Reverend James E. Samuel remembers when Columbus residents sat on their front porches and talked with neighbors and passersby. Now, he said, they can’t do that anymore because of a rising perception of crime in the city.
“I feel as though we’re losing the friendliness of our city,” he said. “People would come to Columbus to visit and eat and shop because people talk to each other here. … We need to look at ways to revitalize the friendliness Columbus is known for.”
That, among other concerns, is what motivated Samuel and 24 other local stakeholders to join the Crime Prevention Task Force, a multifaceted joint effort between Columbus and Lowndes County District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks. During the task force’s first meeting on Monday, Columbus residents, business owners, public officials and interested citizens divided themselves into six committees, each aimed at a different aspect of addressing crime in Columbus and Lowndes County. Committees focus on issues from youth development to community policing, and members of each will decide when and where to meet independently of the larger task force, Brooks said.
Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Clemons, who sits on the crime and community task force committee, said she wants to create better relationships between community leaders and the people they serve.
“I don’t know what will be accomplished because it’s too early to tell,” she said. “But someone is trying and bringing people together that normally wouldn’t be together. I’m just glad someone is trying to do something.”
Clemons said she wants her committee to look at data relating to crime in Columbus to get a better idea of what issues the city really faces.
“People are swayed by stereotypes even if they’re erroneous,” she said. “So I’m excited to look at some data.”
LaShon Webb, with Columbus Air Force Base, sits on the education and community involvement committee, which focuses on the relationship between schools and the community and how that relationship affects crime. Webb said he wants to work with his committee to dispel stereotypes about local public schools.
“My son went through the system here and he’s in college and doing fine,” he said. “So I want to get rid of some of the negative connotations of going to public schools.”
In total, 25 community members joined at least one committee. Each committee is required to make at least one recommendation to city council about crime prevention tactics within their committee’s purview within the next three months.
After committee selection, Brooks spoke to task force members about some suggested goals for committees to pursue. He said the youth development and community programs/activities committee could create a list of “youth-affiliated” programs in Columbus, and the neighborhood enhancement and revitalization committee could begin encouraging residents in different areas of Columbus to maintain their yards and homes.
“At the end of the day,” he said, “we want some recommendations to bring to the mayor and chief and city council.”
Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton told The Dispatch he hopes the task force encourages crime reduction and community engagement.
“We want (community members) to talk to us,” he said. “You know, if I’m going to provide a service, I need to hear from the customer.”
Smith put it a different way as Monday’s meeting came to a close.
“This is your city,” he told the room of task force members. “And you should all want what’s best for your city.”
Dispatch managing editor Zack Plair serves on the crime prevention task force and was not involved in the reporting or editing of this story.
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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.
