Each time the subject of violence in our community is discussed, I’m reminded of a conversation from many, many years ago with then Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell.

The longtime lawman confided that if he were allowed to just lock up 25 to 50 people in the community at his discretion, crime would be cut in half or more, he said.

What he was suggesting was simple — a small group of criminals commit the bulk of local crime.

Over the last few weeks, our community has seen a short rash of shootings that collectively claimed the lives of three people in Natchez.

That’s no laughing matter. The perception that Natchez is no longer safe could undermine our tourism economy and severely hamper the ability to recruit new businesses to the area.

Fortunately, Natchez remains very safe by most standards as the majority of violent crimes here are between people who know one another — husbands and wives or boyfriends and girlfriends or other acquaintances.

Random crime here remains rare.

That’s not to say, however, that our crime problem should be ignored. It’s a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Solutions are likely to require not just one change, but multiple ones, each beginning with a serious conversation with the related stakeholders.

To me the very first conversation needed seems to be one with the local law enforcement community.

We as a community need to understand what, if anything, law enforcement agencies feel they are lacking. That could be equipment or manpower. It could be support from other areas of the justice system such as the prosecuting attorneys and judges.

If we are serious about stamping out crime, we need to work hard to provide those on the front lines with whatever is necessary to help them.

In the past, law officers have lamented a frustration with the lack of cooperation from witnesses to crime. Sadly a number of people take the, “It’s none of my business approach to crime.” They see things and merely look the other way and refuse to say anything to investigators.

That attitude must be changed. Until it changes, law enforcement will continue to be frustrated as they struggle to piece together what happened when no one with knowledge is cooperating.

Rewards from CrimeStoppers can help, but apparently are not enough motivation for some.

The same sorts of discussions need to be had with the district attorney and investigators in his office and ultimately the judges.

To truly reduce the crime problem potential jurors who are called may ultimately need to have a change of heart about community service, too. All too often we all seek to “get out” of jury duty. People who are called flagrantly do not show up to service. What we need, however, is a group of people who say, “Yes. I am happy to serve the community and provide fair but firm justice to those who come before them.

Conversations are also needed with our young people. We need to understand, if we can, why some of them walk the streets carrying stolen weapons and have no hesitation to settle petty scores with a gun.

After all of the conversations, our community must decide which direction we seek to go.

Will we draw a line in the sand and suggest, “We’re better than this,” and work together to reduce the criminal element?

Or do we continue to spiral into a lawless society?

The choice is ours to make.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.