City officials are reporting record lows in the city’s crime rate.
Laurel Police Chief Walter “Bear” Martin said public support along with aggressive patrolling have had an impact on crime prevention and protection in the city.
Deputy Police Chief Tyrone Stewart emphasized that citizens’ involvement in community projects is a key component in the fight against crime.
Officials said the Police Department’s sponsorship of Night Out Against Crime, along with the city’s summer programs, are making a difference.
“This is the first year since I can remember that we have had two summer camps (one at the Cameron Center and one at Oak Park) going on for our young people,” Stewart said. “These programs are having an impact on the lives of our young people.
“My 12-year-old son is attending one of the camps and I can see the difference in him, compared to last year with him having nothing to do for the summer,” the deputy police chief said. “Night Out Against Crime, which we conduct each year, is also a part of that effort.”
Stewart said Night Out Against Crime, which is conducted in August, is designed to encourage children to stay in school.
Tuesday, volunteers with Night Out Against Crime worked at the Laurel Police Department Station to begin preparing for the annual event, which is scheduled to be held on Aug. 4.
Stewart also praised those who work with the Night Out project, especially Sgt. Shannon Caraway, who coordinates the event, and Melicia “Teya” Cooper and Bonnie Conner, who assist in the planning of the event.
Police officials said according to local statistics, Laurel’s Police Department has seen some positive results from its efforts.
“All crimes are down,” said Capt. Tommy Cox, LPD’s patrol division commander. “According to our statistics, crime is down and our stats are maintaining stability.”
Stewart said communicating with residents, while also providing them with quality police services, have made a difference.
“We are making sure we are out there and working to stay visible,” Stewart said. “We are working with the public and just trying to ensure the safety of our residents.”
Laurel had four murders in 2008 and suspects in all of them have been identified and taken into custody.
However, officials Tuesday were proud to announce that they have not had any homicides reported in the city halfway through 2009.
According to police records, which are annually reported nationally as part of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, crime in Laurel is down.
“This is the first time in several years that we have gone this far into the year without a homicide,” Stewart said. “I realize that you can’t prevent all crimes, but we are thankful that we’ve made it this far.”
According to the records, Laurel had four murders in 2007, which is the same number of murders recorded in 2008.
Police officials said the UCR for the first six months of this year with detail numbers should be available for release soon.
However, officials say the report should be favorable.
“From 2006-07, our crime rate went down 19 percent. Then from 2007-08 it went down 13 percent,” Cox explained. “Now the first six months of this year, we are holding steady compared to the first half of 2008.
“More importantly, we have had no homicides so far this year,” Cox added. “The public is really pitching in and helping us.”
Stewart credits public support as also being a key to making a difference in the crime rate.
“We’ve received cooperation from citizens and that has really helped out a lot,” the deputy police chief said. “We just appreciate the work that everyone has done to keep crime down in Laurel.”
Local News
Crime down in Laurel
City has no homicides in the first half of the year
- Local News
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Get ready for control burns in the area
Area motorists and residents may notice a lot of smoke coming from some of the county’s heavily wooded areas in the coming weeks.
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Officials pleased with Chancellor’s appointment
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Lance Chancellor became the new executive director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency.
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Heidelberg has a new police chief
A longtime Jasper Countian has been named the head law enforcement official in this Jasper County town.
Huey Powe is now the Police Chief for the Town of Heidelberg. -
Annual Rotary Club Spaghetti dinner Saturday
The Laurel Rotary Club will conduct its annual Spaghetti dinner this weekend at the YWCO.
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American Red Cross looking for local volunteers
The East Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for a few good men, women, boys and girls to join its team of disaster volunteers.
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Officials put a name with scammer
Jones County officials have now released the name of a man they are seeking in connection with a recent fire scam in the area.
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Family barely escapes mobile home fire
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, a family of five was awaken by the smell of smoke quickly filling their 28 x 70 doublewide mobile home located at 39 Ellisville Junction Road in Jones County.
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Farewell and Hello
Well-wishers from near and far gathered in Laurel to say farewell to longtime Jones County Emergency Management Executive Director Don McKinnon, while his replacement — a familiar face among emergency officials — was welcomed earlier in the day Tuesday.
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Cobb’s bond set at $250K
A $250,000 cash bond has been set for a 19-year-old Jones County man jailed at the Jones County Adult Detention Center in connection with a vicious attack on a woman in the Sharon Community.
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Laurel man has given over 33 gallons of blood
Local residents gave blood Tuesday at Laurel City Hall as a part of the City of Laurel’s blood drive.
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