Pubdate: Tue, 12 Feb 2002
Source: Clarksdale Press Register (MS)
Copyright: 2002, Clarksdale Press Register
Contact:  http://www.pressregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1656
Author: Steve Bingham

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE POLICE CHIEF

I am writing this in hopes of clarifying at least some of the thoughts 
shared by citizens through the local newspaper. Though as I write, I am 
continuously reminded to be careful of what I say, as I have no intentions 
of offending anyone regardless of whether they have spoken with 
truthfulness. I have found that a lot of people simply hear a word or two 
and repeat it with authority without realizing the validity. You must 
realize that the chief of police, by design of policy and procedure, does 
not have autonomy.

He must answer to the mayor and commissioners as to what directions the 
Police Department must go, who is hired as a police officer, and who is 
terminated. Based on this, it is imperative that the mayor and 
commissioners, as well as the chief of police, democratically work together 
for the betterment of the city. While it is true the first few months of 
this newly elected board was trying for all, I can truthfully say that the 
majority of the board is attempting to dedicate themselves to all of the 
people, not just a few. I must make mention that I have found Mayor Henry 
Espy to be fair with all of the department heads and commend him for 
allowing all of us a chance to prove ourselves with him and his 
administration. I can say that I have open communication with all but one 
commissioner, and this is not by my design. Now to the meat of the matter: 
crime in Clarksdale, Police Department morale, and criminal investigations. 
Let me start with the crime rate in our city. First of all, a computer 
printout of the past several years shows that it is about the same. We are 
lower in some areas and slightly higher in others.

However, using projections as of this date, we should come in lower than in 
the past. I say this because I see the reports daily and have access to 
past crime reports. I would like to offer to you what directions and 
courses I would like to implement for our city to help reduce crime as well 
as make our department a more efficient, professional and proactive (not 
reactive) department. First, the city is now divided into four beats and 
staffs a compliment of seven officers per shift.

I would like to further divide the city into six beats and staff a shift of 
nine officers.

The design allows for crossover beats and provides for officer safety as 
well as high visibility of uniformed patrol officers. Along with this - and 
integrated with a newly installed multiagency dispatch - is a computer 
software package that is state of the art. The city already has this 
package, but it is not implemented at this time. However, as of this week, 
I have set aside a week of training from the software company to initiate 
the start of this program with a tentative target date of being online May 
1. This package, when incorporated, will provide the officers with past 
histories of calls, arrests, visual photographs of suspects, and MOD of 
suspects previously arrested.

Along with this program, I would like to place an arrest vehicle, staffed 
by two officers per shift.

These officers should be newly hired officers who are in training. This 
allows them to fully understand the criminal element of the city as to 
where they live and the high-crime areas - and to begin to know the 
criminal suspects by meeting them upon their arrest.

This is caused by them going directly to the arrest site, placing the 
arrested persons into a transport van equipped with a terminal to 
facilitate booking process, and then transporting the arrested persons to 
the Coahoma County Jail. This allows for the beat officer to stay on his 
beat without any disruptions of having to take time out to book and jail 
offenders, thereby creating more visibility in their assigned beats as they 
assume patrol. I believe with this instituted and more aggressive, 
proactive patrol we will see our crime rates begin to fall. I must caution 
that because of today's fast-paced rate of unemployment and drug 
infestation, our crime will not cease, but we should have the strong upper 
hand. Since I mentioned drug infestations, let me assure you that we are 
working with several state agencies as well as federal agencies to combat 
our drug population problems.

I will guard how we will work this problem.

Let the drug world be assured: You are known and time is short. We will 
always target the drug problem, but we will not "air" how we will solve 
these problems.

This also incorporates the gang problems, which are mostly drug-oriented. I 
know Sheriff Andrew Thompson feels the same way about these problems as I 
do, and we both have talked about this. Both our agencies work together and 
have a good relationship. By the way, Sheriff Thompson has always extended 
a helping hand to us when we've needed it, and I intend to always have 
anything he needs from us to be at his disposal anytime, anywhere. As to 
the morale problem within the department, this is an inherited problem, and 
I wish to do away with it. Some of what I've said above will help this 
matter. I must mention that morale can only become stronger when officers 
know there is a chief.

Presently, I will not mention a name, but there is micromanagement within 
our department. This person is constantly telling some of the officers that 
I must go and that I am a walking time bomb. This person will not talk with 
me directly about any problems, nor will this person offer any suggestions. 
It is this person's intention to replace me. I have no reason to fear this 
person nor give him credibility, as this person for all practical purposes 
remains in the shadows lurking. To this person I ask: Come out in the sunlight.

Come to the table with your beliefs.

Give supportive information how we can work out what you believe to be 
problems.

You do not know me, my principles, nor my goals and directions for this 
department. This reminds me of a statement by our president to the 
terrorists who plotted against us. Now to address the investigations by 
this department. I can find no fault at all with them. Nor does the 
district attorney's office. Because we are understaffed in this area, some 
cases are slowed because we have to work on current crimes that 
continuously come in. But I can assure you, your case is important and your 
victimization concerns us. There are but a few investigators in this 
department, but their tenacious desire to solve crimes far surpasses any 
that I have seen. They are very professional and take their work seriously.

There is not one person in this division who will not work tirelessly to 
convict those who blight our city. I had a conversation with a citizen a 
few days ago about our conviction rate. May I suggest something to all who 
are asked to serve on jury duty: Stop requesting to get off. This is your 
city, your neighbors and your friends who are victimized by criminal 
activity. You expect the officers of this city to maintain a vigilance 
against criminal element and to bring good, solid cases to court.

You expect the district attorney's office to prosecute these cases with the 
same vigor.

We are. Are you doing you part? Please don't use the excuse of poor jurors.

I have seen them, but where were you? While it may be true a jury may 
sometimes consist of the elderly, they do not all go to sleep.

These are sometimes people who live in the same area crimes have been 
committed.

They can't sit on their porches and enjoy their sunset years because of 
what is happening. Could it be they might be afraid of retaliation? It is 
hard enough to get witnesses to crimes because of the fear factor.

What makes you think they will convict?

To those elderly, strong people who serve on the jury and vote your 
convictions based on the evidence presented, God bless you. We all have a 
part in making Clarksdale better. I will not respond to other letters in 
the paper about this subject matter, but I will have an open door at the 
Police Department for you to come in, sit down, talk about your 
convictions, and attempt to work out solutions to our problems. While I 
have not addressed every problem in this column, please be assured that I 
will always attempt to do the very best that I can to provide better 
service to you through this department. I will close by saying openly, the 
Board of Mayor and Commissioners as a whole is concerned and is working 
with me as well as other department heads to make this city a safer, 
cleaner, more viable community.

Steve Bingham is Clarksdale's chief of police.
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MAP posted-by: Beth