MEETINGS HOLD PROMISE IN CRIME FIGHT

As a result of a dialogue opened last month between residents in
northwest Fort Pierce and Police Chief Eugene Savage, the chief will
begin conducting monthly meetings to address crime concerns in the
area.

We're hopeful those meetings will lead to greater community
involvement in fighting the crime problem and will lead to creation of
tangible solutions for crime prevention.

The northwest area has long been plagued by high unemployment, drugs
and violence. There have been more than 60 murders in the area in the
past six years. There have already been 10 murders in the city this
year, already surpassing last year's total.

At that meeting in June, Savage described the violence as "an
epidemic."

While many of the crimes are black on black and often relate to gang
activity, the violence has tarnished the image of the city as a whole
and has made living in and traveling through the northwest area
uncomfortable to dangerous.

Certainly there needs to be a greater police presence in the area, but
police cannot stop the crimes alone or catch all the criminals without
assistance of residents of the community. The community in the past
has demonstrated that it wants to take back its streets, its homes and
its businesses from the criminals. And, the city of Fort Pierce has
demonstrated a willingness to assist financially in creating a greater
sense of pride in the area. Still, however, the crime continues.

According to Audria Moore, a spokeswoman for the police department,
Savage will begin his monthly meetings with groups of about 10 people
on July 17. That meeting is already full, but residents can contact
Moore for participation in later meetings. The two-hour meetings, for
which there will be no agenda, will continue on the third Thursday of
each month. A meeting just with youth is also being planned.

We would hope that those attending the meetings will do so not just
with concerns about the crime problems but with suggestions for
possible solutions. And, we would hope that agencies or groups that
may need to be a part of those solutions will also step up and help
stop this continuing threat to lives, property and image.

We commend Savage for his willingness to become more personally
involved in seeking solutions. Those solutions may be difficult to
achieve, but efforts must be made. The law-abiding citizens who
represent the vast majority in that area of the city must be granted
the opportunity to feel safe.