Columbus residents play a key role in preventing crime and now, said District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks, they have a chance to get involved.
For their 2010 class project, the adult students of The Minority Leadership Training and Development Program have chosen to gather data for the Columbus Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies in an effort to help prevent crime.
And they”re looking for volunteers, from neighborhoods throughout Columbus and Lowndes County, to assist them.
“You cannot have an effective crime deterrent program, if people do not participate,” Brooks, a facilitator of the development program, said, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation with law enforcement. “The only way we”re going to effectively deter crime is people living in the communities have to get involved. Ultimately, it boils down to a partnership with the police department and community.”
Volunteers will form committees, which will make recommendations to city, county and law enforcement officials.
“(We”ll be considering) how do you take different institutions in place and establish dialogue to make sure children are able to participate in positive programs?” Brooks said, detailing questions of consideration for the committees. “What would be the role of the church? How do we integrate resources already on the table? Hopefully, (volunteers) are coming to say, ”Look, what can I do?””
Volunteers also will be administering “community police perception surveys” to give to the CPD, Brooks noted, explaining the surveys will measure “how people view crime, their total community and the (CPD).”
“We just want to see how people feel,” he said.
To volunteer, contact Brooks at 662-329-5871.
A public meeting on the program and the crime prevention project will be held at a yet undetermined date, Brooks said.
“Public safety has been a major concern of everyone in the city and, as we approach summer, we need to address some of the problems that we”re seeing,” said Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem, a leadership program participant. “I”m just glad the leadership class has taken the initiative to come up with a solution to help. That”s what we”re looking for, a task force, that will address the problem on a long scale, not just a quick fix.”
The Minority Leadership Training and Development Program is a 36-hour academic program designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of elected officials, community, church and organizational leaders to effectively address community issues.
Currently, 14 adults are participating in the nine-month leadership training program, which also has an outreach program to meet the needs of local minorities.
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 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.