Concern over drivers speeding on streets near the Cpl. Donald Ray Stevens Community Center was the basis of a conversation led by councilwoman Mary Morris during Tuesday’s City Council agenda meeting.

Morris said that over the last few weeks, several constituents in that area have contacted her about the vehicles and the danger they pose to children.

She asked that the city place additional community policing officers in the area to address the problem.

“What is happening is some of these children are crossing the street at the same time this traffic is coming, so we were hoping to get someone to monitor that area, which we already did for a short period of time,” she said.

Morris said the additional officers would also increase police visibility in the area, which could lead to a positive relationship between residents and the Police Department.

“Since we’re having this growth with all of the people moving into our area, we want to make sure we have that visibility,” she said.

Deputy Chief Shawn Caldwell said the department has a long-term plan for increasing the number of officers participating in the community policing initiative.

“Our long-term plan is to implement community policing across the entire Police Department. The problem we’re having — in a way it’s a good problem — is we just hired 20 officers and we need those officers on patrol so they can be trained,” Caldwell said.

“Then we can distribute them to places in the Police Department. Right now, we have to keep our manpower in the patrol shifts so that we can train these officers so we can put them into other positions.”

Morris created an ordinance addressing the traffic concerns. If approved, it would place stop signs at the intersection of Blake and Cessford streets, creating an all-way stop. The item was placed on the agenda for the council’s June 17 regular meeting.

(MGNonline)

Brad Puckett