As Yazoo City leaders continue to stress the importance of following social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still problems of criminal activity during these uncertain times.
Police Chief Ron Sampson said he is proud of the work his department is doing during this crisis. But he said he wishes the public would understand the importance of following the city’s orders and guidelines.
“We would rather be educators versus enforcers,” Sampson said, during the recent city council meeting. “But in some cases, we are being forced to take action because people won’t obey what the board has put out to protect everybody. We are here trying to save lives, and I wish everybody would just sit back and really realize that this isn’t a joke.”
“We were able to make some headway in a shooting that took place last night,” he continued. “And we are chasing these four-wheelers. trying to catch those violators. Those things are on our radar.”
Mayor Diane Delaware said the police department is a vital operation during this pandemic.
“We have law enforcement to help us,” Delaware said. “It is their role to assure that our proclamations are enforced. They can’t always be in the same places at all times, but they are out making every effort to assure that the proclamations are held to. I am very proud of them.”
Delaware added that there is some confusion about the state-imposed Shelter in Place order, which states that residents are to remain at home unless it is to conduct essential business.
“It is not Shelter in Place until 5 o’clock,” Delaware said. “It is not Shelter in Place at some times. It is to Shelter in Place at all times.”
Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas also reminded the public about the 9 p.m. city curfew.
“This Coronavirus is not playing,” Thomas said. “I am asking all of the citizens to please take heed to the ordinance that has been placed in Yazoo City. No gatherings greater than five people, being six feet apart and a curfew starting at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.”
Thomas said Yazoo City may never return to complete normalcy, but the community is going to make it through this crisis.
Lloyd, who personally lost a relative to the virus, agrees that the virus is a situation that the community needs to take seriously.
“Right now, we are having a lot of gunfire that is going on around our city,” Lloyd said. “It needs to be taken care of quickly because these young kids are shooting and do not care who they are shooting at.”
Alderman Ron Johnson said he has had the same problem with shootings in his ward.
“I am having a lot of shootings, and they are riding their four-wheelers in the road,” Johnson said. “We need to get a handle on that.”
