Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said he would like to see more communication between the police department and the public surrounding public safety and awareness.
But Chief Ronald Sampson said he has been holding public ward meetings to bring that level of communication to the public, urging citizens to attend the free meetings.
“I received a lot of phone calls in reference to a rash of robberies in town,” Brent said, during the city council meeting Monday. “I didn’t know anything to tell these individuals because I didn’t know a thing about them. I had to pick up all this stuff vicariously in the streets.”
Brent said the calls he received “were pretty upset.”
“Their concern was why didn’t the city have some mechanism in terms of warning the people or letting people know we had these robberies going on and to be safe in their own homes,” Brent said. “They were pretty upset about it.”
Brent said he would like to see the police department to build a level of communication with local radio stations.
“As far I know no arrests have been made, and the concern is ongoing,” Brent said. “We need confidence in our police department.”
Sampson admits there were two attempted armed robberies last week. He also said there was a purse snatching in the parking lot of the Plaza Twin Cinema.
“But these are the things we talk about every week in our ward meetings,” Sampson said. “It doesn’t cost anything to come. Sit down and get this free information.”
Sampson said the meetings allow the public to share their concerns, as well as allow his department to provide safety tips.
Alderman Gregory Robertson said the ward meetings hosted by Sampson have had poor attendance.
“But this is an opportunity for the public to share with the police department their concerns so that they can make an effort to address them,” he said, urging the public to attend.
The next meeting will be for ward 3 residents on Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the police department. The meeting for ward 4 will be held on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
There are future meetings also slated for the month of December.
