James and Kay Warnock know radar used to detect speeding motorists may not have saved their daughter, Casey Schrock. But they want to help spare other families from losing their loved ones in car accidents.

&uot;We’re going to keep after this … ’til the day we die,&uot; James Warnock said.

Schrock, an 18-year-old crossing guard, was killed earlier this month when she was struck by a car on Morgantown Road. Sheriff’s deputies have said speed was not a factor in the accident.

Since then, her mother and stepfather have been lobbying for legislation allowing sheriff’s departments to patrol with radar.

The couple spoke about the issue to the Mississippi House of Representatives County Affairs Committee last week. But the committee voted to kill a bill allowing sheriffs to use radar, even after a provision was added to limit the use to counties with more than 50,000 residents. The bill will not come back before the Legislature during this year’s session.

The Warnocks now plan to circulate petitions calling for passage of radar legislation throughout the community and the state.

&uot;Radar may not have been able to help Casey,&uot; but it may serve as a deterrent to speeders, James Warnock said.

&uot;We don’t want anyone else to lose a life.&uot;

The couple planned to meet with Adams County Supervisor Darryl Grennell Tuesday to start the process.

&uot;It’s safety – just improving safety,&uot; Grennell said.

Too many accidents have taken place in the county recently, Grennell said.

&uot;Some people just don’t realize how important it is to drive safely,&uot; he said.

Adams County Supervisor Lynwood Easterling said he plans to support efforts to circulate the petition.

&uot;I’ll do anything that they ask me to do because I strongly think the sheriff’s department should be able to use radar on county roads,&uot; Easterling said. &uot;I think we need to lobby our Legislature.&uot;

According to Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell, the Mississippi Sheriff’s Association has been trying to get the legislation passed for at least 10 years.

Police departments and the Mississippi Highway Patrol are already permitted to use radar.

&uot;It seems to me it’s not right for just the city police and the state police to be able to use it,&uot; James Warnock said.

Local law enforcement officials have said they think some lawmakers are against the bill because they fear sheriffs’ departments would use radar to set up speed traps.

But the Warnocks do not think that perception should determine whether the legislation is approved.

&uot;Politics is not worth a life,&uot; James Warnock said. &uot;A life should come before politics.&uot;