Police Chief J.D. Ervin led the meeting. He passed out an alert of Theft from vehicles of persons unknown have been entering unsecured motor vehicles during the day and night time hours removing change and other personal items.
When leaving items in a vehicle, the Police advise to secure the items in your trunk or remove them from the vehicle and lock all vehicle doors for added security.
A few recent incidents of an officer allegedly telling one victim reported by the property owner at a recent town council meeting to get a gun and another incident of a group about 8 to 10 men on Homewood area without any follow-up and reporters not contacted for a description were mentioned, however, Police Chief stated ‘it’s been handled let’s move on’. He began to discuss an upcoming Christmas Santa Party on Dec. 19th. He requested any donations to be dropped off to the Police Station.
A letter was sent to landlords from the City. Only four total attended the meeting and two individuals attending care for several properties for landlords. Several issues were discussed of crime, consistency of residents and parking.
Reoccurring issue of block captains were approached. Chief mentioned still no one has offered to be a block captain and there were 5 block captains in 1997-2000. A crime watch was formed, a city ordinance was passed and there is a considerable requirement of time/effort is involved. He mentioned these are always created during times of increased crime however they fizzle out once crime has decreased.
An individual from city hall mentioned, as they offered without discussing with city leaders or council, a few issues of a gun buyback program, which when efficiency was questioned, Chief offered they aren’t effective. A second issue of pursuit of a nationally recognized program such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, which may have funding available, the speaker offered, does not turn anyone away (what program does?) and participants bring a nominal fee to each meeting.
Save the Youth, Director, Minister Jones gave an update of an upcoming event for the area youth on Saturday, November 27th and looking forward to working collaboratively with City for a new location. Min. Jones mentioned a noticeable absence of any recent election candidates for public office.
Chief will post next meeting on city website. The next meeting was set for 2nd Saturday in December to meet at Rev. Tasker’s church on Front Street of Abundant Life Apostolic Church.
from Ms. Factchecker-
Right, the Chief wants 'Crime Watch Captains' to do the job the Police Officers ain't doing. What the hell are they getting paid to do again?
ReplyDeleteThere is a gang of about 8 - 12 every weekend now hanging out at the corner of Cedar street & Homewood Drive AND THE COPS AINT DOING A THING ABOUT THEM!!!
WHAT ARE THEY OUT DOING AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT??
WHY AREN'T THE COPS MAKING THEM GO HOME INSTEAD OF LAYING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS??
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKENDS NOW AND WHY AIN'T THE COPS DOING A THING ABOUT IT??
ARE THEY GETTING 'KICK BACKS'??
Anon 9:15 It should be interesting to see what occurs this weekend in that area. The Police Chief stated "it's been handled.Let's move on". But moved on only to discuss a Christmas Santa Party?
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few meetings now and I am anxious to here is any headway is being made. Is there a reluctance in having citizens volunteer to be block captains because they are afraid? Well, I would be too. And I am not sure if I would volunteer to do what you pay the police department to do either. There have been alot of changes in 10 years in the ways crimes are committed.
Where are these crimes happening? What kinds of crimes are they? Do police have a description of them or anything they can tell the citizens so that they may help instead of walking the streets after dark?
Who are your new police officers?
And it's been said over and over again to lock your items in the trunk. Lock your car. But did you know that even locking your car may not make your interior safe? There's a thief lurking who can break into your car simply by using a slim jim. And it's been done a few times. And before the wee hours of the morning.
Never would I leave anything valuable in my car.
ReplyDelete"it's been handled lets move on"
ReplyDeleteThose were his exact words and then talked about Christmas Santa Party.
I was shocked and think everyone there was too that we were taken back by his willingness to 'move on' so quickly without discussing this further. Yet the Chief did not ask for any description from the ones discussing the incidents.