“We all act different when we know we are being watched.”
That’s an age old saying in strategic law enforcement tactics. The concept is people are less likely to break the law if they see a patrol car in their neighborhood, a policeman on the corner of a festival, or cameras at a home or business.
This is the classic example: You are driving down the highway and spot a highway patrolman in the median. You immediately look at your speedometer to see if you are speeding.
It’s also why policemen wear uniforms and patrol cars sport big decals on the doors and blue lights on top.
Those with any sense straighten up and do right.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize high visibility of law enforcement anytime and anywhere reduces crime.
This newspaper is a big supporter of law enforcement and urges the Clarksdale Police Department the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol to be more visible in our community.
Could a county patrol car in Friars Point Christmas Eve have prevented the murder of a 10-year-old?
Could a black-and-white cruising up and down Douglas Street have prevented the drive-by shooting of a 13-year-old in her home?
Could city and county authorities putting on a show of force New Year’s Eve stop some of this senseless gunfire in this town?
We understand police cannot be everywhere. We also understand thugs wait for the right time to do their dirty work.
But your Clarksdale Press Register urges police, sheriff and highway patrol to be more visible.
We urge our highly paid Board of Mayor and Commissioners to take a cut in pay and hire more police officers. We urge our city human resource person to get on the ball and work harder to seek qualified policemen and hire more cops!
We urge our incoming Sheriff Mario Magsby to make a concerted effort to be more visible in Clarksdale, Friars Point, Jonestown, Coahoma and every community in this county.
We urge the Mississippi Highway Patrol to set up safety checkpoints in Coahoma County and the edges of Clarksdale.
We urge our Police Chief and new Sheriff to come to this newspaper if they have a problem with judges not backing up our officers in court with jail time and stiff prison sentences.
And last but not least we urge the community to call authorities the minute they see a crime or hear details of a crime.
There is a solution to crime in Clarksdale, and it starts with good people demanding and supporting law and order.
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