The Precinct 4 Community Oriented Policing and Government group (COPS) met at the Precinct 4 Headquarters on Thursday, March 22, 2007.  Bob Oertel called the meeting to order at 5:30 and led us through introductions.  Elizabeth Oertega with The Northside Sun and Chris Joyner with The Clarion Ledger were present.

CRIME IN PRECINCT 4
Bob led with an open discussion of items concerning us that perhaps should be taken to the City Council .  Of primary concern is the fact that according to the crime reports found at the CoJ website, a good portion of major crimes (25-30% of total city according to January and February reports) are occurring in Precinct 4 while officer numbers are down to approximately 43 (10% of JPD personnel) as reported by Commander Sansom and Asst. Chief Brent Winstead at the February meeting.  Bob noted that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and contacting our elected and appointed leaders is crucial to achieving the accountability that the COPS program pursues.

Doug Isham spoke up to say that he had to leave early and was eager to speak about his neighborhood starting a neighborhood association in Colonial Heights.  He stated that most people were receptive but that one man in particular was unruly and threatened him with a gun.  It was also noted that this man has threatened other people as well, so a note was made for the Quality of Life officer, Ella Small to look into this situation on Valley Vista Street.  Doug encouraged everyone who hasn't’t started a Neighborhood Association to do so because most people want it, they just don’t know how.

We then returned to the discussion topic.  Chris Joyner (Clarion Ledger) reported on the crime data that was released to the CL last month.  This contained information for Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), which is “raw data” and is provided to the FBI for analysis.  The CL was provided with JPD data from Nov05, Dec05, Jan06 and Nov06, Dec06, Jan07.  (The information below contains numbers that were recorded to the best of our abilities)

Mr. Joyner started with the "good news" first in that from the 3-month year-to-year comparison , there was a 5% decrease in over-all crime.  However, there has been a 28% year-to-year increase in business burglaries and 40% of these types of crimes occurred in Precinct 4. Robberies, business burglaries and carjackings are all up in precinct 4.  Tricia Raymond of Safe City asked if any of these have been solved.  Tricia went on to say that Safe City is looking at the problem of property crimes.  They have found that from the time that incidents are reported to the time of indictment, there is little to no information.  She stated that between 2001 and 2004 there were approximately 11,000 reported stolen cars with only 688 arrests.  Of those arrests only 105 were indicted and only 65 of those were convicted and most of those were plea bargains.  Safe City is looking into these individually but she said this is tedious and slow work.  JPD Quality of Life Officer Ella Small commented that a lot of crimes that are logged in are “crack/pawn” cars or insurance fraud cars, meaning they are falsely reported.  It was stated that the data is not consistent.  It was agreed that we have to somehow be able to get consistent and accurate data from which we can glean and refine strategies to prevent crimes and enforce our laws.  Officer Small stated that we need stiffer penalties for car theft offenders.  Tricia Raymond added that there is now legislation that makes carjacking a felony.

Mr. Joyner also reported that surprisingly there have been very few drug arrests.  In reviewing January 2007 information of 28 major categories there were a total of 1800 arrests with only 83 drug crimes.  And 2/3 of those were marijuana related.  It was noted that there were 1,400 arrests in 2006 for drug possession, yet ZERO arrests for the sale or manufacture of drugs.

Susan Lunardini reported that she saw on a WLBT report a drug transaction taped by a cameraman and when the reporter asked the mayor about this situation, he was quoted as saying that when they see police cars coming they run.  A resident spoke up by stating that he could provide plenty of evidence of drug deals in his area.  This information was given to Quality of Life JPD officer Ella Small who said she would forward it on to Narcotics and MBN.  It was also stated by Belmont Trapp that the Citizen’s Police Academy teaches residents to be sure and document as much detailed information as you can if you see suspicious activity, even take pictures or video so police officers can make a case.  Officer Small said that the police will stake out this location.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
Joe Lewis, Community Improvement Director spoke on the progress he has been making.  He states that he has been extremely busy and only has 10 Code Enforcement officers and 3 of those are provided from a grant which could go away next year.  Mr. Lewis stated that we should be seeing a more prompt response to code violations as he has encouraged his staff to be more responsive to our complaints and to return phone calls and emails.  He noted that the city has given him a blackberry that he carries it with him at all times, including weekends.  He promises he will return all emails jlewis@city.jackson.ms.us.  He stated that he works on the weekends when most violators are out in the open.  He was in Environmental Court Thursday (March 22) where he said he presented 15 cases.  Half of these were found guilty and fined by Judge Henry Clay.  Howard Gober, who owns property on St.Mary Street in Belhaven, and has been in pursuit for several code violations was arrested and given 30 days by Judge Clay.  Mr. Gober was released after a few days because (Mr. Lewis thinks) the Sheriff has the discretion to release a misdemeanor and Mr. Gober is sick and has many medical bills which costs the county (as long as Mr. Gober is incarcerated).  Mr. Lewis said that Mr. Gober paid the $5,000 + fine he owes on one property plus an additional $3000 in additional fines.  The Code Compliance Committee of the Belhaven Improvement Association is keeping Mr. Lewis abreast of all properties in violation. 

Tippy Gardner of the Colonial Homeowners Association asked Mr. Lewis if anything has been done about the truck parked at 100 S.Park that has been abandoned for two years. Mr. Lewis stated that this case is on the docket for Environmental Court.  He also told her that the home at 3500 Concord that has non working postal truck and another non working truck in the back yard will go to Environmental Court in April.

Bertha Thames of the Tougaloo Civic League asked Mr. Lewis about the case of the home on Longwood that was burned and abandoned for three years.  Mr. Lewis stated that this is case is up and to be demolished soon. 

Jackie Tatum also asked about the burned out home at 306 Melbourne.  She stated that this house has been abandoned since Hurricane Katrina.  Mr. Lewis stated that this house has a case number but doesn’t know the status.  He will check on it.  Mrs. Tatum also stated that there has been a pile of trash on the street and has been there for three years.  Mr. Lewis said to call Public Works Solid Waste Division (601.960.1193) and speak to Sonja Bohanan.  This should easily be picked up.   The Solid Waste Department is different from regular garbage pickup. 

Mr. Lewis also asked us to be patient with demolitions as there are many committees a case number has to go through and these committees don’t meet often.  He also stated that it takes two or three asbestos testings per house and this is time consuming as well.

There was also discussion on non-working cars parked in driveways.  Mr. Lewis stated that a car must be cranked at least 3 times per year for it to be considered “operable”.  He also stated cars should have no flat tires, a current inspection sticker and license plate. Also, an inoperable car may not have a cover over it, only operable cars are allowed to have covers. To report a non-operable car or any code violations, you may email Mr. Lewis at jlewis@city.jackson.ms.us.

Van Williams suggested to Mr. Lewis that the city should have a Citizen’s Code Enforcement Academy.  She stated that there are many residents of Jackson who would love to do this and it could help him out tremendously.

CLOSING
Bob Oertel closed by encouraging all of us to contact our City Council members to continue to fight for the decibel readers so that the new Noise Ordinance will be enforced!  The Jackson Police Foundation is waiting on the JPD to finalize the meter model and calibrating/training package so that money can be raised to purchase them.  We also need to encourage solutions to the problem of a dwindling police force.

Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be at 5:30pm on the fourth Thursday, April 26, 2007.