The Precinct 4 Community Oriented Policing and Government group (COPS) met at the Precinct 4 Headquarters on Thursday, April 26, 2007.  Bob Oertel called the meeting to order at 5:33pm and led us through introductions.

COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS:
Fannie Gordon with the Tougaloo Community Civic League noted that there needed to be a correction from the March minutes concerning the burned out house on Longwood Street. This should be corrected to Vine Street.  Ms. Gordon provided copies of a letter to Ward 2 Councilman McLemore that documents code violations in their area.  We will follow up with this group to see if headway is made on their list.

A resident asked if his request to let his home be used as a surveillance spot to video drug dealers was given to the Narcotics department.  Deputy Asst. Chief Winstead stated that this information has been given to Lt. Harris with Narcotics.

Joyce Coracci (Riverwood Neighborhood Association) announced Leland Speed is to speak April 30 at 7pm at Christ United Methodist Church room 235 on his proposal to have more City Ordinance Enforcers from Neighborhood Associations. (Sorry we didn't get this info out sooner)

CODE VIOLATIONS and COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
Bob led the discussion with an overview of correct procedure for getting a problematic home demolished.  There is a place on the P4COPS web site that will let you download the forms for citing code violations.  You may also email Joe Lewis, Community Improvement Director a report of the violation at jlewis@city.jackson.ms.us.  Remember to be as specific as you can and provide an accurate address or closest intersection. 

If you are aware of criminal activity that warrants the demolition of a house, call P4 QoL officer Ella Small or Barbara Folsom at 601-291-4559, call 960.1234, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 601-355-TIPS.  The JPD and the city will then work together to conduct a proper investigation, process the paperwork, and then legally approve it for the demolition list.

The question was asked about the continuing problem of cars parked in yards.  Officer Ella Small said that these cars are tagged and the owner of the property is sent a certified letter and the process takes a long time.  These are documented downtown, and some say that the cars are never moved.  If it is on rental property, it is the owner’s responsibility. Most often these cars are on rental property and the owner of the home does not care.  However it is the car owner that has to pay the fine to get the vehicle out of impound. To report a car parked in the yard please call a P4 Quality of Life Officer 601-291-4559 or you may call 601-960-1234.

The status of sound meters (decibel readers) was brought up again.  It was stated that the Jackson Police Foundation wants to give monies for these. The police dept. may be waiting for the final decision on the correct model. (It was reported later that JPD has chosen the specific model, and that plans are being created to raise funds for both sound meters and stop strips)

Bob asked if anyone knew what happened in Environmental Court this day (April 26,2007).  Joe Lewis, Head of Community Improvement for the city of Jackson was not at the meeting at this time, but arrived later in the meeting and reported that the judges are really cracking down hard on violators. Judge Melvin Priester was the judge today in Environmental Court.  Mr. Lewis reported that $18,000 was collected in fines today for Community Improvement alone plus court costs.  He also reported that 12 cases went up for trial and 8 were found guilty.  Mr. Lewis said this is excellent progress.

Discussion was brought to Mr. Lewis’s attention about a resident who is complaining about her neighbor’s 13 dogs barking all night.  Mr. Lewis reported that Code Enforcement officer Joe Ward went by the reported property and only found 3 dogs.  It was noted that city ordinance states that each residence shall only have 2 dogs.  It is being investigated further.

New Code Violations and questions about previous cases were presented to Mr. Lewis: 

4500 North State Street-A group home owned by a police officer is housing several people who are not supervised, several have been arrested.
411 Naples-a group home for unwed mothers, ceiling falling in
147 Vine Street- burned out house for several years
104 South Park- abandoned truck in front yard and house across the street has had several abandoned cars and trucks in back yard
522 Patton-has a couch on the front porch and a car parked in the front yard
306 Melbourne- burned out house since Katrina
862 Avondale-abandoned house with rodents and broken windows
3539 Hawthorne-abandoned house with rodents and wide open
Choctaw behind the old McRaes-cherry picker truck with no license comes and goes, plus bike ans skateboard half-pipe
449  Choctaw  needs paint and has logs in the front yard and has not been cut recently, cars parked in the front yard
601/603 Choctaw- needs painting, repairs
601 & 619 Choctaw debris in the front yards
4110 Seminole needs repairs, painting
515 Meadowbrook needs paint and minor repair and cars parked in the yards
555 Meadowbrook has a serious weed and brush control problem in front of what is a tributary of Eubanks, the same tributary has weeds on the adjacent property's city ROW and ditch.

Others reports may have been given to Mr. Lewis that were not verbally identified.

Mr. Lewis reported that he is excited by the opportunity given to him by Mr. Leland Speed, now Director of Planning for the City of Jackson.  Mr. Lewis stated that he Community Improvement may be receiving night vision equipment to better aid in fighting violators.  He also reported that Mr. Speed is encouraging Neighborhood Associations to ban together to report code violations and that this would be a great help to the Code Enforcement team.

