Can the church bridge the gap between lawbreakers and law enforcement?
“We”ll find out,” Interim Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen said, Tuesday afternoon.
McQueen is inviting all local pastors to attend an open forum Thursday at 9 a.m. in the courtroom at the Columbus Municipal Complex. He plans to address quality-of-life issues and engage area churches in a more active role in crime prevention.
In his 23 years with the department, McQueen has seen everything from a gang shooting at Sim Scott Park to mothers moonlighting as prostitutes, swapping baby diapers for drugs. He doesn”t think change will come overnight, but he thinks if he can get the pastors — the “cornerstones of the community” — involved, maybe one person can be saved. Maybe more.
Dr. Sam Morris, lead pastor of First United Methodist Church on Main Street, isn”t sure what McQueen has in mind, but he plans to attend Thursday”s forum because he is pleased with the direction the department has taken over the past few years and hopes to see that work continue as the search gets underway for a new police chief to replace former Police Chief Joseph St. John, who was fired by the Columbus City Council last month.
Despite a recent spate of shootings downtown — one on Fifth Street South last Sunday, one at Fifth Avenue North and Military Road on Aug. 3, and one on Fifth Avenue South on Aug. 2 — Morris feels the overall crime rate has improved around his church. Several years ago, the area was rife with vandalism and purse-snatchings.
Morris thinks more churches would be interested in working with police to fight crime if they knew how to get involved. Two-way communication is key: Church leaders need to be aware of the police department”s concerns and missions, and the police department needs to be aware of resources already in place to meet basic needs that extend beyond — and sometimes lead to — criminal behavior.
Many churches are operating day-care centers, after-school programs and other activities to keep children off the streets. The Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen provides hot meals and ensures no one has to steal to have food. The Good Samaritan Clinic helps the uninsured with medical expenses. Morris” church offers counseling services and works with juvenile offenders.
“We welcome the opportunity to talk,” Morris said of Thursday”s pastor-police forum. “Sometimes the problem is the department doesn”t know, or isn”t aware, of all the help agencies out there. It”s good for us to be aware of what they”re wanting to do and for them to be aware of what we”re trying to do for the community.”
In McQueen”s eyes, involving church leadership in crime prevention is a natural facet of a multi-pronged approach.
“They are the men of God, the shepherds of the flock,” McQueen said. “Within my morals and values, that”s who you turn to. This thing is bigger than you and I. I”m looking for resources. I don”t care if we can”t save but one person.”
He declined to “play Monday-morning quarterback,” saying his change in direction — from putting experienced officers back on the streets to holding Thursday”s forum — is not so much a criticism of previous strategies as it is an implementation of his own vision.
In many neighborhoods, things like loitering and loud music aren”t a problem, because residents won”t tolerate it. In other areas, people are intimidated into silence. McQueen is hoping that as officers become more visible, residents will become more comfortable expressing concerns.
He even hopes to take pastors on ride-alongs and involve them in the upcoming Citizen”s Police Academy.
“Columbus in the day and Columbus at night are two totally different animals,” McQueen said. “There is an element that comes out after dark … We”re going to have to get a game plan.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.