On Tuesday, July 12, I was privileged to be among those members of the Natchez Newcomers Club who delivered “thank-you” cakes to the Natchez Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in appreciation of their service to and protection of our Natchez community.

That afternoon, I went to Walmart to pick up a prescription. Not wanting to return to a car that was 107 degrees, I parked in the shade of the trees close to Seargent S. Prentiss Drive. As I exited the store a short time later, a black sedan was racing through the crosswalk, closely (too closely!) pursued by a black pickup truck. As I proceeded to my car, these two continued their high-speed chase in and out and up and down the parking lot.

When I could safely reach an exit, I witnessed two Natchez Police Department patrol cars, blue lights flashing, trap the pickup between them in the Sonic parking lot. The young man in the pickup truck jumped out, raised his hands and immediately turned and placed them on the truck and spread his feet.

These two vehicles and the individuals driving them were clearly endangering members of our community.

The purpose of this letter is to reiterate what I said that morning: “Thank you Natchez Police Department and Adams County Sheriff’s Office for your service and protection.”

 

Francey Killian

Natchez resident