Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Saturday, July 17, 1976, page 20 (of 28)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Police, psychiatrists hard-pressed to explain phenomena
From Page 1 public information officer for the Gables police department. "Ordinarily, we have an average of three to four domestic disturbances over any given weekend, but this past weekend, when the moon was full, we had about 14. "When I was a rookie, a woman called on the night of a full moon and insisted that there were gorillas on her roof. Of course, it turned out to be some tree branches, but the really oddball calls always seem to come in during the full moon." Captain James Ross, of the Metro South District substation, said that police stations are not the only places that are plagued with an unusual number of calls and disturbances during the full moon. "If you check the hospital roles, you'll find they are fuller during full moons too," he said. "I've found that there are not only more domestic disturbances during the full moon, but more of all kinds of criminal activity. "It's one of those unexplainable things, but it certainly does happen. Old wives' tales are often couched in fact." Captain Ross joked that his wife even becomes a little concerned for him when the moon is full. "She always says, 'Oh no, the moon is full, so they'll probably call you out tonight,'" he said. South Miami Police Chief Sal Vizzini, however, does not seem to share his colleagues' opinions. "I refuse to comment on that," he said, after swallowing a contemptuous laugh. The chief was apparently put off by the question, and did not seem to think there was any such correlation between criminal activity and the full moon. Metro Public Information Officer Jim Baab said he has definitely noticed a relationship. "It all goes back to your stories about werewolves — turning into beasts — during the full moon," he remarked. "They even say that mental patients howl when the moon is full. "It does appear that there's a rise in violent crimes, especially domestic assaults . . . it just seems that full moons bring out the worst in people." Several pyschiatrists and psychologists contacted by The Times-Guide also had opinions on the matter. Dr. Stanley Garner, a psychiatrist in South Miami, said he hasn't seen a relationship. "It's an old question that's been tossed around for years," he said. "But I've never been able to correlate emotional flare-ups with any natural phenomenon." Dr. Nancy Greenfield, a psychiatrist who works out of the Lennar Center on North Kendall Drive, said that although she has no scientific data which backs her up, she and her husband, William, also a psychiatrist, joke about the possibility of the psychic influence of the full moon. A psychologist who teaches at Miami-Dade Community College South, Helen Wallace, said that statistically, no such correlation has been found. "I know that science itself is struggling with the question, and recent studies show that emotional flare-ups seem to happen more frequently during the full moon." she said. "But statistically, it hasn't been proven, and I haven't seen any connection in my own life." "Ordinarily, we have three or four domestic disturbances on a weekend, but last weekend, when the moon was full, we had 14." Dennis Koronkiewicz Coral Gables Police "It's one of those unexplainable things, but it certainly does happen. Old wives' tales are often couched in fact." Capt. James Ross Public Safety Dept.
DELIVER THE TIMES/GUIDE
Twice weekly and earn money & prizes! If you are between the ages of 10 and 15, you can start NOW! Routes available in most areas, including Coral Gables Mail in this coupon today Name.................................. Address............................... Phone.................................. Age.................................... OR CALL 666-7981
BIRD BINGO HALL
EVERY NITE PARTY GAME BIRD BINGO HALL 8354 BIRD RD. 84th AVE. LUCKY 7 TWICE NITELY — 2 PLAYOFFS — $100.00 EACH — NITE-OWLS START AT 10:00 P.M. SPECIAL FREE DRAWING WED. JULY 21st 3 NIGHT CRUISE FOR 2 ON THE MONARCH SUN TIPS AND PORT TAXES EXCLUDED SUNDAY SPECIAL DRAWING FOR COLOR TV BIG CASH PRIZES EARLY & NITE-OWL PACK PLAY ALL NIGHT — SAT. & MON. NITE INCLUDES 6 TRIPLE BOARDS (18 CARDS) 7 TRIPLE BOARDS FOR NITE-OWLS 24 TRIPLE SPECIAL (72 CARDS) 1 BONUS CARD 1 LUCKY 7 $8.00 NET SAT. — FREE GIFTS WITH EVERY PACK $2.00 B R B One Per Person Per Night FREE COUPON TG "DRAWINGS & LUCKY-7" OPEN TO PUBLIC NO PURCHASE NECESSARY EVERYONE WELCOME GAMES — START — 7:15 P.M. DOORS OPEN — 5:30 P.M. FREE SILVER DOLLARS EVERY FRI. NITE WITH PURCHASE OF ANY PACK WED. & THURS. DRAWING FOR 10 TRANSISTOR RADIOS EACH NIGHT ALL GAMES SPONSORED BY YOUR FAVORITE CHARITIES $2.00 B R B One Per Person Per Night FREE COUPON TG $5.00 PLAYS ALL REG. NITE-OWLS — NITE-OWLS START AT 10:00 P.M.