CRIME RATE SOARS AS PUBLIC’S FAITH
IN POLICE PLUNGE TO ALL TIME LOW

Arie Skye, Pallad City Post

(Continued from Section 1A)

The Pallad City Police Department has yet to comment on how they plan to quell the increasing crime rates and gang activity. Many citizens are concerned that too little is being done to keep the public protected.

Faris Setler, a 28-year-old civil engineer, said: “I just don’t feel safe anymore. Whether it’s taking the subway or walking the streets, I’m constantly concerned that I’ll be a target for some criminal. It isn’t baseless paranoia, either; this city’s really gotten bad. And I’m not the only one who feels that way. I have two friends who were mugged in the last week, and the thugs responsible are still out there. Nothing’s being done. The police are useless.”

This controversy follows after the much publicized incident involving the Pallad City Police database leak last month. The police, themselves a victim of a high-profile hacktivist group, have remained quiet regarding the numerous PCPD documents that have found their way onto the Net. Several of the leaked files revealed some officers referring to Pallad City as ‘Danger Zone One,’ likening it to a major disaster area.

In an official statement, Mayor Hynden Neville said, “There’s no proof that those documents were culled from actual police records and weren’t just fabricated. I wouldn’t put much stock into everything you find on the Net. There are people out there that would like nothing better than to see our law enforcement agencies look bad.” When asked if the rumors were true that the PCPD have yet to devise a strategy to combat the rising crime rates, Neville said, “That’s merely the stuff of lurid headlines and sensationalistic hearsay.”

Despite the increasing reports of crime, Pallad City has avoided topping the most recent “Worst City” poll conducted by Futura Network last month. According to the poll, Nu Metropol continues to reign as the most dangerous city in the country.

“Sure, Pallad City may not yet have the sterling reputation of Old Metro or Silica,” Neville added. “But it’s certainly far from the cesspool of crime and corruption that Nu Metropol’s become. I see great things for Pallad City’s future, and I’m not about to dismiss that just because we’ve hit a few rough patches.”

Mayor Neville’s approval rating fell to its lowest level since his re-election last year, a Futura Network poll revealed Tuesday. When asked for a comment regarding his decline with voters, a spokeswoman for the mayor said, “Polls go up and down, that’s just the way it is. Governing takes hard work and, during a period of getting your hands dirty, the polls may not always respond favorably. But the aftermath is what truly counts.”

“There’s a reason I was re-elected mayor, and that’s because I have a vision,” Neville added. “But, unlike other politicians, I intend to follow through on my promises. People are concerned about this crime issue, I understand that. They’re losing faith in their city, I get it. During the election, I gave my word that people will be proud to once again call Pallad City their home, and I will see that vision become a reality.”

Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Katsu.