Residents respond to half a million dollars awarded to Jackson Police Department

by

Brittany Brown

• Published on January 3, 2022 • Comments

Two men sit in the back of a truck. They are members of Operation Good, a community non-violence organization in Jackson. — Members of Operation Good, a community non-violence organization in Jackson, said some of the biggest issues they see in the community are a lack of economic development, poverty and poor education.
Brittany Brown

After a record-high number of homicides in the capital city in 2021, the Jackson Police Department received a federal grant to hire more officers. Members of the Jackson community responded to this additional police funding, saying they hope to see more community-oriented solutions in addition to more police officers.

Community responds to federal funds awarded to Jackson Police Department

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Mississippi’s largest police force, the Jackson Police Department, was awarded half a million dollars in federal funds to meet the city’s need for more officers. U-S attorney Darren LaMarca says this is the beginning of the fight against violent crime in Jackson. In 2021, there was a record-breaking number of shootings in the capital city.

"There’s no reason to escalate to a form of gun violence and take one another life," said G, a leader within Operation Good, a non-violence organization in Jackson. "We’ve been, on a day-to-day basis, with the citizens, trying to provide conflict resolution, provide different assistance whenever crisis comes around."

The grant comes at the end of 2021, a year when over one hundred fifty homicides occurred across the capital city. Some Jackson residents say community-oriented solutions could also help.

"A lot of times, our law enforcement come at the end of a situation. I know that with people being present on a day-to-day basis within the community, that will stop a lot of conflict before they even take place," G said.

He also said some of the biggest issues he’s seen in the community right now are a lack of economic development, poverty and poor education, but he’s looking ahead into the new year with hope for new solutions.

"We believe that all parties involved will help in the building up of our city and to make it a better place to live," G said.

As first reported by The Clarion-Ledger, December was the capital city’s deadliest month, with over 20 homicides in Jackson.