Points of action are beginning to take shape as a task force consisting of law enforcement, local politicians and concerned citizens seek to counteract violent crime.
Twenty-one individuals met for the third time Monday at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library where they separated into committees to brainstorm solutions to three integral aspects of community safety: the relationship between the police and the community, youth intervention and neighborhood watch.
Prior to the group breaking into committees, Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem announced the task force would likely meet just one more time, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at the library, to compile its findings and suggestions. The task force”s aims, in addition to the suggestions, are to raise enough money to bring Daniel Kellar, executive director of the American Crime Prevention Institute in Louisville, Ky., to Columbus, as well as to circulate a survey aimed at gathering statistical data on the state of crime and law enforcement across Columbus.
“We need a scientific survey to get a good grip on what people are thinking,” said Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John.
No concrete plans were set forth regarding who will author, distribute, collect or analyze the surveys.
The group discussing the relationship between the community and the police broached the topic of “what people are thinking” several times Monday. The prevalent belief was that the majority of the black community in Columbus doesn”t trust the police while the majority of the white community does. But the problem also stretches beyond race into socioeconomics.
“It just depends on the community,” said Tyrone Cunningham.
Mississippi University for Women Police Chief Kennedy Meaders posited that the only way the whole community would ever begin to trust the police is if officers take initiative in making themselves available to the community independent of the occurrence of a crime.
He suggested assigning officers specific areas of the community to patrol, rather than having all units criss-cross the entire city, and encouraging them to spend as much time as possible outside of their patrol cars interacting with community members.
Five members of the Columbus Police Department attended Monday”s meeting, but none sat in on the community/police relations group. However, the neighborhood watch committee, which included all the CPD personnel, did point to tonight”s National Night Out On Crime as a unique opportunity for the department to foster unity with several Columbus communities.
“People like when we”re the ones grilling the burgers,” said St. John, making a point about police officers being seen as approachable.
He lamented the thought that his newer officers, who haven”t had much time to establish their names and reputations in the community, wouldn”t be able to engage visitors at the six sites in Columbus which will host parties or cookouts from 7-10 p.m. in the same way his veteran officers will. And the number of veteran officers is expected to fall soon as St. John anticipates three or four retirements within the next five to six months.
Expanding National Night Out, which will serve to disseminate crime prevention tips throughout various communities is just one way the Neighborhood Watch group proposed to get citizens more involved in policing their own streets. Others included raising awareness about excessive litter and neighborhood disrepair, which St. John says may send a message of tolerance toward crime.
“Trash and crime go hand in hand,” he said.
Awareness, or the lack of awareness programs, was a central focus for the youth intervention committee.
The committee discussed the opportunity free summer programs present to create a positive impression on account of the scores of children attending, but the lack of continuity throughout the school year due to the disappearance of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
“The advantage of the DARE program is that kids knew the officers,” said Otis Tate.
Doran Johnson, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion Church on Highway 182, pointed out that many programs such as DARE were funded through Title IV funds designated through the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act.
The committee”s suggestions included increased parental involvement, education for young parents and youth classes through social programs or church to provide constant positive reinforcement.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for 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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
