National Night Out to Fight Crime and Drugs in the Capitol City

" In terms of solving crime, preventing crime we need everybody on board." - Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson

It was a night out against crime in the capitol city and other parts of the state. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

On the steps of city hall Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson and dozens of police officers released bright colored balloons as a symbolic send off to crime in the capitol city.

“So we’re gonna release the balloons on the count of 123.”

The celebration is to heighten crime, drug and violence prevention awareness in neighborhoods across the nation. And while Mississippi's capitol city has had record numbers of homicides, auto thefts and other crime issues, Johnson doesn't believe Jackson is unlike any other urban area.

“Because really in terms of solving crime, preventing crime we need everybody on board. And we’re very pleased and proud of these neighborhood associations tonight, who’ve organized themselves to take a bite out of crime in the city of Jackson through these neighborhood gatherings.”

Just a few feet away from Jackson State University, neighborhood President Hezekiah Watkins says his community use to be the highest crime area in the city.

“You could pick up your drugs, you could pick up your lady and go through there and by the time you come around you’ve been served. Ah, if you needed a gun, if you needed any type of electronic devises, matter of fact, everybody that came to Jackson that wanted to do something illegal came here because they could get it right here.”

Watkins admits that problems still persist in the community but he says the partnership formed between the police and community sent a clear message to criminals. It's a message that is echoed by Assistant Police Chief Lee Vance.

“If you’re committing a crime in the city of Jackson we’ll come after you over and over and over again. And hopefully we’ll continue to grow our police force and increase our visibility in the community and prevent crime on the front end.”

Jackson and other Police departments are adding new officers as budgets allow. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.