Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NATCHEZ — In a press conference Thursday morning, Natchez Police Chief Caroline Green and Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten discussed in broad terms how their deputies and officers would work together to patrol some Natchez neighborhoods in what Mayor Dan Gibson called Operation Safe Neighborhoods.

The move comes in light of recent shootings that have left some residents questioning their safety.

“Today, we are here to announce a very important step forward in making Natchez a safer community,” Gibson said.

He acknowledged the three shootings in the city during recent days, one a fatality.

“We cannot tolerate this in our beloved city,” Gibson said.

Green said both departments would work together to keep neighborhoods safe in Natchez.

“We extend our condolences to the families of the victims in the past few weeks,” she said. “We have increased patrols and are doing our best to make sure that everyone is safe until we are able to get a better handle on everything that is going on.”

She encouraged anyone with information about the recent shootings to call CrimeStoppers at 888-442-5001.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten thanked the county’s Board of Supervisors and the city’s Board of Aldermen for approving and funding the joint city-county operation.

“We are here for a very just cause and are standing here in solidarity,” Patten said. “I do believe for right now what we have here will work as long as we continue to work together.”

The sheriff said officers conducted a trial run of the operation Wednesday night, which proved valuable.

“Just last night, during a small saturation detail, we had multiple encounters with people who had handguns and assault rifles. One person was in possession of cocaine and crack cocaine with intent (to distribute) in a school zone. We had another two people with outstanding warrants from the city and the county, one of which had been on the run for two years from a drive-by shooting,” he said. “This is just a small example of what can be done when we work together.

“To have the support of the boards of the city and the county means the world to law enforcements and to compensate them for their time means even more,” Patten said. “I am so glad that even out of budget season both boards decided this cause was worthy enough they put the community first and safety first to do this.”

Patten apologized in advance to law-abiding citizens for any inconvenience Operation Safe Neighborhoods may cause.

“To the public who is not out there committing crimes, we are going to apologize now if we inconvenience you. Operation Safe Neighborhoods is very important to your safety,” he said.

After the press conference, Patten said some of Operation Safe Neighborhoods’ details might inconvenience citizens, such as backed-up traffic from roadblocks.

“We want citizens to know in advance that we are stepping up enforcement, period. I just want them to know it is for the betterment of the community,” he said.

Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton said he met with law enforcement and asked what they needed to keep people safe from those with violent tendencies.

“The answer was resources. Operation Safe Neighborhoods gives law enforcement the ability to act in a proactive way rather than a reactive way … I ask for prayers for law enforcement each and every day while they are on the streets working to protect us.”

Gibson said the Adams County Board of Supervisors and the city’s Board of Aldermen have agreed to commit resources and match contributions dollar for dollar to fund the increased patrols by officers and deputies in the city.

“There was no vote necessary. These resources are already in our budgets. All we had to do was reach out one by one and ask if you are ok with this. The answer was a resounding yes. We are in this together,” Gibson said.

However, Gibson would not take questions during the press conference and did not discuss how much funding was needed for the operation or from what fund in the county and city the money would be drawn.

He did not discuss what areas of the city would see an increased presence, but he said, “We will have a presence in some areas of our city that has never been seen before. Pray for our officers’ safety. I am grateful they have bulletproof vests. I am grateful they have the new equipment and all the equipment they need, but more than that, they need our support and our prayers like never before.

“We cannot comment any further on the strategies behind this operation. Going forward, we cannot comment on investigations that are now ongoing. To comment could compromise the investigation and could possibly endanger those involved,” he said. “We will not take questions. We have shared all we can share. As this operation continues, and I’m not talking for the next week or two, but well into the next year, we will not let up and we will keep you informed as we are able.”