The Crime Prevention Task Force, a multifaceted joint effort between Columbus and Lowndes County District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks, will hold its first public meeting Monday, eight months after Columbus City Council voted to collaborate in the task force’s creation.
Brooks first proposed the task force to Columbus Mayor Robert Smith in 2017. The task force he proposed is similar to one created by the National Association of County Officials on criminal justice and public health. That task force, which Brooks served on, was the inspiration for several similar task forces nationwide.
“We wanted to hear from people who are in the community, who know the community’s needs,” Brooks said. “Often it’s people in the community that have different ideas other than law enforcement.
“We think that one way to try and reduce criminal activity in the community is to get people talking to each other,” he added. “We wanted to get stakeholders involved because they know what their community is dealing with.”
Brooks said he asked more than 25 community organizations, such as Mississippi University for Women and The Dispatch, to nominate people for the task force. About 15 organizations nominated representatives to serve, Brooks said.
In total, there are 18 confirmed task force members and another 15 Brooks is “pretty sure” will join. Zack Plair, The Dispatch’s managing editor, is among the members.
Monday’s meeting will focus on committee selection. Task force members will have their choice of six committees, which focus on a range of issues from youth development to community policing.
There will also be a seventh resource committee, consisting of representatives from the district attorney, municipal judge, parks and recreation, and mayor’s offices, as well as the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department. That committee will exist to provide “resources and expertise” to other committees.
Each committee, with the exception of the resource committee, will be required to elect a chairperson. Committees will be able to decide when, where and how often they will meet, Brooks said.
“We’re hoping to have committee meetings open to the public too,” Brooks said. “But that’s up to the committees, of course.”
Committees are required to make at least one recommendation to city council about crime prevention tactics within their committee’s purview within the first three months after Monday’s meeting.
“Statistics show that crime is prevented when members of the community become involved,” Smith wrote in an emailed statement to The Dispatch Friday morning. “…And this group is a great first step in that direction.”
Monday’s meeting, which is open to the public, will be from 6-7 p.m. at the Municipal Complex in Columbus.
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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 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
