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City to take look at crime statistics
Published Friday, January 2, 2009
NATCHEZ — If you are worried that crime is up in Natchez, you aren’t alone.
Alderman Ricky Gray has the same concerns and has asked the police department to compile a comprehensive report on crime rates between the years 2000 and 2008.
At the last board of aldermen meeting, Gray asked Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins to pull the figures together so the city could work toward reducing crime.
“I think the crime rate is up,” Gray said “I want to see the numbers to make sure they are up.”
Mullins said there hasn’t been an exponential increase in crime in the past eight years.
And from 1994 to 2007 — the last time Mullins said he ran comprehensive figures — crime had gone down.
In 1994, the total incidents were 1,787. In 2007, there were 764 fewer crimes committed.
Also, Mullins said he crunched numbers comparing the first six months of 2008 versus the first six months of 2007, and all criminal activity had decreased in 2008 except for larceny.
That still leaves the second six months of 2008, which likely did increase, Mullins said. The police department has been very active over those six months, he said.
“There’s been a lot more going on,” Mullins said.
He included calls for service placed by residents, which have gone up this year.
Gray said he wants to look at the numbers and whether they are up or down, he wants to revive the city and county’s crime prevention committee.
The committee was comprised of Mullins, the Adams County sheriff, elected city and county officials and representatives of the judicial and school systems.
“I think it was beneficial,” he said.
Gray said the last meeting of the committee was a few weeks before the city election.
He attributed the committee’s dissolution with the change in administration.
Hopefully, reviewing the figures and bringing crime to the forefront of discussions will lead to a renewed interest in tackling crime in Adams County, Gray said.
“Anytime you’re dealing with crime you want to find a way to alleviate that problem,” he said.
Mullins said the report should be ready for presentation at the board’s Jan. 13 meeting.
Comments
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are all these people that are arrested turned loose over and over and over.???
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If your shot by some thug,or they steal all the things you have worked for all your life. It really doesn,t mean fooey about statistics. You must not be including the rampant drug dealers on most street corners. Where do you think the cracker heads get their money,working . I don,t think so,They must be stealing it from somewhere.
OPEN drug deals are common on the edge of the city limits of this town. They have a drug bust roundup about every 5 years or so and that,s about it for Adams county. The rest of the dopeheads are turned loose right after their arrested.I know they are not working high paying jobs to support their habits because they are very few in Natchez.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They are stealing Walmart blind. I asked where the bluetooths were for cellphones and the cashier said they can,t put them out because they will steal all of them. With security cameras everywhere and all the theft seems like some people on the inside are looking the other way.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know shoplifting is a big problem
And the thieves are very good at what they do, they often work in groups and have designated lookouts so it's hard to catch them, they won't actually steal when you are looking, but do it when you turn your head and they will mingle around in a store for long periods waiting for a good opportunity...........
The only way to catch them, unless you get lucky and spot them firsthand, is to notice some suspicious activity (empty box, stuff out of place, suspicious behavior, etc) and work the video, which takes time to view .............. then prosecute and follow through with court. It's a real pain, but we have to do it to clean up our community and NOT let the thugs and thieves have their way..........
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's up to us GOOD citizens to force this crime issue..........
We cannot allow ourselves to be apathetic and complacent
We have to raise hell about proper punishment, but more than anything we have to take action, sign affadavits, press charges, and go through all the inconvenience of prosecuting, such as sitting in court for half a day or so to convict a shoplifter, trespasser, disturbing the peace, profanity in public, public drunk, drug possession and use, etc............ whatever it takes to put the pressure on the thugs and make their life miserable and maybe they'll get the idea having a job is not so bad afterall.........................
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
speaking of shoplifters, I just caught another one, nothing worse than a dang thief, and will lie to the very end denying their guilt.............and will fight if they get the chance to avoid arrest...........
some people just have no morals..........
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I mean if a person is on hard times and needs some help there are places to go to ask for help
you don't have to steal.........anything a thief steals will wind up costing that idiot ten times or more what it is really worth, can't they figure that out?
Last person I convicted of shoplifting her fine was $675 and had to serve one week in jail (60 days, 52 suspended). She stole $15 of stuff......
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
we had mercy on this last woman, she had her child with her, she went ahead and confessed, pulled out the items she was trying to steal, and paid for them
I don't see the point to being too harsh to somebody that is on hardtimes and this lady (we know her) has been on hard times, her health is bad, single parent with a young child, I feel for people that are socio/economic deprived
but she cannot come back in the store, I'll have her arrested if she comes back, she's been stealing from us a long time, I just got lucky and had her dead to rights on video..............
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
should I have had her arrested anyway? I don't know what the police would have done with her child? It's so sad the stupid choices people seem intent on making
We asked her why she stole the items ( a total of $1.98) she said "I don't know why"
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just got lucky and had her dead to rights on video..............
This is what our society has come to. Unless they are caught on video they cannot be charged i guess..it,s almost impossible to have anything done.
