A LARGE GROUP OF Northsiders came together recently for the year’s first Community-Oriented Policing (COPS) meeting held at Redeemer Presbyterian church.

Residents and city leaders alike touched on several issues facing the Northside, including the city’s recent water crisis to a series of break-ins at Jackson churches.

Precinct four Cmdr. Kenneth Goodrum told residents that crime for the Northside is down 11 percent from 2008.

The reduction is the largest drop in criminal activity across the city, and he thanked residents for making it possible. “We couldn’t have done it without you,” he said at the podium. “You’ve been calling us, and that helps us greatly.”

To keep numbers from creeping back up, the precinct that blankets the Northside has started a couple of special operations. One detail means Northsiders should slow down when driving along area roadways.

“We’re running radar to cut down on speeding,” he said. “We’re getting in neighborhoods so we can identify folks who aren’t supposed to be there.” Goodrum said doing so won’t only make the roads safer, but will also stop potential crooks.

“If house burglars come through and see us, they’ll want to go somewhere else” to commit crime, he said. “It’s all about high visibility.”

Approximately 40 people attended the gathering, including representatives from a number of the area’s homeowners associations and civic groups. Officials were also on hand from city government, as well as the Jackson Police Department.

The meeting is held on the fourth Thursday of each month.

IN ADDITION to reducing crimes in residential areas, the precinct is also taking action to cut down on church break-ins.

Two Northside churches have been burglarized recently: New Jerusalem Church on Old Canton Road and Pear Orchard Baptist Church on Pear Orchard Road. “We’re getting out of the car, walking around the church and shaking the doors,” he said.

Several in attendance commended the city on its efforts to restore water after the system’s breaks in January. A total of 156 mains ruptured throughout the city’s water system following a cold snap in the first part of the month. The system was up and running again in less than a week.

Bill Osborne, president of the Belhaven Improvement Association, said he appreciated the efforts of public works crews, who worked in cold, water in sub-freezing temperatures.

Lampton Harry, a Briarwood Terrace resident, also was happy with the city’s work, but wanted to know what the city was going to do to address the utility cuts that resulted from the crisis.

He said he wants the holes to be fixed properly, to blend in with the repaving work that’s already been completed.

Jimmy Stiglets, president of the Lake Trace Homeowners Association, agreed. He said the city has yet to finish a spot on Plantation Boulevard that occurred following a line that ruptured before the cold weather.

Ward One Councilman Jeff Weill said he would look into the matter, but also told residents that he was disheartened by the fact that so many breaks had affected the road resurfacing work that’s already been completed. The city recently floated $26 million in bond money to repave the capital’s most dilapidated streets. A number of the breaks occurred on streets that had been repaved.

In other news, Deputy Chief Tyrone Lewis was on hand to introduce new members of the police department’s new command staff. Police Chief Rebecca Coleman and Assistant Chief Lee Vance were unable to attend the meeting.

The staff includes Deputy Chief Brent Winstead, over the investigations bureau; Cmdr. Jeremiah Jones, over Precinct Two; Deputy Chief Gerald Jones, over training: Cmdr. Rick Seavey, over communications; Joseph Daughtry, in charge of public relations; Cmdr. Dwayne Thomas, over policy making; and Sgt. Perry Martin, in the community service divison.

He encouraged residents to call the department’s drug hotline at (601) 960-0025 if they notice any suspicious activity.

Goodrum also offered some signs that drug activity might be going on in an area. Common signs include seeing shoes hanging from power lines, high volumes of traffic at a particular house and a number of out of county tags at a particular dwelling.

He said the department will call Entergy to have shoes cut down if they’re hanging on power lines.