The headlines screamed Memphis was the homicide capitol of this great country. Young and old were dying daily, sometimes as many as a dozen on the weekend. And then ICE, the National Guard and Tennessee Highway Patrol came to town.
“We all act different when we know we are being watched.”
That’s an age old saying in strategic law enforcement tactics. The concept is people are less likely to break the law if they see a patrol car in their neighborhood, a policeman on the corner of a festival, or cameras at a home or business.
This is the classic example: You are driving down the highway and spot a highway patrolman in the median. You immediately look at your speedometer to see if you are speeding.
It’s also why policemen wear uniforms and patrol cars sport big decals on the doors and blue lights on top.
Those with any sense straighten up and do right.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize high visibility of law enforcement anytime and anywhere reduces crime.
This newspaper is a big supporter of law enforcement and urges the Senatobia Police Department the Tate County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol to be more visible in our community.
We understand police cannot be everywhere. We also understand thugs wait for the right time to do their dirty work.
But your Tate Record urges police, sheriff and highway patrol to be more visible.
We urge our Mayor and Aldermen to carefully fill their ranks with men or women who can take a bite out of crime.
We urge Sheriff Luke Shepherd to make a concerted effort to be more visible in in every community in this county.
We urge the Mississippi Highway Patrol to set up safety checkpoints in Tate County and the edges of Senatobia.
We urge our Sheriff and Police Chief to come to this newspaper if they have a problem with judges not backing up our officers in court with jail time and stiff prison sentences for those found guilty.
And last but not least we urge you to call authorities the minute you see a crime or hear details of a crime.
There is a solution to crime in our community, our state and Memphis, and it starts with good people demanding and supporting law and order and then waving at police and deputies when they patrol our neighborhoods.
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