Posted by andy (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
presby The Sheriff office metro unit does not do a big round up just before elections because they arrest the people selling and doing drugs on the spot. In the past it was like you stated and I like the new way. Why let a person sell drugs for a year or two and then arrest them and they get probation. As far as getting out of jail, well you cannot keep them as they are given bonds and usually too low also. The problem is they donot get sent to prison for long enough. Thats our fault, come on get on the courts not the sheriff and police chief.
Posted by andy (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
krogers, you are right shoplifting is killing walmart, but they do not seem to care, Now again it can not be mike mullins fault that people steal at walmart, but it can be his fault that a business or bank is broken into and we need to thank our county and city law enforcement for keeping the major crimes down in the county. Also the metro does a great job and that is city and county working together. We are so lucky here that cooperation is in use and that our law officers work together. This is unique and doesnot happen in many places. Now as far as alderman Gray, you worked the door at a bar and saw the dope and smelled it, but did you report it to the chief. This is a personal problem between you and Mike, work it out.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe that,s why food and goods are so high at Walmart. Are they afraid of the shoplifters or is everybody working there in on the stealing. I see it going on a lot when shop. Why would 4 or 5 people walk around in Walmart with huge baggy pants and all kinds of oversized coats and never have a buggy to push with them. Out the door they go,no buggy. I think they should do random searches. If you have nothing to hide why not?? Something is bad and sadly wrong with the Natchez Walmart, I have been to Walmarts in other towns and ours falls way,way short. They have some of the most unconcerned employees i have ever seen anywhere,note i said some of the most.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also beleive law enforcement does any excellent job. It,s the rest of the system for sure,but it needs changing in the worst way. Our country cannot continure at this pace,our whole nation will shut down.
Thought For The Day!
The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
Cicero , 55 BC
A lot of giveaways,public assistance,freebies was made possible because of the people who worked hard over the last 100 years or so. Somebody has to work and pay ...but it ain,t happening...TOO many freebies and assitance in the wrong places.
And most of these kids that don,t have respect for others were taught by their parents,to roam the streets and live of the fruits of others labor. It will not be many years and this will END. Just wait
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
at walmart- I'm certain the employees are in on it
you know walmart has been ripped off big-time by it's managers here in the past
yep, walmart has spoiled it's customers and ruined retail for family business- other small business retail people now have a helluvatime with shoplifters and constant exchanges, walmart has got people used to NO customer service and letting people dig into the shelves and spread stuff all over the store, let kids run and play, etc. The employees for some reason will NOT intervene with people that are inconsiderate, loud, etc.
Shoppers have developed such an attitude of disrespect it's pitiful
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh no presby,
I don't have to have video to press charges, I can press charges just by signing an affadavit and having a positive ID
The positive ID is often the hard thing to come up with though, it's not easy to catch a thief these days
Video makes it easier with positive proof because often there is no positive ID at the moment of the act and so you have to investigate and make an ID, then press charges.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 2, 2009 at 11:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I contacted the Walmart manager about people parking in the disabled parking spaces,crossways,double parked,most with disabled tags. The manager said they had no control over that. That i would have to call the police,which i did. It got better for about a week,they wrote a few tickets, Then back to business as usual. People park in the disabled parking areas all different directions over the painted lines,just get out and walk in Walmart with the security car driving right past yakkin away to their freinds..
Posted by JLM79 (anonymous) on January 3, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not live in Natchez, but, being a resident of Vidalia, I go to Natchez on an almost daily basis. My confidence in the Natchez Police Department is very low.
My first time dealing with NPD was when I was rear-ended in front of Natchez Regional. I was coming from Wal-Mart, and turning right toward the bridge. I was near the end of the turning lane, and had stopped to yield to oncoming traffic before merging. There is a yield sign at the end of that turn lane. A fellow bumped me from behind. We pulled over and called 911. When the officer arrived, both of our stories matched as to what happened. At first glance, there appeared to be no damage. The rookie officer looked at both of our drivers licenses and insurance. He said I could pick up a report after a certain time on a certain day. When my husband looked at my car, he noticed that the bumper, although not dented, had actually had been knocked in several inches. I went to NPD to retrieve the accident report, for which they charged me $5. It was practically blank. The officer had not even written any of our information except our names, and those names were apparently both misspelled. We were never able to file it with any insurance b/c of NPD's shoddy work.
My second time to deal with NPD was when our car was vandalized. We parked in the lot near the Post Office and Cock of the Walk, and were attending the Spring Pilgrimage Pageant and Confederate Ball. When we got back to our car, a very large rock had been thrown through our back glass. There was also a tour bus and another car or two that had glass broken. The Barney-Fife-looking officer who came had a little dollar store notebook that he took down everyone's information, but we never heard anything back from NPD.
Maybe what they really mean by saying "crime is down" is that "arrests are down." That's my opinion, anyway!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on January 4, 2009 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if Mullins reads these posts? I wonder if he knows just how inept SOME of his employees are? My negative experiences with the NPD would take too much room to explain so I'll spare everyone.
It's a shame the average citizen can say that about them. Maybe there are idiot cops everywhere and Mullins can't be blamed for the few "bad eggs". Bless his heart.
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