Editor’s note: The following story contained incorrect information provided to The Natchez Democrat regarding concerns about a gas station and convenience store near Cathedral School. The establishment in question, Shop N’ Save, is located across Aldrich Street from the school. We regret the error, and we are happy to set the record straight.

NATCHEZ — Safety at Cathedral School came into question Tuesday as one woman voiced her concerns before the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

The list of disturbances brought forward by Karen Stubbs — who said her grandchildren attend Cathedral — included intoxicated subjects near school property, firearm ammunition magazines found on the school’s playground and one individual who allegedly pounded on the school’s doors during pick-up hours.

Stubbs said she had heard from others who are worried about the safety of students, though she knew none of them would speak publicly.

“I’m here tonight speaking on behalf of those who dare not come forward,” Stubbs said. “When it comes to security, when it comes to police, people dare not talk about this publicly. They don’t want to come forward with this, so I’m going to be the brave one.”

Stubbs said one incident occurred earlier this month, during the same week that Cathedral officials met with Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong and Mayor Darryl Grennell.

An apparently distressed man allegedly caused a disturbance by banging his fists on the school’s front doors, “holing up parents and students” who were attempting to leave.

Following a 911 call, Stubbs then claimed police took 20 minutes to arrive on the scene. She then proceeded to laud Vidalia’s law enforcement in terms of response.

“If you make a 911 call in Vidalia, you’re going to have a boatload of police on your doorstep in 60 seconds,” Stubbs said. “Not so here. Not so.”

Lt. Kenneth Stampley later responded to Stubbs’ claim, saying officers had actually reacted promptly to the 911 call. Stampley said officers encountered the man who had caused the disturbance down the street from the school and spoken to him before continuing to Cathedral.

“When a person calls the police and says, ‘Hey, a guy with a blue shirt is walking down MLK,’ we’re going to make contact with that person first before we come make contact with you to keep him from getting away,” Stampley said. “In that case, that’s what happened.”

Stubbs would later concede that the recent rise in police presence has somewhat helped matters at Cathedral.

Ward 2 Billie Joe Frazier said he respected Stubbs’ concerns, but disputed her claims that Natchez was any less safe than surrounding communities or even those throughout the nation.

“The crimes that you’re talking about, that is nationwide crime. Every city is having the same problem that we’re having,” Frazier said.

“You compare us to Vidalia — our town is just as safe as Vidalia. The Vidalia Police Department is not … better than the Natchez Police Department.”

Once tensions had cooled, Frazier later said he agreed with Stubbs on one matter that needs to be addressed.

Frazier said the city must ensure that the Shop N’ Save gas station and convenience store near the school does not sell single alcoholic beverages between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

City code stipulates that the single sale of an alcoholic beverage, whether bottles or cans, is prohibited during those hours when the business is located within 200 feet of school property.Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said Thursday he would be serving notices to both that store and a Zipy’s Foods located near Freshman Academy.

Though Armstrong could not attend Tuesday’s meeting, he said Wednesday that his officers have made a difference at the school over the past few weeks.

Armstrong said the department increased its patrol in the area for the time being mostly to reduce traffic congestion during pickup hours, but he also told officers to clamp down on open container violations, loud music or any other sort of law violations near the school.

“And they have done just that,” Armstrong said. “To have these officers who are working in a very, very dangerous situation most of the time … it’s very disheartening to have someone to insinuate that these officers are not doing their job.”

Armstrong said officers have written 13 noise violation citations and multiple open container citations over the past three weeks.

Concerning individuals carrying weapons near the school, which Stubbs also mentioned, Armstrong said nothing prohibits a person from holstering a firearm in the state of Mississippi if the gun is legally possessed and the individual fits all the criteria to be a gun owner.

Cathedral School Chief Administrator Norm Yvon said the school has had some problems where law enforcement was needed in the past.

“We’ve had folks banging on our windows, asking for cash at dismissal time,” Yvon said.

But Yvon said he appreciates the efforts of Armstrong and Grennell and said he believes that the coordination with NPD has benefited the school. Yvon said having a police unit parked near the property has helped deter some of the undesired activity.

“We didn’t ask for it, but we noticed there’s been a car parked around Aldrich Street and Martin Luther King (Jr. Street), and that has toned down the activity.”
Taking a more macro approach to the issues, Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Irving said focusing on mental health and alleviating drug and alcohol abuse are necessary for truly making an impact in terms of crime prevention.

“Incarceration is not the answer,” Irving said. “It’s a quick fix, but they’re back out there again, and it’s a repeated thing over and over.

“We need to invest in a facility here. It would create jobs. Our children would be able to stay here.”

Both Frazier and Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis noted the importance of keeping all schools safe, including Cathedral.

“Cathedral has been an area that is very vital to the community,” Frazier said. “Like I said, we don’t want to see that leave.”

Armstrong said the increased police presence at the school would remain for now, though the department would eventually need to scale back in order to tend to other areas of the city.