NATCHEZ &045; Aldermen Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West wants to send a strong message to any Natchez youth who might try to instigate gang activity: Don’t even try it.

West told fellow board members Tuesday that he had a conversation with a young man who was complaining about gang activity in the community.

&uot;People turning off their cars, driving by and shooting &045; that’s not Natchez,&uot; West said.

Police Chief Mike Mullins said the police department is proactive in trying to prevent any gang activity.

&uot;We need to continue doing what we’re doing,&uot; Mullins said. &uot;It’s worked in the past. When you’ve got a small group of kids trying to act like they’re starting a gang, we make some arrests and put a stop to it. There is no organized, structured gang right now.&uot;

Mullins, who said the police department has not had any recent reports of drive-by shootings, said the young man he and West talked to was concerned about some individuals involved in gang-like activities &045; not necessarily involved in a gang.

&uot;We need to keep it from coming to that,&uot; Mullins said.

West asked if the police department has a hotline for reporting such gang behavior, and Mullins said the Crime Stoppers line has been helpful in such instances as well as in getting tips on other crimes.

That number is 442-5000.