Crime: City right to enlist public for precinct focus

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 9/19/7

RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST JACKSON — the Police Department’s Precinct 4 – have troubling crime problems, but they may also have a great crime-fighting weapon.

Banding together, having meetings with residents and police, as is now occurring, also has the name of “community policing.” Police focusing on northeast Jackson neighborhoods where crimes have been reported is part of that, and police and citizens joining forces has proven effective in other cities.

Right now, residents are angry and wanting results. And police figures obtained by The Clarion-Ledger show cause for concern. Crime in the precinct spiked in August, with property crime rising 26 percent over the previous month.