TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) – Mayor Mike Bell was visibly shaken at Tuesday's news conference when discussing the murder of an elderly woman early Tuesday morning.
Bell called the murder "very upsetting," and seemed angry and frustrated by the crime.
Over New Year's weekend, there were two shooting deaths, including Fannie Mae Smith's murder. The 81-year-old's death is one of almost 30 over the past year.
The mayor and Police Chief Derrick Diggs made a plea to the public to end the refusal to help police end the recent wave of gun violence in Toledo.
"People know in the community what is going on. But they don't tell our officers what is going on, which makes it very frustrating to them." said Bell.
Police Chief Derrick Diggs also weighed in on the situation:
"I don't believe that people are afraid. I just believe that there's this thug mentality and this no snitch phenomenon that is going on across the country, and people just won't cooperate with the police."
Bell said that previous calls for help were mostly ignored. He and the police chief made a direct plea for people to simply report what they know, and to use the Crimestopper hotline- 419-255-1111- to anonymously report crime information or turn someone in.
Bell also has urged businesses in the city to come forward and donate funds to programs that keep kids active and out of trouble. Well respected organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA, and Boys & Girls Clubs need help from the public.
"There are great people in this city. They just got to start getting the confidence to believe in themselves to realize that they have to play a crucial role in being able to turn our city around. you can no longer sit back and say it's somebody else's responsibility." explained Bell.
Chief Diggs believes that people have information about all six unsolved murders from 2011, but they have not come forward.
Mayor Bell has a positive attitude for the new year, and says that he believes in Toledo, and the ability of its citizens, to turn things around.
Copyright 2012 WTOL. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and Toledo News Now, a Raycom Media Station. 
