US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO HELP WITH DRUG, GUN CONVICTIONS

In an effort to more effectively prosecute gun and drug crimes, the U.S.
attorney's office has "adopted" the city of Clarksdale.

The city has agreed to turn over prosecution of drug and gun crimes to the
U.S. attorney's office.

"Our goal is to have an immediate effect on the crime rate," said Police
Chief Steve Bingham. "We are going to target pistol-packing, drug-toting
bad guys." The joint effort is part of a nationwide program called Project
Safe Neighborhoods, with an aim to combat gun violence.

"It is a multi-agency task force of local, state and federal officers on
the enforcement side, with significant community outreach all designed to
combat gun violence," said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marshall Alexander.
"We are putting special emphasis on Clarksdale and the surrounding area."
Bingham said he believes the assistance from the U.S. attorney will help
reduce the crime rate and raise the conviction rate.

A federal jury is made up of selected jurors from around the state, not
just in this community. A Coahoma County jury was dismissed just last week
amid rumors of jury intimidation. Also, federal charges bring stiffer
penalties.

"A convicted felon caught with a gun can get up to 30 years, and that's in
addition to any other charges," Bingham said.

This is part of an overall plan to get criminals off the streets and make
the city a safer place, according to Bingham. "Right now, the bad guys are
not afraid of the Clarksdale Police Department-they have no respect for
us," he said. "We want to make them fear the Clarksdale Police Department,
not physically, but with our commitment to putting them away.

"I want people to be able to sit out on their porch and watch a sunset
without having to worry about a bullet with no name on it coming for them."