Last week evidence of a new program at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office was clearly visible — more people were being arrested.

The sheriff’s office has begun a plan to take back neighborhoods in which a criminal element has begun to take hold by loitering around, drinking and ultimately starting trouble.

Led by newly elected Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten, the ACSO’s new Heavy Enforcement Anti-crime Team (HEAT) aims to curtail the loitering in public places that often leads to more trouble.

As Patten pointed out, a resident was recently murdered outside of a convenience store, the exterior of which had become a hang out. Drinking and gambling there apparently led to the deadly fight.

The extra effort, if consistent over time, should eventually either drive the criminal element indoors away from others or to somewhere else entirely. Either way, the public should benefit by no longer feeling captive in their neighborhoods.

The next step needs to be coordinating efforts with the Natchez Police Department so they’re handling the loitering problem in the same manner.

With a community wide, concerted effort, taking back our streets and neighborhoods can be done. The new HEAT program seems like great news and a key first step in a renewed fight against crime.

Follow-through, consistency and strong prosecution will be the next steps necessary to finish the race.