Throughout the next few weeks, Columbus residents will get the chance to offer suggestions and opinions about local law enforcement.
The Columbus Police Department will host meetings in each ward, hoping to get citizen input on the CPD’s efforts to police the city. The first meeting will involve Ward 3 residents and is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at First Christian Church, at 811 N. McCrary Road.
The meetings are for the police department to inform residents about safety tips and crime-prevention strategies, said Terrie Songer, CPD public information officer.
“The meetings also are for if they have any concerns about crime in the community or things they can do,” Songer said, noting neighborhood watch groups specifically. The CPD helps neighborhoods organize such groups.
Songer also mentioned the holiday season is approaching. There is a direct correlation to increased crime during Christmas season, she said.
“With more people out, there is more crime, more wrecks, more everything,” Songer said.
The meetings have been planned for a few weeks, Songer said, and the ward meetings are not “a product” of the two shooting deaths over the past weekend.
Tedd Thomas Wood, 35, of Columbus, was found dead at the 300 block of Eighth Street North early Sunday morning. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots.
The body of a 34-year-old Alfonso Lathan Jr., of Columbus, was found around 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Luxapalila Creek Recreation Area.
Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box will be on hand at Thursday’s meeting. Box said the ward is not a high-crime area, and the planned meetings are not targeted at any specific area.
“About the time I took office they had some gang activity on Beech Street in East Columbus, but we don’t seem to have it as much as we did,” Box said about his ward.
The second meeting is planned for Sept. 29 in Ward 6, Songer said. The location has not been released.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.