About 50 people attended the COPS gathering at Redeemer Church, which served as a forum for residents to voice concerns and ask questions of Jackson authorities. Sampson, as well as other city officials, raised concerns ranging from police communication to enforcing building codes.
Authorities fielded those questions and updated residents on new ordinances and personnel changes within the department. Sampson laid to rest early on any questions related to the department’s budgetary woes, recent controversial promotions and his precinct’s lack of manpower.
“It doesn’t make any difference about what’s going on with the administration,” he said. “I’m concerned with the success of Precinct Four. It doesn’t matter how many people we have, we’re still expected to get the job done.”
Since taking over about a month ago, Sampson said his department has made strides to curb property crime. “We’ve identified things to be done and we’ve conducted operations,” he said.
He also offered tips to residents on how to avoid becoming a victim. He said residents should record the serial numbers on expensive items, so if they’re stolen they can be retrieved easier. He also said people should avoid leaving valuables where they can be seen in vehicles.
“There are still bottom feeders out there,” Sampson said. “Last night, we responded to a hotel where several cars had windows broken out. If a drug dealer sees it, they’ll take it because they know they can get something for it somewhere. You need to make yourself a hard target.”
One Northsider said his home was burglarized earlier that day. Royal Catchings spoke with Sampson during and after the meeting to discuss his problem.
Catchings said he wasn’t concerned with officers’ response time, but was upset because the alarm company had trouble accessing dispatch through the phone system.
HE BELIEVED HIS call wasn’t considered an emergency, despite the fact that his home was broken into. “I pulled into my driveway around 9:27 that morning and cleared the house myself. JPD pulled up at 9:41. The officer said he received the call at 9:37 and responded four minutes later.
“This has nothing to do with the officers,” Catchings said. “It seems like there’s a flaw in the system.”
All in all, the new commander was enthusiastically received at the meeting. Fondren business owner Buddy Graham said he was encouraged with Sampson because he is a “straight shooter” and has had a positive impact on officer morale.
Those in attendance also commended the department on improving response time. Catchings said officers arrived at his house four minutes after they received the call. Another resident in attendance said police responded to her street in five minutes after she called.
“Two weeks ago we called JPD,” she said. “We live on a street that’s almost impossible to find. In five or six minutes, the police were there. The newspapers don’t report that.”
The crowd erupted in applause. Earlier that night, residents also welcomed Joe Lewis, the department’s code enforcement manager.
Lewis said the department has brought in a new code enforcement officer, Gary Love, to better cover Precinct Four. “He takes the same enthusiasm for the area as we demand,” he said.
He urged residents to continue to call him when they have concerns and the code enforcement department will deal with the problem as soon as possible. “We’ve attacked Precinct Four in the past year and we’re beginning to see improvements,” Lewis said. “We still have a lot of issues in the area. If you have a concern, call us and we will come out there sooner or later.”
He reported that the department received a budget increase this year, while other departments received funding cuts from the city. That money, he said, will allow the department to add new code enforcement officers to better canvas the area.
LEWIS ALSO TOLD residents about two new ordinances recently passed, which deal with rental property and vacant buildings. The rental/lease ordinance, he said, requires landlords to have the facility inspected by Jackson officials before renters can move in.
The other ordinance, he said, requires property owners to post a sign and contact information to their property so they can be contacted if the property has problems that need attention.
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