
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BREAKDOWN


Democratic candidate for District Attorney Michael T Kogut, today stated, In their rush to bring casino gambling to Massachusetts the legislature is planting the seeds for a law enforcement breakdown. They need to step back, take a deep breath and consider the costs and burdens the presence of casinos will have on local city and town police and fire departments, the district attorney's office, the courts, the probation department, victims services and prisons.

Kogut continued, "No serious candidate for District Attorney, committed to preventing crime, can ignore the fact that study after study has shown when casinos come to town, crime increases. Robberies, aggravated assaults, domestic violence, motor vehicle violations, including DUI's, and embezzlements all increase. Those crimes put an added burden on the already inadequately funded local law enforcement, prosecutors, victims services and courts. Those crimes take a serious and permanent economic and social toll. That cannot go unaddressed."

Kogut noted that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal stated in a public forum on casinos that the state of Connecticut made a huge mistake by failing to plan for or adequately mitigate the local impacts of casinos. "We can not afford to make the same mistake in Massachusetts.", Kogut stated.

"I am sensitive to the economic realities of where we are as a state and county. I know the hardships that many families are experiencing in these economic times, but it would be irresponsible for me or any other candidate for District Attorney to support a proposition that we all know will increase crime in our county."

Michael T. Kogut is a former Assistant Attorney General and a former Assistant District Attorney. He is a democratic candidate for District Attorney of Hampden County.