Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jul 2005
Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, MS)
Copyright: 2005 Journal Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.djournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/823
Author: Chris Wilson, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

WEST AMORY CITIZEN VOICES CONCERN, LOITERING, DRUGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

New Police Sub-Station A Possibility

City of Amory officials want to meet with West Amory citizens to discuss 
more policing in that neighborhood in an effort to stop loitering and drug 
activities.

West Amory resident John Hilliard appeared before the Board of Aldermen at 
their regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday night telling them about 
some of the problems he experiences, almost daily.

Hilliard lives beside the gymnasium at West Amory Elementary School and he 
says: "There's a big problem. Dope is destroying the children over there."

According to Hilliard, drug users congregate in front of the gym and "shoot 
up" in plain sight.

Hilliard said the problem as he sees it, is that there is no visible police 
presence on a regular basis. "The kids know it," he said.

He suggested that a police car be designated for that side of town, just as 
a fire truck is stationed at the West Amory Fire Station. "It could 
alleviate some of the problem," said Hilliard.

Amory Police Chief Ronnie Bowen said there is an officer assigned to 
District 2, which includes the West Amory Elementary School, every day.

"They are out there patrolling," said Bowen, explaining that a police 
department doesn't work like a fire department, where officers sit at the 
station waiting for a call. He said police officers are out patrolling the 
streets all the time. He said there are four different shifts so there are 
different officers assigned to that area at different times of day.

Hilliard said he seldom sees the police in his neighborhood, and they are 
not consistent with their patrolling.

Signs should be posted on the school property prohibiting any loitering and 
parking when school is out. "They are out there smoking dope and then 
destroying people's property," Hilliard said, detailing how his car was 
vandalized in his own yard. The main area that is a problem is on the south 
side of the gym, he said.

Chief Bowen said he did attempted to put a police substation in West Amory 
in the community center in 2001, and there was a lot of opposition from the 
neighborhood at that time. According to Bowen, community leaders opposed 
the substation idea four years ago.

Ward 1 Alderman Dan Rogers said it seems that there is a problem and that 
perhaps has not been effectively addressed. "Maybe we do need a substation 
over there," said Rogers, who called on Chief Bowen to come up with 
suggestions for a solution.

Ward 4 Alderman Peggy Wilkerson proposed a community meeting to get ideas.

The Board agreed to have Chief Bowen meet with Hilliard to get more input, 
and to come up with a plan to gather community concerns.

In other action, city attorney John Creekmore updated the board on progress 
being made to establish a driver's licensing office in the county near the 
airport.

Creekmore said the legislature passed a bill that would allow Monroe 
County, Amory and Aberdeen to jointly fund the facility. Monroe County will 
pay half and provide the land, and the cities of Amory and Aberdeen will 
each contribute 25 percent of the cost.

Creekmore said he believed that the paperwork will be ready for approval by 
August. He said the Mississippi, and that the Highway Patrol is anxious to 
utilize that location for a licensing office.

The Board also handled the following items of business last Tuesday:

Mayor Howard Boozer was appointed to serve on the Three Rivers Solid Waste 
Authority Board, filling the position the former mayor held.

Tony Poss was appointed to serve on the Main Street Inc. executive board, 
filling the position previously held by Boozer while an alderman.

Tom Dickerson was appointed to serve on the Park and Recreation Advisory 
Board, filling the unexpired term of now-Alderman Poss. Two more 
appointments will be made during August.

Ward 2 Alderman John Darden asked that the police department provide safety 
patrols outside West Amory School when school resumes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom