You have the attention of Rev. James Jones, Tracy Cottman, Diane Downing, and Bob Hawkins. ALL of these wonderful people are LIFE time citizens of Pocomoke City. Ask them for a weekly crime report of your cit
y. Good luck.POCOMOKE CITY -- After a Virginia man was shot and killed recently on a Pocomoke City street corner, some concerned Pocomoke City residents are planning a grass-roots solution to the increasing area violence.
About 35 residents met early Saturday at New Macedonia Baptist Church, where they discussed how to map their resources, create more activities for shiftless youths and build coalitions among churches.
The group decided to meet again July 10, back at New Macedonia, where they'll work on a mission statement and their next move.
At the meeting, Pocomoke City Police Chief J.D. Ervin said he's concerned by the trouble that some area youths are stirring up with others across the state line, into Accomack County.
"Seems like most of the incidents we get in Pocomoke are between Accomack and Pocomoke," he said. "Unfortunately, when somebody targets somebody, there's nothing the police can do. We only know about it when it happens."
Police said Reginald Handy, 22, of Greenbush was killed the night of May 26 after an argument on the corner of Fifth and Laurel streets. He was shot in the back and died at the hospital from his injuries.
Worcester County Bureau of Investigation detectives arrested Alex Crippin, 36, of Pocomoke City and charged him with first- and second-degree murder. Police said the two had a history of not getting along. Ervin said the investigation is ongoing.
The Rev. James Jones of New Macedonia said Crippin was raised in Pocomoke City but was away for several years in jail and returned less than two years ago.
"A lot of people didn't know Alex because he grew up here, then he came back," he said, adding "he's not one of our success stories."
Jones said more and more "unrecognizable faces" are coming to Pocomoke City, and he asked police if they could keep tabs on strangers.
Ervin said they can't stop everyone because that would constitute harassment. But police will crack down on misdemeanor offenses all summer long "just to let the community know Pocomoke is safe."
Mohammed Khan lives in Worcester County right outside the Pocomoke City limits. Citing Handy's death, he asked Ervin and council members if they would increase funding toward a greater police presence to prevent another "heartbreaking" scenario
Ervin replied that funding to the town from the state of Maryland -- in particular, highway user fees and police aid funding -- had been slashed dramatically, and the town has had to find innovative ways to make it up.
Ervin also said a community watch program established a few years back "fizzled out" when community support waned.
"As soon as people were arrested, the crime watch went away," he said.
Pocomoke City Council members Tracey Cottman, Diane Downing and Robert Hawkins attended the meeting Saturday, with Cottman stepping up to quarterback comments and ideas. Cottman said community gatherings like this should happen regularly, not just when there's an incident.
Deborah Arnold said each church in town should form its own group to better work toward fixing their town.
"I believe we can clean up this city," she said. "Let's come together for the good of our community. We're getting afraid. We don't know what to do. The police are doing all they can."
Echoing that sentiment was Denise Pettit, who said the community should first turn to prayer and then strategize.
"When you go to God for prayer for his wisdom, you're going to get the problem solved. Other than that it's just not going to work," she said, and the room filled with mm-hmm in agreement.
One recurring topic during the meeting was how local youths show little or no respect toward authority figures and the police, a trait many blamed on irresponsible parenting.
Pocomoke City Police Lt. Marty Koerner, a former Maryland State Police Salisbury barrack commander, said he was shocked by how "completely disrespectful" some young people are in town.
Francis Lee Jones, a deacon at New Macedonia, said children used to show respect to their elders. Not anymore, he said.
"I've been here 70 years now, and it's worse than I've ever seen it," he said.
Finally the root of alot of the problems has been addressed-irresponsible parenting. These parents/guardians of the offenders need to be attending these meetings, not to be chastised or insulted but to get support and guidance. I'd especially like to see the parents/guardians of the juvenile offenders present.
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