Van Williams reminded Mr.Lewis about forming a citizens Code Violation team.  Mr. Lewis said it would be great to have a training session as there is a method to the reporting and documentation and this is what takes up so much of his time.  Citizens could be trained to do this and to recognize violations, and his staff would be the ones to go out into the field and confront violators.  He also stated that many times people who are in violation really do believe they are right and have a right in what they do.

Mr. Lewis also reported an orchestrated road block on Manhattan that was effective. He also reported that there is a buyer for the old dilapidated Grove Apartments and this property will be turned around to house a Retirement Community with a swimming pool and strong security forces and gates.  A company from Arizona is putting millions into this property. Tricia Raymond added that sometimes out of state investors are hard to deal with based on experiences she has had in the past.  Susan Colbert stated that the Trails Apartments and Sommerset Apartments on County Line Road are in bad repair.  She would like to see some investors buy these properties.

POLICE OFFICERS and Crime in Precinct 4
Bob Oertel asked Commander Sansom and Deputy Chief Brent Winstead if there is anything that can be done to recruit new police officers.  Bob asked how many police officers we had at Precinct 4.  Deputy Chief Winstead stated that there are a total of 60 JPD officers assigned to Precinct 4: Commnader Sansom noted that 12 are command staff leaving 48 as patrol officers.  There are 432 total JPD police officers, 419 when not counting those that are out on leave or military duty.  The discussion was opened and Deputy Chief Winstead stated that they are still recruiting to fill the next academy class.  A class cannot start unless there are 25 recruits.  Right now there are only 14-15 who have passed thorough background checks and previous tests.  Officers leaving to go to other cities with higher pay and benefits is a big reason we are losing our exisiting officers and finding it hard to attract recruits.  The city is looking into changing the residential requirements allowing for living in Hinds County among other things.

Deputy Chief Winstead stated that the force is making some big arrests, that they have prevented some burglaries at the Radio Shack on I-55 and at Bancorp South apprehending a suspect with mask and gloves, even shooting one.  Deputy Chief Winstead reported that there was an overall 50% decrease in crimes from last month.  Bob mentioned that the police department really needs to hear that we appreciate what they do, and that we are here to help.

Tippy Garner stated that she has seen a police officer on his cell phone and wanted to know the policy regarding this.  Commander Sansom stated that the officers cannot use private cell phones for more than a period of 15 minutes per shift.  They will subpoena phone records if they feel that there has been a violation of this policy.  In addition, no officer may have a blue tooth (up and around the ear) phone.

Joyce Coracci stated that a lot of the problems in neighborhoods could be solved if the neighborhood associations would rewrite their covenants. That way you can put liens on the offending property owner's tax roll.  This helps in that you are not solely waiting on the city to exact a remedy. 

Commander Sansom finished with a brief overview of some crime trends in Precinct 4:

• There were 35 property crimes reported this month/ 39 last month
• 3 purse snatchings this month compared to 5 last month

Commander Sansom said that traditionally crime goes up in the summertime, so be aware.  He reported that the Ridgewood Substation houses a few officers as does Highland Village where management has offered them free space and computers.  They will often use this space for filling out reports.  Bob noted that this is a good example of how businesses can build a relationship with the JPD to increase police presence in their area.

SPEEDING
Fannie Gordon with the Tougaloo Civic League reported several problems with speeding.  She asked police officers to please ticket these speeders as she is sure there will be an accident at the intersections of Vine, Del Mar and Englewood.  Mr. Kinney of the Tougaloo Civic League also stated that he almost saw a collision at Englewood and Vine.  J.T. Noblin reminded us that during his mayoral campaign, Mayor Melton stated that he would take care of this problem as it is a bad problem for all of Jackson. Mr. Brenner complained of speeders at 8 am at the corner of North State Street and Patton, right in front of Precinct 4.

Commander Sansom stated that they have purchased 3 new radar guns, but several more are needed costing 3 to 5 thousand each.  He also stated that one day after reports of speeding at Crane and Meadowbrook, he asked his sergeant to monitor the traffic for 10 days at one hour intervals, but had no speeders.  He also stated he has put out decoy cars but they have been vandalized and additionally you cannot pull over a speeder in an unmarked car.  Sansom stated that you have to jump out in traffic after these speeders, which is hard to do in a patrol car. Sometimes the motorcycle crew is pulled to do this as they are fast enough to pull out to catch a speeder but in most cases, it takes several motorcycle officers as one is used to radar and the other used to catch the speeder.  Sansom also stated that he gets numerous complaints from residents about officers giving out speeding tickets.

After no further comments or questions the meeting was adjourned at 6:45pm.

NEXT MEETING:

Our next meeting will be the fourth Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 5:30PM.