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.